The Wandering Disciple

A colorful wizard poses for a picture at Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando.  (Photo: July 18, 2003)

Osprey, Florida: For the third straight year, we went to Historic Spanish Point for their annual Ghost Hunting Tour. Life at Spanish Point dates back over 5,000 years and in turn has plenty of opportunities to have paranormal experiences. A little but of procrastination combined with a busy schedule almost caused us to miss this year’s event. But we managed to get booked on the 7pm tour. While I was a little worried that it would be a little too bright still at the beginning of the tour, it turned out to be dark at just the right time. Shortly after seven, our group led by our tour guide Kara set off on a journey through the haunted history of Historic Spanish Point. For much of the night, our paranormal phone app was relatively quiet which is unusual for Spanish Point. In the past, our app would be going off like crazy but tonight it seemed to not be as active. Even the stop at the Guptil House did not provide any hits on the app like in other visits. It wasn’t until...

Sarasota, Florida: Following a hard fought victory in the first round of Sunday’s tournament, the Sarasota Shock were back on the field to face their rival, the Sarasota Vipers in the semi-finals of the 2015 Suncoast Fall State Tournament. The Shock took the lead early, scoring two runs in the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. But the lead didn’t last long as the Vipers answered with four runs in the bottom of the first to take a 4-2 lead. Both teams exchanged a run in the second to make it 5-3. The Shock scored a run in the third to pull within a run of the lead in the third. However the Vipers added a pair of runs in the fourth to extend their lead to 7-4. In the fifth, each team added a run to make it 8-5. The Shock staged a rally in the top of the sixth as they pushed across a run but failed to tie the game as they fell 8-6 and were eliminated from the tournament. Click on the photo to view my Shock/Vipers photo gallery .

Sarasota, Florida: After finishing Friday’s pool play with a 1-1, the Sarasota Shock entered Sunday’s Suncoast Fall State Tournament as the #3 seed in the tournament. The Shock opened up the tournament against the PBC Playmakers. Both teams battled back and forth in this close contest. The Playmakers took the lead in the second inning by scoring three runs. Then the Shock answered by posting three runs of their on in the bottom of the second inning to tie the game. The Playmakers regained the lead, scoring four runs in the top of the third to take a 7-3 lead. The Shock fought back in the bottom of the third, scoring three and pulling within a run of the lead 7-6. The Shock tied the game in the fourth after scoring a run to make it a 7-7 game. It took until the bottom of the fifth before the Shock pushed across a run to earn a 8-7 walk-off win and advance into the tournament semi-finals. Click on the photo above to view my Shock/Playmakers photo gallery .

Sarasota, Florida: The Sarasota Shock came out swinging on Friday night in the opening game of the Suncoast Fall State Tournament presented by Suncoast Travel Ball. The Shock faced the Cortez Stone Crabs under the lights at Sarasota Cal Ripken. The Shock picked up three runs in the first inning and two more in the third to take a commanding 5-0 lead. The offense backed a red hot starting pitcher for the Shock who had a perfect game through the first three innings.  The Stone Crabs scored three in the fourth to pull within two runs of the lead. The Shock answered with two in the bottom of the fourth to pull ahead. Cortez added a run in the fifth but the Shock held on for a 7-4 win. Click on the photo above to view by Shock/Stone Crabs photo gallery .

Sarasota, Florida: The 2015 Suncoast Fall Classic hosted by Suncoast Travel Ball opened up tournament play on Sunday morning as the Sarasota Shock took on cross town rivals Sarasota Vipers in the opening round of the single elimination tournament. After pool play yesterday, the Shock entered the tournament as the #8 seed. The Vipers jumped all over the Shock, taking a big lead in the first inning. The Shock battled back but in the end it was the Vipers walking away with a 13-5 win, eliminating the Shock from the tournament. Click on the photo above to view my Shock/Vipers photo gallery .

Bradenton, Florida: After losing their opening game of the Suncoast Fall Classic, the Sarasota Shock were back out on the field at Braden River Park for game two of pool play on Saturday afternoon as they faced the Pirates. After being shut-out in the tournament opener, the Shock managed to score two runs against the Pirates. But it wasn’t enough as they fell 7-2. The Shock lost both games of pool play in the tournament and will open the single elimination tournament on Sunday morning against the Sarasota Vipers at Sarasota Cal Ripken Park. Click on the photo above to view my Sarasota Shock/Pirates photo gallery .

Bradenton, Florida: Sunny skies and cooler temperatures provided a perfect backdrop for Saturday afternoon baseball in the 2015 Suncoast Fall Classic hosted by Suncoast Travel Ball. On the schedule first for the Sarasota Shock was a tough Pinellas Park Crushers team. The Crushers jumped out to a lead and never looked back, holding the Shock scoreless and cruising to a 12-0 lead in the tournament opener for the Shock. Click on the photo above to view my Sarasota Shock/Pinellas Park Crushers photo gallery .

St Petersburg, Florida: The Tampa Bay Rays opened up their final series of the season with a three game set against the AL East leading Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night at Tropicana Field. The Rays were unable to keep the red hot offense of the Blue Jays quiet as they fell 8-4 in the last Friday night game of the season for the Rays. The Blue Jays had already clinched the American League East title and had their ticket to the postseason punched but they didn’t roll-over for the Rays as they pushed to secure home field advantage for the playoffs. They were also looking to put starter Mark Buehrle in the record books as the sought his fifteenth straight 200-inning season. The Blue Jays jumped out to an early lead in the second inning. A ground ball to short by Kevin Pillar scored Chris Colabello to give them a 1-0 lead. The lead held until the bottom of the fifth when the Rays struck for four runs. Luke Maile tied the game with an RBI single to score Richie Shaffer. Then l...