Week Two: Comets split with Expansion Generals

GAME ONE:  Generals 15, Comets 14
WP - Randy Schwaeble
LP - Clancy Philbrick

The Comets never say die attitude was on display again this Sunday at Boyce Field in Roxborough. The Comets scored six runs in the sixth inning an four more runs in the seventh inning to keep the Generals nervous.

Behind those rallies were a two-run double from Andrew Dean and a pinch-hit RBI single from Brian Chernuta. Gavin White had three hits and 4 RBIs in the loss as Comets defense and pitching could not hold of the Generals in the bottom of the seventh inning.

While the Comets will rebound from the loss, they will miss center fielder Dennis Rudzinski, who was injured in the sixth inning of the contest. They Comets cannot wait to have the rookie back healthy to be a spark to the squad in the playoffs.

GAME TWO: Comets 11, Generals 5

Jason Rompola was back to the mound again to help the Comets rebound from a toss Game One loss. Rompola allowed five unearned runs in the third inning, while the other six frames were scoreless. Rompola struck out seven Generals. He also had two hits in the win.

Matt Allen drove in three runs and JR Llanot made his 2016 debut with a pair of hits of his own, including a nice grab in right field.

The Comets host the Muckdogs this week, who enter Week Three sporting a 4-0 record.

Week One: Romp fans 14, Comets split with Irish

GAME ONE: Irish 7, Comets 4 (8 innings)
WP - Jason Aikens
LP - John Estok

The Comets rallied to force extra innings in the season opener, but failed to come through in the extra frame. The 40-year old rookie Peter Harper poked a double down the right field line to tie the contest in the sixth inning.

Another newcomer John Estok made quick work of the Irish in the seventh inning to force free baseball. Andrew Napoli drove in two runs in the first inning and rookie Dennis "D-Ski" Rudzinski recorded his first two GPMABL hits in the loss.

Manager Andrew Marcus set the new GPMABL record with his second steal of the afternoon, surpassing Ryan Golderer's 82 mark. Marcus now has 85 career steals.

GAME TWO: Comets 8, Irish 0
WP - Jason Rompola
LP - Christian Rahman

Jason "J-Romp" Rompola cruised through the Irish order, scattering three hits over a complete game shutout. He fanned 14 batters and added two hits, including a two-run triple.

His battery-mate Andrew Dean had three hits and three RBIs in the first win of the young season. Matt Allen and Rudzinski also had multiple hits in the win.

The Comets will take on the expansion team Germantown Generals next week at Boyce Field in Roxborough.

Milestones for the Comet Cornerstones

Now that GPMABL commissioner Brett Mandel is playing in the "GPMABL Classic League" and the longtime Comet has records left to be broken. Several of them could fall during the 2016 season. As several of the longtime Comets are coming up on special milestone numbers.

While the humble Gavin White thinks nothing of his excellent 7 seasons, stating "it's just longevity", he is about to hit historic league standards because he has put up MVP numbers for almost a decade. These Comets certainly have earned all the stats they have accrued and they should all be very proud of their accomplishments.

White, the 28 year-old first basemen, sits at 161 hits entering his 8th season. His 10th hit will make him the Comets All-Time Hits Leader surpassing Mandel (170) and his 27th hit will make him the GPMABL All-Time Hit King surpassing the A's Billy Mason (187).

Former GPMABL MVP Jason Rompola enters his sixth season with 106 hits. A 24-hit season would make "Romp" the 10th player in GPMABL history to record 130 hits. Considering the infielder/pitcher had 42 hits in 2014, he should be able to reach that mark in 2016.

The current manager Andrew Marcus enters his 9th season with a chance to be the GPMABL's version of Rickey Henderson. Sitting at 81 steals the infielder will tie former Montco Phillie Ryan Golderer (82) with his first bag of the season and be alone at the top of the list with his second steal of the season.

Middle-of-the-order bats Matt Allen and Kyle Riley should both record their 50th career RBIs this season. Riley has 48 steaks and Allen has 42 runs knocked in. Riley also has 87 hits and could have his 100th hit this season.

Phil Motley already the Comets all-time win leader (45) hopefully will record five more this season become the 3rd pitcher in GPMABL to have 50 career wins with Colt .45's Ian Downes and Red Sox Brett Binder.

Motley's personal catcher and longtime Comet manager Matt Gionta has built this winning culture since 2006. Already the team's winningest manager, the backstop has been a part of 133 wins and with a successful 2016 could hit an impressive 150 win.

2016 Philadelphia Comets Schedule Released

*all games start at 10 a.m.
4/10            @ Red Sox         @ Latshaw-McCarthy (Norristown)

4/17            vs. Irish               @ Germantown Academy (Fort Washington)

4/24            @ Generals         @ Boyce Field (Roxborough)

5/1              vs. Muckdogs      @ G.A. (Fort Washington)

5/8              OFF                     MOTHER'S DAY

5/15           @ Royals              @ Hunting Park (Philadelphia)

5/22           @ Irish                  @ G.A. (Fort Washington)

5/29            OFF                      MEMORIAL DAY

6/5              vs. Red Sox           @ G.A. (Fort Washington)

6/12            vs. Royals             @ G.A. (Fort Washintgon)

6/19            vs. Generals          @ G.A. (Fort Washington)      *one nine inning game

6/26            vs. Muckdogs       @ G.A (Fort Washington)

7/3              OFF                      INDEPENDENCE DAY

7/10            @ Irish                  @ Latshaw-McCarthy (Norristown)

7/17            @ Generals           @ G.A. (Fort Washintgon)

7/24            @ Irish                  @ Villanova Ballpark (Plymouth Meeting)

7/31            vs. Generals           @ G.A. (Fort Washington)

8/7             PLAYOFFS BEGIN

Let's Look Back before we Move Forward

It was new era of Philadelphia Comets baseball in 2015. After winning the Greater Philadelphia Mens Adult Baseball League title in 2012 and 2013, and finishing second in 2014, there was a new manager and several new players in the fold.

After seven years on the Comets, Andrew Marcus stepped up to the plate and took over a team that saw its roster total dip to a mere seven player only weeks prior to the season started in April. A relentless pursuit of players gave them enough to start the year with 19, but no one was quite sure what to expect.

Slowly former Comets got the itch to return and the likes of Matt Gionta, Adam Goldstein, and Jason Rompola gave the perennial winners a fighting chance again midseason. After an 8-16 regular season, which included eight one-run losses, the team started to gel just in time for the playoffs.

The Comets clicked in the playoffs, knocking off the defending champion Philadelphia Muckdogs and the Kensington Royals behind the pitching of Jason Rompola. With team MVP Phil Motley absent for the week due to the birth of his first son, “Romp” threw 14 innings in one day and secured a 1-0 lead in the semifinal three game series.

Motley, who pitched 76 innings and finished with a 2.86 ERA in the regular season, came back to clinch a fourth straight trip the championship. The Comets were the sixth seed out of eight teams in the GPMABL, but no team was hotter.

The Comets eventually ran into some bad luck in the finals against the Philadelphia Colt 45s, who did all the right things when it mattered the most. Motley was one the mound with a 2-0 in Game Three before the Colts pitching cooled off the Comets. The 5-2 loss ended the Comets season one win shy of the ultimate goal.

The loss could not take away from a strong season. Comets first basemen Gavin White and manager/infielder Andrew Marcus finished second and third respectively in the league with 30 and 29 hits in the 24 game regular season. Comets outfielder Kyle Riley also earned an all-star nod for his 26 hits, 17 RBIs, and 1.006 OPS, and his gold glove play in the field.

Newcomers catcher Andrew Dean and outfielder Andrew Napoli also their mark and gave the Comets hope for another strong year next summer. Dean earned team Rookie of the Year for his .391 batting average and play behind the plate.

Comets 2016 Club Continues to Round Out

The 2016 GPMABL Draft was held on February 28th and the Philadephia Comets added two more players to an already strong roster.

PLEASE WELCOME DRAFTEES...

Peter Harper (RHP/1b) - This 40 year old showed he had a lot left in the tank on the mound and at the plate. We know he will gel with the rest of our pitching staff due to his background as an artist. Harper lengthens and already potent lineup and gives brings some much needed depth to the mound.

Brian Sogness (OF) - Sogness has all the potential roam the outfield for the Comets and use he speed on the base paths to help the team push runs across the plate. He too could take some innings on the mound, as he brings a pitching background.

ALSO WELCOME FREE AGENTS...

Dennis Rudzinski (OF)
John Estok (1B/3B)
Ali Khan (OF)

ALSO WELCOME...

New Helmets! Purchase today. I know every in Comets Land is excited about that.

Let's try not throw these too often. (Not mentioning any names)

The Comets could use two or three more players before Opening Day on April 10th, but they will continue to search for prospects an continue to practice hard for the upcoming season.

2016 season gets under way April 10th 2016