Junior TJ Johnson has agreed to do a daily blog of Kutztown's experience at the Builder Invitational in Hampton, Virginia. Here's his first entry:
 
DAY 1 (Thursday, February 23, 2012)
 
 
After waiting 18 days we finally get to return to the diamond to play Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) foe Lock Haven.

However, this away game wasn't a three-hour ride northwest to Lock Haven, but a 325 mile trip south through three states and Washington D.C. to Newport News, Virginia.

We are heading south to play in the Builder Invitational tournament against Lock Haven, The Apprentice School, Bloomsburg, and Briarcliffe College.

Today was jam packed and can only be condensed in a time line of the series of events we took on:

8:15 a.m. The team meets outside of Keystone Hall to load up the vans.  Thomas Romano (Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville), Ricky Devlin (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough), and Brandon Hickey (Mountville, PA/Hempfield) are already on pace to break their personal records for questions asked in one day.

8:35 a.m. After waiting for Shayne Houck (Boyertown, PA/Boyertown), Damon Valloreo (Vincentown, N.J./Burlington CCC), and Kyle Stoudt (Mertztown, PA/Brandywine Heights) to finish up their morning exam, we finally start the fleet of four white vans.

8:37 a.m.  Everyone is back to sleep.

9:45 a.m.  Festivities begin and Van #2 is breaking down some intense jam sessions that turn into world's worst karaoke real quick.  All music brought to you by J.R. Seader (Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway/ Maryland-Baltimore County) a.k.a. DJ JR.

10:30 a.m.  Baseball is in the “Greenhouse” but there are no bats.  The batter is in the “Greenhouse” yet no pitcher.  Are you following?  Well don't ask Gilbert Vega (Lancaster, PA/J.P. McCaskey) because he can't seem to figure out this mind game we love to play on road trips.

If you can't figure out the “Greenhouse” maybe you will get this one.  I wake up in Oakland, fly to Richmond stay three nights, drive to Oklahoma, shoot over to Lexington stay for two nights, and finally fly to Savannah.  Where are we?  Baltimore, you say?  That is correct, but John Iezzi (West Chester, PA/Henderson) has no clue.  Do you?

1:00 p.m.  The team stops for lunch and a chance to stretch our legs after a long morning drive.  Cody Montz (Schuylkill Haven, PA/Schuylkill Haven) is still asleep and won't be eating lunch with the rest of us.

2:37 p.m.  Arrive at the Best Western of Newport News, Va.  Sweatshirts and pants quickly transformed into shorts and shirts.  Cody Montz (Schuylkill Haven, PA/Schuylkill Haven) is finally woken up.

2:45 p.m.  Check-in for the tournament, the Tiger Woods Masters tournament that is.  More than half the team dropped by Trent Mertz (Kutztown, PA/Kutztown) and Corey Buletza (St. Clair, PA/Pottsville)'s room, to put their name in for the tourney being played on two video game systems.

“It keeps us loose, gives us some competitive fun while were down here.” Corey Buletza (St. Clair, PA/Pottsville) said on the team tourney.

4:00 p.m.  Mood quickly changed from vacation feeling to game time feel.  All joking is put aside and motivated faces emerge as each player makes the trip to the front lobby for a pregame pep talk from Coach Chris Blum.

6:00 p.m.  Game time.  Our games really are a team effort and having every player keeping it loose is key.  As a unit we feed off each other; the better we connect, the better we play out on the field.

During the game we find ways to keep it fun and serious at the same time.  Brandon Hickey (Mountville, PA/Hempfield) and Karl Von Kiel (Macungie, PA/West Mount) were welcomed to the fun side of the game tonight.  Around the fourth inning, the rest of the guys blew bubbles and placed them on top of the unexpected freshmen's hats.  Each of them had no idea of the bubble and the prank lasted for two full innings.

Another important aspect many don't see is the superstitions we have as a team.  'Yoda' and 'Storm Trooper' are our most obvious and important superstition we have.  This all started when Andrew Otterberg (Wall Township, N.J./Wall Township) started hanging a Sponge Bob Square Pants head from the dugout in 2010.  That year the team brought it all the way to the World Series. 

“Yoda has the force within himself to bring us the win.” mentioned J.R. Seader (Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway/ Maryland-Baltimore County) on the Star Wars combo. “They are best friends and seeing them work as one makes us do it to.”

Yoda and Storm Trooper watch the games from the dugout and really give us the force to overcome our opponents. 

8:57 p.m.  Matt Albaugh (Hatfield, PA/North Penn) catches Connor Wing (West Chester, PA/Unionville)'s strike three pitch to finish the game and give us the 'W', 12-1.  The team meets to congratulate each other on a successful day of work.

9:30 p.m.  After grabbing a quick bite to eat, the Tiger tournament begins.  Trent Mertz (Kutztown, PA/Kutztown) jumps to an early lead; however, the match has been postponed due to curfew.

11:00 p.m.  Curfew.  All the players are back to their assigned rooms and preparing to call it a night after a very eventful day. 

We are all very happy with our first day here, but excited to keep it rolling and bringing back five wins to Kutztown.  Tomorrow we play the hosting Apprentice School at noon.