Despite the chilly conditions at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, FL on March 7, 2013, a group of over 30 Calvert Hall alumni, family and friends were treated to quite a game by the red-hot Orioles.
After watching the Ironman, Cal Ripken, deliver a perfect strike while throwing out the first pitch, the Orioles’ bats stole the show early. Outfielder Nolan Reimold led off the bottom of the first with a solo shot as The Birds from Baltimore took a 6-1 lead over the Toronto Blue Jays through 4 innings. The visitors from Canada rallied with 18 hits and 10 runs to take a 10-8 lead into the bottom of the ninth.
In dramatic fashion, the O’s rallied to put two runners on base for Ryan Flaherty. Battling for a roster spot after spending 2012 with the team as a Rule 5 draftee, Flaherty delivered a heroic 3-run walk-off homerun deep over the right field wall to send the Calvert Hall crowd and the rest of the Birds fans home with another Spring Training victory.
Calvert Hall’s group included many alums who now call Florida home while others traveled from Baltimore to get a glimpse of the Orioles before the regular season starts on April 2nd in Tampa Bay.
Graduates from the 50’s through the 90’s, their family and friends enjoyed Calvert Hall’s annual visit to Sarasota and look forward to next season’s gathering as well.
Plans are also being discussed for a Calvert Hall trip to Miami in 2013 for the Baltimore Ravens versus Miami Dolphins game. For more information about the trip to Miami, please contact Doug Heidrick at he*******@ca*********.com. The trip will be coordinated through RavensTrips.com once the NFL schedule is finalized for 2013.
