Support the Bridgeport Barnums!

Barnums 2024 Championship (Barnums Media/Contributed Photo)

As many of you know, as I've written about it here and on social media, I have been doing some summer media work for the Bridgeport Barnums of the Connecticut College Baseball League the last few summers. 

I handle their scorekeeping via the GameChanger scorekeeping app, and I write game recaps on another Blogger website. 

In doing both of these things, I am promoting the league, team and the players. 

What I am getting at is, we need sponsors to allow us to keep doing what we are doing. We want to provide the best coverage we can, but there is a business aspect to it. 

We would also love to be able to expand the coverage we provide. We have ideas but those ideas cost money to execute, for staffing and equipment. 

It's also about so much more than what we do from a media perspective. It's about the business operations of running a baseball program, holding community events

If you are interested in sponsoring the blog or the GameChanger (the work I do), or the Bridgeport Barnums baseball program in general, please reach out. 

SPONSOR LETTER

You can reach me on Twitter and Instagram @ShawnSailer or via email at sailer0416@gmail.com and I can send you further information and/or put you in contact with the correct people in the organization. 

Another Summer of Baseball

2024 Barums team photo. Players (who were there) and coaches

It has been another summer of watching and covering a lot of baseball. 

This means the Bridgeport Barnums and Trumbull Babe Ruth. 

The Barnums had a terrific season, winning the Connecticut College Baseball League Championship. 

Congrats to all the players and coaches Chris Bugyi, Jim Chaves and Mark Keeney. It's also about Sars Ford, the general manager, who had the vision for bringing a college team back to Bridgeport before the 2023 summer, and ultimately got that done.  

For the Barnums, I serve in a team media/scorekeeper role. Although I will do whatever they need. 

If that's setting up or breaking down items, I've done it. After the July 4 fireworks, we helped clean up the fire of debris. It's about being a team player and supporting however is needed. 

In my media/scorekeeper role, I am managing GameChanger (a scorekeeping app) during games. I'm letting the coaches know if pitch counts, and anything else they may need. 

And yes, I likely (definitely) show too much favoritism toward the Ludlowe guys on the team. That includes Cole Gibson, Luke Anderson, Andrew Fortunato, Blake Benway, Matt Longo and Joey Sangiuolo.   

Additionally, my role includes managing the team Instagram (@BPTBarnums) and Facebook accounts (Bridgeport Barnums Baseball) and writing game recaps on Blogger that are shared via social media. 

That being said, it's in no way about me. We are the support staff. It's about the players, first and foremost, the coaches and families. I hated even getting told to get in team photos (and wouldn't post the ones with myself in it on the team accounts.)

Then, there was Trumbull Babe Ruth baseball with Rob Adams. 

A tradition like no other. 

This is the sixth Babe Ruth tournament in Trumbull that I've been a part of with Rob. 

2015, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. 

In 2018, we did one in Norwalk (I joined Rob for at least one game that year, so I'll count it.)

We also did one in Stamford in 2019. 

Of course, even when I'm not with Rob, I'm often listening. 

This year, we broadcasted the 13U Connecticut State Tournament. 

Stamford won the tournament, beating Easton/Redding in the Championship. 

It's always a blast to join Rob on the calls. He's a professional and more importantly, a great friend. 

There's something special about doing these tournaments and getting to know so many people. 

We get to talk with so many in the booth, from Mike Buswell, who is the reason Rob (and I) keep doing this year after year, to Bobby Gerbert, to members of CT Babe Ruth, and so many others. 

When coaches would stop up to bring lineups, or some coaches would be in the booth between games or during games they weren't coaching in, we would get a chance to have conversations. 

We didn't get to know as many people from the teams this year, but that's okay. Every year is different. 

On the air, we get to talk about what we see on the field and tell stories from past years of doing these tournaments, and so many other memories. 

Like when Rob brings up the 2019 FCIAC baseball championship. Yeah. That game. 

But again, it's about talking about the great athletes we see on the field, and if we can get information and get to know them off the field, that just allows us to promote them even more, and that is the ultimate goal. 

High school sports will be here soon. I'm excited for them all, but selfishly, cannot wait for the winter for basketball and the spring for baseball. 

Boys Of Summer 2023

Barnums Team Photo (Missing some)

Summer's over. 

Ok, it's not actually over. 

Just summer baseball coverage for me. As far as I am concerned though, that means summer is over. Get me to Fall and Fall sports. Or even better, get me to basketball and baseball season, selfishly. 

The baseball coverage consisted of The Bridgeport Barnums, Fairfield Legion and Babe Ruth. I wish there was more and I am always open to any opportunities (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram @ShawnSailer). 

The Barnums were my main coverage, as they were the actual "job" for the summer. That's not to say I cared about any less of the others, it's just when there were conflicts, the Barnums took priority. 

The Barnums were in their inaugural season and are part of the Connecticut College Baseball League (CCBL). Members of the team (and league) are those who are playing baseball in college or recent high school graduates who are planning to play in college. 

My work with the Barnums consisted of GameChanger scorekeeping during games, Instagram and writing game stories after, along with whatever else was needed. I enjoyed doing post-game video interviews with the players, as they got to have some fun and even more promotion. 

The Bridgeport team consists of players from Fairfield, Bridgeport and other surrounding Fairfield County towns including Darien, Trumbull and Easton.  Fun to watch the guys I already knew from Ludlowe, Warde and Prep and get to know others. 

The Barnums had a strong season, making it to the CCBL semifinals in year one. Terrific job by the coaching staff of manager Chris Bugyi and coaches Jim Chaves and Mark Keeney and everyone involved. 

I was also able to get to watch some of the Fairfield Legion team. Not as much as I wanted due to conflicts, but tried to get to as much as possible. It was mostly just watching and not too much coverage, but coverage where I could. Wish it could have been more. The kids deserve the coverage. Lots of current Ludlowe and Warde players on the team. Great group who played hard, despite the results not being what they wanted. Great job by the coaches and staff involved here. 

I've already written about the Babe Ruth broadcasting Rob Adams and I did in Trumbull. Rob went on to broadcast the New England Regional in North Providence, Rhode Island, which Trumbull won. Good luck to them in the World Series. 

It seems sort of odd that it's all over before August, but that's the way it is. 

It was a fun summer. Love covering the athletes, coaches and teams. Getting to know and talk with the families is also something that makes it enjoyable. 

We will see what next summer brings. 

On to high school sports. 

But first....

Enjoy the rest of the summer! 

Local Baseball Weekend

Ed Hogan delivers a pitch during the Barnums doubleheader on Saturday

It was a busy weekend of local baseball. 

Four games. Two doubleheaders. 

I'm doing some media work for the Bridgeport Barnums, who are in their first year as a team. They are a member of the Connecticut College Baseball League. Their home games are at Seaside Park, Diamond 1, which is the home of University of Bridgeport. 

My role with them is basically to keep score via GameChanger, run the Instagram and write game stories. It's fun to watch a lot of the former Ludlowe baseball players I know, many I am close with. 

In addition, the team also includes former Warde players, as well as players from other schools and towns. 

Due to conflicts and vacation, I hadn't been able to get to any games in a couple of weeks. Everyone was great about me missing*, but I felt bad, due to my care about commitment. 

*I was told by a couple of players, jokingly, that I was the reason they were on a four-game losing streak. They split the Doubleheader. You can go here to read the game story. 

On Sunday, I went to watch the Fairfield Legion team play. That team in mostly made up of current Ludlowe players, so I enjoy watching those guys, as well as others I've gotten to know. 

While I was involved from a media perspective with them the last couple of years, due to the Barnums role (they have some affiliation due to management), I haven't gotten to that many games this year. 

That being said, I've tried to get to games when I can. While the results haven't been great team-wise, good group of kids working hard and getting better. 

I want to watch all of Ludlowe guys, regardless of summer program, but watching the Legion team is easy, as it's so local. I've been following other guys on other programs via social media. 

I don't want to rush summer and all of the others sports for everyone, but excited for the spring of 2024. I'm sure I'll say this on many other posts going forward. 

There will be more Barnums, Legion, and likely some other baseball in the coming weeks. 

It's always a good day watching baseball. 

Long Saturday Of Baseball

I always think, when the Ludlowe baseball season ends, my games will slow down. Most of the time, I'm wrong. I'm just at games in different capacities. 

Today, I was at two baseball games. 

First, I was at Warde as the Mustangs hosted Southington in the Class LL quarterfinals. It was a terrific baseball game, with Warde coming up with the 2-1 win on a base hit by freshman Jimmy Dobbs. 

Southington took a 1-0 lead in the third inning and the game remained that way until the sixth. 

Warde tied the game on a home run by Garrett Larsen in the sixth. The Southington left-fielder attempted to "rob" the homerun and went over the mesh fence. There was a lot of controversy surrounding the home run, whether it was a home run, a catch, or a ground rule double. It was controversial in terms of the umpires had to discuss it and both coaches had to get explanations. I'll be honest, from where I was standing, I couldn't see the play, so It wouldn't be fair for me to give an opinion. I've seen pictures but it's different in real time.

The game then remained tied until the bottom of the inning. Aidan Dowd reached on a leadoff walk. He moved to second on a bunt and third on a flyout. That left it up to Dobbs to be the hero. 

Jimmy Dobbs walk-off single. Warde 2 Southington 1. Mustangs advance to Class LL semifinals #ctbase @GameTimeCT pic.twitter.com/JNQYOWTzkQ

— Shawn Sailer (@ShawnSailer) June 3, 2023

Warde will face Newington on Tuesday in the Class LL Semifinals. The time and location are to be determined.  

So after Warde it was over to Seaside Park for the Bridgeport Barnums of the Connecticut College Baseball League and the Danbury Westerners of the New England College Baseball League in a scrimmage. 

I am doing some social media/writing for the Barnums this summer. Lots of great players and coaches who are part of the team. Plenty of former Ludlowe and Warde players, among others. Today's scrimmage did not go in Bridgeport's favor, but it's just a scrimmage and early in a long season. 

More baseball tomorrow and during the week. Plus other work-related events. 

It's never boring. And that's a great thing.