April 5, 2024
by Roger Brickell, Bricklyn Eagle Sports Correspondent
In a contest that stirred the passions of baseball enthusiasts and captivated the hearts of fans, the Bricklyn Stackers emerged victorious with a come from behind 6 to 3 win over the Brickpelier Phillies in a thrilling opening day game at historic Swiftbrick Field yesterday.
Fans wait till the doors open for a new season of baseball at Swiftbrick Field.
The Stackers Take on the Phillies
From the crack of the first bat to the final pitch, the diamond bore witness to a battle of titans, with each team vying for supremacy in a display of skill, strategy, and grit.
The Stackers, under the the masterful leadership of Manager Willie Wildbrick, showcased their prowess with remarkable fielding and clutch hitting.
However the Phillies, steered by their skipper, Bubby B. Thumpson, proved to be a formidable adversary, matching the Stackers play for play, inning after inning, before the raucous Swiftbrick Field crowd.
The tension mounted as the game progressed, with both teams refusing to cede any ground.
Most every pitch, catch, and stolen base was met with cheers or boos from the crowd, which included a dedicated contingent of Phillies fans who took the train from Brickpelier to cheer on their squad.
Both the Stackers and Phillies fielded sharply, ran the bases well, and played with lots of ginger.
But as the sun dipped low on the horizon and the shadows lengthened across the diamond, it was the Stackers who seized the moment.
In a heart-stopping climax, with three ducks on the pond, Stackers slugger Stanley “The Sledgehammer” Toughbrick delivered the decisive blow off Phillies twirler Ruben B. Rivera, rocketing a tape-measure moonshot deep over the right field fence. The grand slam secured a dramatic walk-off victory for the Stackers.
In the aftermath of this edge-of-your-seats encounter, the echoes of cheers reverberated through Swiftbrick Field, a testament to the enduring magic of the game of baseball.
As fans filed out of the ballpark — some looking to grab one last donut, others heading to the nearby Miss Bricklyn Diner for a slice of tasty banana cream pie — they carried with them memories of a very special opening day contest. ✥
➤ Editor’s Note: Some of the old-time (and current) baseball jargon and phrasing found with assistance from Major League Baseball’s From ace to yakker, a glossary of baseball slang and from Chat GPT.
We welcome Letters to the Editor. Please email to: bricklynvt@gmail.com
To the Editor: What an amazing two weeks this has been for Bricklyn sports fans — with the BRU Crew winning the ISL basketball tournament and yesterday’s terrific opening day win by the Stackers. Have to say I loved the way Stackers’ manager Wildbrick showed his “wild side” by parachuting into Swiftbrick Field with his opening day lineup card — and what a talented team Wildbrick has put together! — Brian B. Finnerty, Bricklyn Jct., VT
To the Editor: While I appreciate your paper’s coverage of the Stackers’ ball game — and it was a great game — I don’t appreciate your highlighting once again Dunk Them Donuts. This company seems to have its thumb on just about everything happening in Bricklyn. They got away with just a slap on the wrist for their scandalous behavior in trying to get the historic Hotel Stansbury demolished a few months ago; shame on our Federal Council for letting them off the hook so lightly.
It irritates me to see you promoting their donuts and showing their concession stand in Swiftbrick Field. We all know that Dunk Them Donuts is just about everywhere in Bricklyn … and too many of our youth are addicted to their sugar-saturated donuts. — Sally Plater Evans, Bricklyn, VT
Reply from the Editor: Thanks for your comment Ms. Evans. We appreciate hearing back from our readers. As to the photo of the Dunk Them Donuts concession stand at Swiftbrick Field, that was selected by columnist Brickell to run with his story. Clearly Dunk Them Donuts does have a significant presence in Bricklyn, as they are the Realm’s largest employer. But as we believe our recent coverage of Dunk Them Donuts has demonstrated, including our detailed investigative reporting related to their proposed donut topped office tower, we value our role as an independent voice.
