FAN FEST BECOMES HOMER FEST

Hitting Daryl Thompson came about 6 ½ months too late.

But, for the Barnstormers fans that turned out for the annual pre-season Fan Fest on Saturday afternoon, it was still a very enjoyable sight.

Lancaster belted four homers in four innings off Thompson, the man who fired a complete game shutout against the Barnstormers in the 2015 playoffs, in an 11-0 victory in front of more than 3,000 fans at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

First baseman Mike McDade opened the salvo with a two-run homer to right center in the bottom of the second inning. Two batters later, Kevin Ahrens found the screen in right center field with another two-run shot as the Barnstormers opened a 4-0 lead.

Travis Witherspoon launched a solo homer in the third, and Josh Bell opened the fourth with the longest of the four, giving the Barnstormers a 6-0 advantage.

Ahrens, Michael Crouse and Charlie Cutler continued to hammer away at Thompson with consecutive RBI singles in the bottom of the fourth. Overall, the Barnstormers reached the right-hander for 12 hits and nine runs in his four innings or work.

Seven Lancaster pitchers combined to check the Blue Crabs on four hits. Lefty Andrew Albers, a former Minnesota Twin, struck out five in three innings, including four consecutively, to earn the win. Cory Burns, Michael Lee, Al Yevoli, Kamikani Usui, Cameron McVey and Justin Jackson followed with a scoreless frame apiece.

The Barnstormers continue their spring schedule at 2:00 on Sunday afternoon with a game against the Blue Crabs at Regency Furniture Stadium in Charles County, MD. Right-hander Bryan Woodall will make the start for Lancaster.