PHILADELPHIA — The Middle Township Police Department Honor Guard helped the Phillies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-1 on Aug. 19.
Well, it was either the Honor Guard or the homeruns by Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and two by Jayson Werth or the complete game two-hitter by newly acquired ace Cliff Lee. But it was mostly the Honor Guard that pushed the Phillies to victory.
Before the game as the West Chester Community Chorus sang “The Star Spangled Banner,” the five Honor Guard members — Patrolmen Lenny Larkin, Marcus Phillips, Dave Hagan, Gino Castellano and Josh Bryant — presented the colors on the infield at Citizens Bank Park. In doing so, the Honor Guard apparently left a little Middle Township mojo on the field putting some extra pop in the Phillies’ bats and extra zing in the pitcher’s arm.
According to (soon-to-be police chief) Lt. Chris Leusner, this was the fourth year the Phillies have invited Middle Township’s Honor Guard to participate in pre-game festivities.
“It’s a great event that the officers and their families look forward to every year,” Leusner told the Herald. He said the event started small four years ago with just a couple dozen attending the game.
“This year we sold 98 tickets,” he said.
As the Phillies continued to score, the local fans made a great cheering group in Section 308. Everyone was happy to catch such a great game and even got to take home a Brad Lidge bobblehead.
If the Phillies make it to the World Series again this year, maybe they should invite the Honor Guard since they brought such good luck this time.
Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com
