Quite a morning

My weather radio at home chirped four times overnight and when I left my house this morning it was a torrential downpour. My average speed on US19 was probably somewhere around 30-35 MPH. However, by the time I got down to Old Coachman Road, the worst had passed. Setup had begun for the Big Brothers / Big Sisters event that is taking place prior to the general Gate Opening at Noon.

Just got word that the tarp is coming off at 11:00am.

Updated at 11:15am: The tarp is off. It was put on last night right after the fireworks show.

Updated at 12:20pm: Today's lineups are up.

For Lakeland:

1. # 10 Will Rhymes (2B)
2. # 11 Cameron Maybin (CF)
3. # 24 Justin Justice (DH)
4. # 13 Michael Hernandez (RF)
5. # 17 Pedro Cotto (1B)
6. # 18 Wilkin Ramirez (LF)
7. # 7 Miguel Linares (3B)
8. # 4 Mark Haske (SS)
9. # 14 Adrian Casanova (C)

The starting pitcher is # 28 Sendy Vasquez

For Clearwater:

1. # 23 Matt Thayer (RF)
2. # 2 Greg Golson (CF)
3. # 10 Michael Spidale (LF)
4. # 21 Jeremy Slayden (DH)
5. # 27 Welinson Baez (3B)
6. # 9 John Urick (1B)
7. # 6 Lou Marson (C)
8. # 15 Kevin Howard (2B)
9. # 13 Fidel Hernandez (SS)

The starting pitcher is # 18 Andrew Carpenter

More Threshers All-Stars make the news

The Lakeland Ledger has an article in today's paper promoting Saturday's FSL All-Star Game.

Clearwater Thresher Infielder Peeter Ramos is one of 5 FSL All-Stars from Venezuela.

The story talks a bit more about some of the festivities surrounding the game:

All-Star weekend festivities get under way Friday night with a party on Lake Mirror for the players. The gala will be hosted by Hall of Famer Al Kaline with food provided by Texas Cattle Company.

The Big Brothers/Big Sisters Autograph Crawl will take place in downtown Lakeland from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Fans will receive a wristband and map indicating the locations where players will be signing autographs and having pictures taken.

Gates will open at Joker Marchant Stadium on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. with the Home Run Derby scheduled to start at 6.

Catch the whole story by clicking here