The Wandering Disciple

Lakeland Florida, the southern home of the Detroit Tigers for 83 years. Known to many Tiger fans as TigerTown, Lakeland has seen many of Detroit's greatest players pass through town. And when its not the stars of today hitting the fields in the spring, the town is filled with the stars of tomorrow as the Lakeland Flying Tigers and Gulf Coast Tigers build the skills of future greats. At the center of the action is Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. The stadium which was recently upgraded in 2017, has been the heart of the action since 1966. (Photo: June 29, 2019)

Bradenton, Florida: LECOM Park had a certain major league feel as the mini-Pirates took the field with two of the big Pirates on Monday night as the Bradenton Marauders hosted the Lakeland Flying Tigers. The Marauders had both Sean Rodriguez playing shortstop and Clay Holmes on the mound as they were putting final touches on their rehab assignments trying to get back to the Pirates roster. Bradenton took the lead in the second inning. Bligh Madris singled on a line drive to left that was misplayed by the left fielder combined with a throwing error by the shortstop allowing Albert Baur to score and Madris to move to third, giving the Marauders a 1-0 lead. The Flying Tigers countered to tie the game in the fourth inning. Danny Pinero drove home Isaac Paredes with an RBI double to tie the game 1-1. The game remained tied until the top of the eighth when the Flying Tigers offense struck for three runs. Pinero reached on an error allowing Paredes to score to break the tie. The...

Ben Verlander celebrates his first hit of the 2017 season during Sunday's game between the Lakeland Flying Tigers and Charlotte Stone Crabs. Verlander, a minor league player in the Detroit Tigers system, was hitless in four Florida State League games until recording his first hit in the third inning of today's game. (Photo: April 16, 2017)

Port Charlotte, Florida: After starting the season with seven straight losses, the Charlotte Stone Crabs have won 2 of three against the Lakeland Flying Tigers and hoped to finish the series with a win on Sunday to give them their first series win of 2017. But Lakeland had other plans as they rode the back of a great performance by starting pitcher Beau Burrows to a 4-2 win. Both starters, Burrows of Lakeland and Genesis Cabrera for Charlotte were great from the start. They exchanged zeros on the scoreboard until Lakeland reached for a run in the top of the fourth. That’s when Ross Kivett reached on an error to put a runner on the bases. He moved all the way to third on a wild pitch and a passed ball. Kivett then scored on a sac fly by Will Allen to break the scoreless tie and give the Flying Tigers a 1-0 lead. Lakeland pushed across a pair of runs in the seventh inning. Allen led off the inning with a double to left followed by a single to right by Joey Pankake. Allen the...

Tony Plagman of the Lakeland Flying Tigers receives congratulations after hitting a home run during a Florida State League Minor League baseball game at Charlotte Sports Park.  (Photo: May 15, 2011)

Eugenio Suarez of the Lakeland Flying Tigers slides into second under the tag of the Charlotte Stone Crabs second baseman Hector Guevara during a Florida State League contest at Charlotte Sports Park. (Photo: April 28, 2013)

Avisail Garcia runs out of the box following a hit during Sunday's game between the Lakeland Flying Tigers and the Charlotte Stone Crabs.  Garcia is on a MLB rehab assignment from the Detroit Tigers and is currently playing for the Advanced-A Lakeland Flying Tigers of the Florida State League.

Port Charlotte, Florida: The Stone Crabs watched an early lead slip away as they lost the series opener to the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Sunday evening at Charlotte Sports Park. The Stone Crabs have now lost four straight. The Stone Crabs jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the second inning. Jeff Malm hit a ground rule double to left. Malm then scored on an RBI single by Steven Tinoco to give the Stone Crabs a 1-0 lead. The Stone Crabs added to their lead in the third inning. Luke Scott doubled to right to put a runner on the bases. Curt Casali picked up the runner with a single to center, scoring Scott. Casali later scored on an error to extend the lead to 3-0. Lakeland reached the scoreboard in the fourth inning. They loaded the bases on two singles and a walk. Then Brandon Loy singled home two runs to bring the Flying Tigers to within a run of the lead 3-2. The Flying Tigers tied the game in the fifth inning. Jeff McVaney delivered an RBI triple to tie the game ...

Port Charlotte, Florida: The Stone Crabs surrendered a four run to lose to the Lakeland Flying Tigers 6-5 on Sunday afternoon. The Stone Crabs gave up all six runs via four home runs leading to their fifteenth loss this season after leading the game. Lakeland struck first in the first inning. Tony Plagman hit a solo home run with two outs to give them a 1-0 lead. The Stone Crabs battled back to tie the game in the second. Greg Sexton led off the inning with a single to center. Sexton advanced to second on a errant pick-off throw. He then advanced to third on a ground out by Mayo Acosta. Sexton then scored on a passed ball to tie the game 1-1. The Stone Crabs then took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the third. Chris Murrill and Matt Hall delivered back to back singles to get things started. They both advanced on a double steal to put runners at second and third with one out. Brett Nommensen drove home the first run of the inning with a single to left that scored Murrill....

Port Charlotte, Florida: The Charlotte Stone Crabs were unable to overcome the offense of the Lakeland Flying Tigers as they lost 5-4 on Friday night at Charlotte Sports Park. Lakeland took an early lead in the second inning. Francisco Martinez and Jordan Lennerton picked up back to back singles to lead off the inning. A sac bunt by Christopher Sedon moved both runners into scoring position. Samir Rijo drove home the first run with a line drive to left. Gustavo Nunez then drove home a run to increase the lead to 2-0. The Stone Crabs answered with a run in the bottom of the third. Rocco Baldelli led off the inning with a single to left. Stephen Vogt and Greg Jefferies then singled to load the bases. Reid Fronk drove home Baldelli with a sac fly to cut the lead in half 2-1. The Flying Tigers distanced themselves with a three run sixth inning. Matt Mansilla drove home the first run of the inning with an RBI single to score John Murrian. Later in the inning, Rijo ripped a two run ...

Port Charlotte, Florida: The Charlotte Stone Crabs picked up their 22nd come from behind victory in walk-off fashion against the Lakeland Flying Tigers. While the rehab appearance by Tampa Bay’s Andy Sonnanstine was the highlight of the night, it was the close contest between the regular starters that had people talking at the end of the night. Lakeland jumped out to an early lead in the first inning. Gustavo Nunez led off the game with a line drive single to center. Nunez then stole second and later scored on an RBI single by Bryan Holaday to give the Flying Tigers a 1-0 lead. The Stone Crabs answered back in the bottom of the first. Tim Beckham drew a walk to put a runner on the bases. Then on a hit and run play, Stephen Vogt singled to right, allowing Beckham to score from first and tie the game 1-1. Lakeland took the lead back in the second. Patrick McKenna and Matthew Mansilla picked up back to back singles to get things started. Gustavo Nunez drove home the run with a si...

Sarasota, Florida: The Sarasota Reds and Lakeland Flying Tigers faced off in a pitchers duel on Saturday night at Ed Smith Stadium. Both pitching staffs went through the entire nine inning regulation period without allowing a run and it took fifteen innings to determine a winner. But when it was all over, over four hours later, the Reds walked off with a 3-2 victory. Pitching was the name of the game tonight. Both staffs pitched 11 consecutive innings before allowing a run. It wasn’t until the fourth inning before a base hit was allowed. There was a total of 34 strikeouts combined between both clubs who used a total of thirteen pitcher in the game. The Flying Tigers scored the first run of the game in the top of the twelfth inning. Justin Justice singled to third to put a runner on the bases. Justin would later score on an RBI single by Brandon Timm to take a 1-0 lead. The Reds answered back with a run of their own in the home half of the inning. Carson Kainer singled to left...

Lakeland, Florida: The Sarasota Reds defeated the Lakeland Flying Tigers 8-2 as they hosted their annual Kids Camp Day on Wednesday afternoon at Ed Smith Stadium. Kids from area summer camps packed the stadium to watch the Reds post a big eighth inning to secure the win despite major league baseball star Gary Sheffield being in the Flying Tigers lineup. The Reds jumped out to an early lead in the second inning on a solo home run by Juan Francisco to put them ahead 1-0. The Flying Tigers then countered with two runs of their own in the fifth inning to take the lead. Jeramy Laster singled to left to lead off the inning. Michael Bertram followed with an RBI double to right, scoring Laster. Bertram would later score on an RBI single by Shawn Roof to give the Flying Tigers a 2-1 lead. Sarasota regained the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. Drew Stubbs led off the inning with a line drive single to center. Carson Kainer then reached on an interference call to put runners on f...

Lakeland, Florida: The Lakeland Flying Tigers are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. The Flying Tigers play in the North Division of the Florida State League. The club was founded as the Lakeland Tigers in 1963 and was later renamed the Flying Tigers in 2006 to honor the World War II pilots known as the Flying Tigers who trained at nearby Lakeland School of Aeronautics. The affiliation with the Detroit Tigers is one of the longest affiliations still in existence. The Flying Tigers are three time Florida State League champions. They won the league championship in 1976, 1977 and 1992. The Flying Tigers play their home games in Joker Marchant Stadium. The 8,500 seat stadium built in 1966 is also the spring training home of the Detroit Tigers as well as the home of the GCL Tigers during the summer. Click on the photo above to visit my Lakeland Flying Tigers photo page. Here you will find galleries containing game and player pictures.