TinCaps coverage coming to The CR

How many times have we made plans and not completely followed through?

Each new year resolutions are made, but far too often they don’t last past February or March.

But as another calendar changes from December to January we tell ourselves, “This is the year I’ll stick to my resolutions!”

This will be that year.

A plan that was hatched three years ago never fully came to fruition.

It barely got off the ground.

Three years ago I told myself I was going to head north to cover Fort Wayne TinCaps games.

I attended one out of a possible 70 games at Parkview Field.

The last two years I had intentions of making my way back north to cover the team, only to get busy with local spring sports and welcome the “time off” during the summer months before high school sports got back into the swing of things during the fall.

However, none of that will happen this time around.

To make a long story short, TinCaps coverage is coming to The Commercial Review.

In fact, if everything goes well — and space provides — there will be results from each game.

Let it be known, though, as it always has been, local news is the top priority. I won’t skip a Patriot golf match, an Indian track meet or a Starfire tennis match in favor of going to Fort Wayne to cover the TinCaps.

It’s not fair to the readers, or the athletes, to do so.

I’m simply going to expand a bit The Commercial Review’s coverage area to one of the state’s two Class A Minor League Baseball teams in an attempt to continue the trend of award-winning content within these pages.

As a journalist, I’m always looking for ways to improve my craft. I’ve begun reading more, and am always searching for  new ways and angles to see games through a camera. I think the TinCaps will be an excellent avenue to assist in growing as a writer and as a photographer.

Baseball is my passion. It always has been. And the more I can immerse myself in the sport, the better off I will be.

And I’m hoping it will translate into improving my continued coverage of the local teams.

Today’s sports section includes the first story from my coverage of the 2018 TinCaps season. The San Diego Padres on Sunday announced the initial 25-man roster for the TinCaps, and it’s a small preview of who will be around on opening day.

(Fort Wayne opens the season Thursday in Eastlake, Ohio, against the Lake County Captains. The home opener is Saturday.)

The TinCaps are loaded with talent, including the organization’s No. 2 prospect and the third overall pick from June’s draft, MacKenzie Gore, a 19-year-old lefty pitcher from North Carolina.

Each day in The Commercial Review, again as space allows, there will be a small section titled “TinCap Recap.” It will be designed similar to the football and basketball previews during their respective seasons, but it will be geared toward away games and home contests I don’t make it to because of the local sports schedule.

There will be a small recap of the previous day’s game, other notes about the season (or trends from recent games) and any other pertinent information such as Midwest League standings. The “Local schedule” section of the “Sports on tap” will also include the TinCaps’ upcoming schedule, just as it does for Jay County, Fort Recovery and South Adams sports teams.

On days the schedule is open for the Patriots, Indians and Starfires, I will be found up in Fort Wayne at Parkview Field with the TinCaps.

I hope you’ll enjoy the added coverage as much as I will.