6/8/2013-Frank Florio gets a piece of the ball, sending it out for one of his two singles for the game. (Photo by Robert Bailey)

By Karen Boehler
Pecos League writer

ROSWELL -- Fridays Pecos League game betwen Trinidad and Roswell at JOe Bauman Field ended in a flurry of controversy -- not because of anything that happened on the field, but because of what came out of the sky.

With the Triggers pounding the Invaders 11-3 in the bottom of the third, a storm that had threatened all night moved in, first with lightning that caused the umpires to call a temporary halt to proceedings, then with wind and pounding rain that lasted about 20 minutes.

But even when there was no rain, no one made any moves to cover the field -- or, at least, the pitchers mound and batters box -- and by the time the storm passed over, both those parts of the field were unplayable.

"We called (groundskeeper) Charlie (Ward, who was on vacation)) and we dont have a tarp," said Roswell manager Chris Ebright. "We dont have diamond dry. We dont have kitty litter. The infield is playable. Its great. Its the pitchers mound and home plate. We were told by our grounds crew that we did not have any (tarps.)"

Trinidad manager J.D. Droddy was fuming, claiming the game was called because of the score.

"Of course Im not happy. We were lied to," he said. "The sabotaged it, because they didnt play.We were beating the hell out of them. Lack of integrity and Im disappointed with Chris Ebright because he played dumb."

While Droddy wants the game to be resumed in Trinidad, Ebright said itll be picked up in Roswell.

"Im hoping its get made up in Trinidad, because thats what should happen," Droddy said. "They sabotaged the game. It should be resumed in Trinidad. Thatll be up to the commissioner. But equity says it shouldnt happen, because they sabotaged the game."

"It will be at our place," Ebright said. "They come back the end of June and I do believe the rules say we pick up where we left off. Like we did the last game, and just take it from there. The infields perfect, but its the pitchers mound and the batters box and where the catchers at its unplayable, and we had no affect on this decision. It was the umpires. We were told by the grounds crew and we looked in the shed and we do not have tarps."

Expect some possible fireworks when the Invaders travel to Trinidad June 16.

"If they think this teams better than us, theyre full of crap," Droddy said. "Theyve been playing at home. Weve been playing on the road. This team is no better than ours and Im not sure theyre as good, and well see when the season is over."