New Sea Dogs make a hit

PORTLAND – Just seconds after Rick Hirtensteiner’s line drive homer cleared the right field fence in the second inning, a loud fog horn went off.

Slowly, a lighthouse with a rotating beacon ascended from behind the center field fence to the delight of the 6,274 fans at Hadlock Field here Monday.

Professional baseball was back in Maine as the Portland Sea Dogs played their home opener against the Albany-Colonie Yankees. It was the first time since 1949 that pro baseball was played in Portland. The state hasn’t had pro baseball since 1988 when the Maine Phillies left for Pennsylvania.

The beacon flashed for a couple of minutes before the lighthouse began a slow descent.

The routine would be repeated in the seventh inning when Charles Johnson walloped a homer off the impressive large scoreboard in left-center field and again in the ninth when Johnson blasted another homer over the right field fence.

It was only appropriate that Johnson bring the fans to their feet since he received the biggest ovation during Monday’s introductions.

Johnson is familiar to some Maine fans because he played for the University of Miami Hurricanes against the University of Maine’s Black Bears. Johnson and the Hurricanes visited Orono a few years ago.

The Eastern League’s Double-A Sea Dogs may be struggling on the field, but the fans didn’t seem to mind.

The Sea Dogs, affiliated with the second-year Florida Marlins of the National League, brought an eight-game losing streak into Monday’s home opener. That streak was extended to nine games with a 7-6 loss to the Yanks.

Hadlock Field, modernized with a $1.5-million facelift, was something to behold on this day. So was the atmosphere.

“This is incredible,” said distinguished play-by-play man Chris Schenkel, who made the pregame introductions. “We live between Fort Wayne and South Bend (Indiana) and they are comparable size cities to Portland. They have minor league teams, but there is no way they can match the enthusiasm here.”

“This is an excellent ballpark,” said Albany-Colonie second baseman Carlton Fleming. “A lot of the guys compare it to Camden Yards (in Baltimore).”

“It’s a beautiful ballpark and it looks in good shape,” said A-C manager Bill Evers.

“Everything is big league,” said Sea Dogs manager Carlos Tosca.

Sea Dogs owner Daniel Burke’s eyes glimmered with the glee of a youngster who had just spotted a train set under the Christmas tree.

“We’re going to have a lot of fun here,” beamed Burke, the retired president and chief executive officer for Capital Cities/ABC.

Burke put up a $3.5 million franchise fee two years ago that brought professional baseball back to Maine.

Burke is a long-time summer resident of Maine. He said he’s looking forward to spending some quality time with his eight grandchildren at Hadlock.

The game appropriately gave the enthusiastic fans a dramatic ending.

Johnson’s ninth inning homer pulled the Sea Dogs to within 7-6, and they loaded the bases with no outs.

A shallow fly, a strikeout, and an acrobatic catch by Albany-Colonie centerfielder Jason Robertson ended the game.

Although it was a loss, no one went away unhappy.