Mason on the mound in Toronto inspires a Sussex County block party

Mason Fluharty - By George, he made it to the major league mound. Mason Fluharty, Toronto Blue Jays rookie left-hander, walked to the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning against the Nationals, his team leading 3-2. It was Mason's first major league appearance. There was a runner on third with one out with left-handed swinger CJ Abrams at the dish. Abrams sliced a double down the right-field line on a 2-2 pitch to tie the game. The Sussex County Muppet Matrix was tuned in and hanging on several threads. Mason came out in the eighth and got the first two outs, including his first strikeout. The stat line was 14 pitches and 11 strikes. Nationals announcer Bob Carpenter mentioned, “Fluharty is from Delaware.” The Cape Henlopen story was just there for the taking with Mason and Zack Gelof teammates on Cape’s state championship team along with Jake Gelof (Dodgers) and Luke Johnson (Nationals) as MLB prospects. Lynn Fluharty and friends did make it onto the broadcast, and Mason was allowed to keep the ball from his first MLB strikeout.  

Rollin with Paulen - “I have just returned from the World Masters Indoor Championships that was held in Florida from March 23-30 with over 3,500 participants from 83 countries. The USA won the overall title.  In my age group (85-89), I was on the gold medal winning 4-by-200 relay team, and individually, I won the silver in the hurdles and the bronze in the pentathlon combined event (hurdles, high jump, long jump, shot put, 1,000 meters). The winner in this event from Germany set a new world record. This biannual competition ended the winter indoor season. Next year, the world competition will be held outdoors in Daegu, South Korea. I hope to compete; although, I shall be at the top of the age group.” Pastor Bob is 88 and lives in Dewey Beach.

Captain Max - Tuesday night, the Cape boys’ JV lax team beat a quality Stephen Decatur team at home 13-6. Freshman midfielder Max Wyshock had a terrific on-fire game, scoring four goals with two assists.  He exhibited the team player attribute in numerous occasions throughout the game as well. Max’s mom, Gretchen Haas Wyshock, is a former head coach of both field hockey and lacrosse at Cape. 

Applying and trying - Travel ball is not a free ride or park and ride. I’m making a link between applying to an elitist school and trying out for a select travel team. A school like Duke has an entire cottage industry built around rejecting applicants. Figure it out; if it costs $100 to apply to a school with an acceptance rate of 5%, then millions of dollars are made from the nonrefundable application process. Duke rejects 51,000 applicants per year, according to AI, who was also rejected. The same for select travel team tryouts. There is a nonrefundable upfront payment for the privilege of being evaluated by a system of people whose mission is to reject half the people who try out. 

Hey Buddy Buddy Brett - Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh rounded the corner at Fredman Bend in Dewey Beach during the Best Buddies 5K a few years ago passing my blue chair and me. The Texas shirt was a tell. Sesame Street by the Sea is the Nation’s Summer Capital. Local muppets learn all about the hospitality industry, so don't be cracking or cackling at visitors running races. It's called class. Some joker pleaded guilty this week to planning to assassinate Judge Kavanaugh in 2022.  

Snippets - I am part of the running community, which is amazing because I haven’t run a race in a long time. The road running season ramps up this weekend with a Saturday 5K at George Smith Park and the Oy Vey 5K Sunday at the Seaside Jewish Community Center down Holland Glade Road outside Rehoboth. The Dodgers are at the Phillies this weekend, but the weather is threatening to disrupt the schedule. There are lots of local Dodgers fans because of the great colors and cool hats. Friday through Monday, the NCAA basketball women’s and men's Final Fours and national championship games will be held. Men’s announcers are Ian Eagle (play-by-play) with Bill Raftery (age 81) and Grant Hill as analysts, and Tracy Wolfson as sideline reporter. The broadcast team for the women's Final Four are Ryan Ruocco (play-by-play), Rebecca Lobo (analyst) and Holly Rowe (reporter). Rowe is a 58-year-old cancer survivor with a net worth of $3 million. Everybody is their own story. Go on now, git!