The 2016 Phantasy Camp experience has officially come to a close.
After five days of sunshine and blue skies, Team Gnat took home the 2016 World Championship Trophy and rounded out another successful trip to Clearwater. Thanks to all of our players, phans, general managers and Phillies Legends for making this year’s event another great one.
Check out the final Phantasy Update!
The sky was blue and the sun was shining as Team Gnat raised the 2016 World Champion trophy on Saturday afternoon. In a landslide victory, the squad rallied early and proved their power to win it all over Team Tugger.
Congratulations, Team Gnat!
With just two days of camp left, (some) players are really starting to heat things up. We’ve seen double-play balls, clutch hits and even a few inside-the-park home runs.
Read all the details about your favorite camper’s team – check out the Game 3 Team Highlights!
Team Chuck (Game #3 vs Team Gnat)
After a rain delay to start a two game home stand, Team Chuck took the field against Team Gnat, hoping to put one in the win column. On the hill was Brian Gutekunst. Gutekunst went a strong 6 innings, giving up 5 runs on 7 hits, walking 4 and striking out 4.
Several members contributed to the offense. Catcher Russ Berdel led the charge, going 3 for 3 including a double. Anthony Villari, Tom McConney, and Dave Mitchell each collected 2 hits.
The defensive play of the game was when pitcher Brian Gutekunst stabbed a line drive hit back up the middle and got the runner leading off first for a double play to get Team Chuck out of the 3rd inning. Team Chuck ended up losing a tough one by the score of 5-1.
Team Crash (Game #3 vs Team Schmitty)
In a wild affair, after a soaking rain, Team Crash lost 15-11 to a gritty Team Schmitty. This game was full of everything! From a base clearing double by Mark Nakata to Jen Andrisani taking a high fastball to her shoulder and laughing it off, this game was everything you hoped for in an intense Phantasy Camp matchup. Joe Papili scored 2 runs and Mike DeStefano had 2 doubles. Although the game resulted in a loss, spirits remained high for team Crash.
Team Dutch (Game #3 vs Team Richie)
Team Dutch suffered its first loss of camp to Team Richie by a score of 11-3. Rey Panettieri proved to be a bright spot for Team Dutch going 2 for 3 at the plate, knocking in a run, and gutting out 4 innings on the mound. Jeff Vaught also had a good day at the plate, going 2 for 2 while scoring a run. Dan Farah, Dave Spaventa, Craig Abouchar, Pat Blum, Joe Conway, and Greg Graham also contributed with a hit apiece. A heartwarming moment was experienced in the top of the 6th inning when Dennis Conway fulfilled a goal of pitching an inning with his father, Joe, behind the plate. Dennis pitched a 1-2-3 inning, striking out 1. Despite the loss, Team Dutch continues to find inspiration through the memory of their late teammate, Harry Citrino, as the team is sporting an “HC” patch on their uniforms this year.
Team Gnat (Game #3 vs Team Chuck)
Rob Pritchard led Team Gnat to victory with a dazzling defensive effort in a 5-1 win over Team Chuck. Rob was also 2 for 3 at the plate with an RBI and run scored. George Pellegrino drove in 2 runs with a single in the 4th which proved to be the winning run. Pitcher Joe Gillespie worked hard to earn his 2nd “W”. He allowed 1 unearned run on 9 hits, 1 walk, while striking out 5.
Team LA (Game #3 vs Team Vuk)
Team LA lost a hard fought 7-5 decision to Team Vuk in game number 3 of the 2016 season. Team Vuk jumped out to a 3-run lead but Team LA fought back to keep things very interesting. Mike Gilronan, with 2 hits and a RBI, Bump Williams, with 1 hit and 1 RBI, Steve Flowers, with 1 hit and 1 run scored, and Dick Yuengling, with 1 hit and 1 run score, all contributed to the offensive surge. Stephen Flowers hit the ball extremely well on the day, as he banged out 2 hits and scored a run. Rich Schulang also crushed a ball for a base knock and RBI. Dave Sicilia, John DeMaioribus, Mike Vereb, also contributed offensively and defensively. Team LA shows great character and looks forward to a big Saturday.
Team Lefty (Game #3 vs Team Tugger)
Team Lefty lost a highly contested 5-3 game in seven innings on Friday at Schmidt Field after surrendering the lead in the seventh inning. Lou Orth took the tough loss for Team Lefty. Through six innings, he walked five, struck out six, and allowed four runs.
Team Lefty broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning. Anders Apgar singled to start the rally and then Brian Spang, after being hit by a pitch, laced one up the middle to set up the RBI single by Don Cormier.
Team Lefty brought home one run in the fifth inning. John Sharkey singled, Marty “Wheels” Lessner pinch ran, and the next batter Steve Charendoff gets a knock up the middle to plate Lessner. Team Tugger killed the rally when the 1st baseman dove and snagged a Bob Vasta line drive to end the inning.
Team Lefty, or aka “Team Canada,” tied the game in the sixth. Fran Cole blasted an Ebersole hanging curveball into center field for a double. The next batter hit the “Shot Heard Around the World” when Jimmy “Cake” Hagen roped one up the middle driving in Cole to tie the game at 3.
Rissmiller entered the game in a tough spot in the seventh and held a rallying Team Tugger to one run on one hit, with one walk and a strikeout. The battling Team Lefty’s were retired in order to wrap it up.
Team Richie (Game #3 vs Team Dutch)
Team Richie had an awesome day as they got their first win by a score of 11-3. Darrin Sunday threw six innings, giving up only 3 runs, while striking out 4. The offense was led by Greg Gallant as he went 3 for 3 with 2 runs, 3 RBI, and a double. Throwing to his brother, Tim, Dave McMaster got the save as he pitched the final inning with no runs scored. Jeff Rzepczynski went 1 for 1 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI. Scott Kempf also contributed to the offense by going 2 for 2, with a run a run scored.
Team Schmitty (Game #3 vs Team)
Team Schmitty mounted an exciting comeback to earn a 15-11 victory over Team Crash. With the score tied at 9 runs a piece in the fifth inning, Matt Jones came to the plate and laced a double scoring Eric Axler, who reached base on a single. Jones racked up 3 RBI’s and 3 runs on two doubles while providing outstanding defense at shortstop. Mike Berger also flashed some leather for Team Schmitty turning in a few ESPN “top ten” worthy plays at second base.
Bob Cesarini racked up 3 RBI’s on three hits in the contest. He singled in the first and fourth innings, and then smoked a triple in the left center field gap in the fifth.
Team Schmitty grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the first as Nolan Potter led off with a hard hit single. John Ashcom followed with a hard hit single to center field. Jones would later plate Potter, and Paul Obidinski hit a deep fly ball to score Ashcom.
A key fifth inning rally gave Team Schmitty the lead for good as Hank Clement, who supplied a RBI single, and Bob Cesarini, who ripped a 2 run triple, provided big hits in the inning.
Team Schmitty had a balanced attack with Mike Berger, Bob Strecker, David Fox, Ed Keith and Eric Axler all collecting hits in the contest. Paul Obidinski chipped in a double that drove in 2 runs in support of Nolan Potters 2nd complete game victory.
Team Tugger (Game #3 vs Team Lefty)
Team Tugger remained atop of the standings with a dramatic come from behind 5-3 victory over Team Lefty. Ari Greenburg’s 2-out, full count, bases loaded double plated 3 runs in the 6th inning to take a 3-2 lead with the game tied going into the 7th. Mike Lizzi pounded out a clutch 2-run hit to put Team Tugger up 5-3.
Lynn Ebersole pitched a gutty complete game for his 2nd win of the season. Chris Yates led the 8-hit attack with 2 hits. Ryan Carson and Mike Solomon also added doubles while Andrew Teufel and Ebersole contributed hits as well.
Team Vuk (Game #3 vs Team LA)
In game 3 of the 2016 Phantasy Camp, Team Vuk pulled out a win versus Team LA by a final score of 7-5. Dave Harmelin started the game off in the 1st inning with a two-run triple and ended the game with a spectacular catch in leftfield that would have sent Team LA to a walk off victory. Pat Keaveney boosted his batting average thanks to a perfect 3-3 day at the plate. Mike Kacergis and Chris Keaveney combined to pitch Team Vuk to its second victory of the season. Steve Gadomski added 3 hits along with teammate Steve Kahn who had 2 hits himself. Rich Weidman and Rocky Wright also contributed a hit each to Team Vuk’s 7-5 win over Team LA.
With blue skies and the greenest of green grass at our disposal, the first day of Phantasy Camp went better than any staff member could have ever planned.
The 2016 Rookies arrived at Carpenter Complex and were welcomed by Scott Palmer before they entered the locker room for the first time. Inside, they were greeted by veteran Players, Phans and General Managers alongside Legends and staff members. From there, rookies and vets jumped right in.
Check out photos from the first day at the ballpark!
The 2016 Phantasy Camp experience has officially begun…
After a warm welcoming ceremony and a few kick-off activities on Wednesday evening, the campers are in full-swing at Carpenter Complex.
Check out today’s Phantasy Update!
With less than two weeks until the first day of the 2016 Phantasy Camp experience, campers were excited to get into the batting tunnels and take a few last swings before heading to Florida.
It was another successful event – more than 35 campers came out to Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday night to join Phantasy Camp Staff members and their fellow campers for the fourth and final scheduled Batting Practice Session of the season.
While Phantasy Camp Staff manned each tunnel and threw BP, campers stepped-in and took one swing after another. It was great to see Rookies and Veterans who first met each other at the opening BP Session back in October now catching up with one another, and trading stories about the upcoming trip.
A special shout-out to The Aeros, who rallied and brought 10 of their former players to the park for the Phantasy Camp session. The 2016 Staff is excited to get down to Florida and get on the field – see you all in Clearwater!
For more information about the 2016 Phantasy Camp experience, head to the Camp Details page. To speak to a Phantasy Camp representative directly, call (610) 521-3400.
