Aug. 2 York PA On the Flyin' Hawaiian
YORK, Pa. -- Since I had the evening free and a weekend series in Harrisburg on tap, I took advantage of the opportunity to swing by the brand new, $32 million Sovereign Bank Stadium, home of the York Revolution of the Atlantic League.
While they are still very much in the "pardon our dust" mode, this will finish up as a gem of a ballyard.
Was a little surprised to hear that all 20 suites have been locked up with 10 year leases...in part because I don't know much about York other than it's the home of an old mate of mine from my Christian Music days, Dave Boyer, and that it's on the road to somewhere else.
Was pleased to hook up with Keoni De Renne --the Flyin' Hawaiian-- who anchors second base for the Revs, and is hitting better than .300 while holding fort at the top of the order.
Keoni was an important part of last year's Portland Sea Dogs, and their run to the Eastern League championship. Not an everyday player, and not considered a Red Sox prospect, Keoni nonetheless had his moments.
Among them was a bases clearing triple that helped seal the deal for the Dogs.
That turned out to be a final (for now) hurrah for De Renne in affiliated ball, but in the "God's ways are not as our ways" department, a new door has opened for him in York.
"I'm loving it," he said, as we walked off the field. "I'm having a good time. I'm just glad to be back playing baseball again. There's other places I'd rather be, but I'm very happy that I'm here."
That other place he spoke of is back in affiliated ball. Most guys in the independent leagues will tell you that getting back to affiliated is the dream that drives them.
Keoni is no different.
But he's not going to let that stop him from enjoying life in York to the hilt.
"That's why we keep playing the game," he said. "There's a lot of guys on this team, and around the league, who want to be playing affiliated baseball. But it's all about timing. If that opportunity were to come up, it's because God opened up that door. But I honestly don't think about it, because I'm having a lot of fun."
Dan Hickling
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