Hershey Bears Take Batting Practice with the Harrisburg Senators


Zach Sill throws a ball to first base as Riley Barber and Travis Boyd look on. (All Photos: Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)

Sometimes it’s nice to get away from the rink and have some fun at another stadium. That’s what the Hershey Bears did on Thursday afternoon as they joined the Harrisburg Senators on City Island to try their hand at some batting practice.

Zach Sill, Chris Bourque, Ryan Bourque, Garrett Mitchell, Dustin Gazley, Riley Barber, Christian Thomas, Madison Bowey, Travis Boyd, and Hubert Labrie all partook in the session, as Senators manager Matt LeCroy threw them some live pitching.

Ryan Bourque, who had a not so kind experience last time he took BP, enjoyed the experience to take a break from that constant playoff mindset a player can get into sometimes. “When you’re go-go-go all the time, you like to get away and separate your mind from it,” said Bourque. “The Senators are awesome for letting us do this. We appreciate it. I know we’ve been talking about it now for a few weeks, so all the guys were really excited to come here and get a chance to do it.”

While many players made solid contact with the ball, Sill was the only player to hit a ball out of the ballpark all day. The 28-year-old never played baseball but did play fastpitch before his career as a professional hockey player. “I love playing,” said Sill. “I played until I was about 20. It’s different seeing it come from overtop unlike fastpitch were you see it come from underneath. It was a lot of fun.”

Sill’s home run came on one of the final swings of the day, and he knew right away it was gone. “That one felt the best. [LeCroy] said ‘That’s the one.’ He heard it from the sound. It felt good, felt real good!”

His teammates told him to round the bases after crushing the homer, and they would celebrate with him at home plate.

PHOTOS:

Ryan Bourque takes a photo prior to batting practice


Travis Boyd picks his weapon of choice.


Riley Barber takes a practice swing


Zach Sill watches a pop-up


Madison Bowey tracks back for a ball.


Chris Bourque swings at a pitch


Senators catcher Spencer Kieboom talks to Christian Thomas and Dustin Gazley


Kieboom applys grip stick to a bat


Ryan Bourque prepairs to swing


Pitcher Jake Johansen meets some of the Bears


Sill throws the ball to Thomas at first base


Garret Mitchell takes a turn in the cage.


Gazley inspects his bat


Ryan Bourque waits for a line drive


Barber gets set for a pitch.


Thomas takes a swing.


Mitchell brings a bag of balls back to the mound.


Madison Bowey takes a hack.


Barber looks to catch a ball.


Boyd’s gets set to take a swing.

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