1:35pm Waiting for the first girl’s game between Ponte Vedra and Olympia to resume with the Sharks up 1-0 with 21:25 left in the first half. A lightning strike was followed by rain and we are still waiting. According to the FHSAA officials we will be here pretty late if necessary. Thankfully I checked into my hotel room already . . . Press box food is pasta, pizza, salads, etc. Still waiting for someone to try Vichyssoies. IMG’s facilities are top notch!  Press box above the field.  Huge grounds for growth.  Lacrosse-only fields being groomed. Rain is coming down pretty heavy. Guess I’ll need to network a little.   1:59 We just got another lightning strike – another 30 minutes And on top of that we got a Tornado Warning, not an alert, a warning. And I’m four stories up in the only tall structure in the area.  Well, I always wanted to go on a tornado chase.   2:07 Wells show up, wearing another station’s rain jacket.  What’s up with that? Brian is on his way up too.  He actually got here first but went to check in to his hotel, which we might not be able to use tonight at this rate. Ran out of food. Ryan Clark of the Sun-Sentinel is here. The Palm Beach Post is not.   3:15 The rain has finally subsided and FHSAA officials are meeting with the women’s team representatives to see if field conditions warrant wither continuing the game or possibly postponing the women to tomorrow and letting the boy’s games go on. It’s been fun networking around with other media reps.  The talk has been great, both for lacrosse and other sports. Still no Vichyssoise . . .   3:25pm It’s now official, the girls games have been moved to Saturday morning at 10:00am and 12:00 noon. The boy’s games will still be scheduled for tonight, with tentative times of 8:00pm and 10:00pm tonight. Assuming the boy’s final is played tomorrow night the girl’s would then be pushed back to Sunday.   3:33pm For the few of you who are wondering, I left the house this morning at 7:30am and decided to take the central scenic route to Bradenton.  This means the Florida Turnpike to the Beeline, which is Route 710.  Then you feed yourself up to Okeechobee via small roads running along the Amtrak rails. When you get to Okeechobee you take the western road to Route 70 towards Acadia. A LOT OF BUGS. Windshield not looking so hot. Historic Arcadia, that’s what the sign said. If anyone can enlighten me . . . The trip from Arcadia to Bradenton isn’t bad once you get past the correctional facilities when the orange groves and the cattle ranches start.  Actually had to go up a small incline on the road . . . didn’t know any of those existed in the center of this area. Once you get near Bradenton the traffic lights start to pile up.  But finally, here we are. I know this isn’t the most exciting part of the write-up but I think I needed to say something before going out to grab a bite.  Since we are looking at a number of hours to go, why not? And for those who care, the Dow is currently down 35 points. See you later!   5:49pm   Well, back from an early bird dinner, without the senior discount. Met with good news! The boy’s games are going to be played, starting at 7:00pm.  The lightning possibilities are gone and the rain has lightened noticeably. The field is draining well and the forecast is light rain with the possibility of it fully stopping by game time. Brian and I decided to look for a bite and came upon an old-fashioned looking fish place named Rotten Ralph’s. Yeah, I don’t know why they picked that name . . . at least it’s memorable. Like Hobart’s upset of NEC regular season champ St. Joseph’s yesterday in the first game of that tourney! Had to find a way to fit that one in. Good Grouper sandwich. Saw Coach Spaulding and Coach Rye as I was walking in.  Both look ready for action. Met up with the LHP parents, who, in tradition, had put out their road warrior food spread . . . still the best in the business. Spoke with Alex Ozuna of the FHSAA and he gave me the weather report mentioned above. Also saw Paul Cicio, here for the first game as referee.  He and his crew are on the field right now walking it to see how the conditions are. Time to check out the media food spread. Maybe the vichysoisse made it . . .   6:29pm   Players are out on the field!  And the rain is pretty much done. But no Vichy. While waiting I’m tuning in Cornell-Penn in the Ivy tourney on ESPN3 – Big Red come out smoking in the third quarter with 5 straight to take a 10-7 lead.  Surprised Ernie hasn’t phoned me to gloat yet.   6:55pm   Introductions and the anthem coming up Let’s get it on!   7:19pm   4-2 LHP after one.  Parker 6-0 on faceoffs PV needs to control the ball better.  When they do their players are finding openings.   7:23pm   LHP 5-3 2 minutes into the 2nd Max Parker with two goals on individual efforts after faceoffs.  PV shutting off other players and Max beating the defender one on one   7:32pm   LHP 5 -4.  PV defense getting a rhythm, LHP shooting off   7:43   LHP 6-4 at the half Parker is 11-0 at the circle PV played a solid second. LHP 10 turnovers, PV 7 LHP got off 9 shots but only hit the net with 3 Parker and Richbourg with 2 goals each for LHP Legeza with 2 for PV   8:00pm   8:28 left in 3rd LHP 7-4 Wolfson on left alley dodge.  LHP defense tightening and running from up top   8:16pm   LHP 10-5 after three LHP middies breaking down PV mid defense. PV goalie getting beat high Parker 17-0. Faceoff percentages really hurting PV comeback attempt, LHP getting off tons of shots   8:38   LHP 14-9 with a minute to go.  PV scored three straight to get to 10-8 but Parker kills the momentum with a pop and score and LHP goes on 4-0 run to put game away. Parker is 24-0 and has a hat trick   8:41 14-9 Final   9:12 Game 2 – Benjamin vs. St. Thomas Benjamin injuries a problem, STA as healthy as possible Adler to start in goal for STA   Thedford with three Parker MVP to me   Benjamin 2-0 after 7 minutes Cicio red hot on excellent STA looks Benj offense opportunistic so far   9:37 Benj off to dream start 7-1 after 1 Adler out, Tobin in Johnston with 3  and Packer 2/1 Cicio with 5 saves in first, all tough saves Silvester with 2 Cumella and Benj FOGO’s even   9:55 2 minutes left in first half 8-2.  Cicio continues to make big saves Stauffer and Yovino trade goals STA making too many mistakes in own half Tobin heating up   10:00   8-2 halftime Cicio with 9 saves, almost all excellent scoring chances O’Connor winning matchup with Curtin STA defense starting to turn it up   10:24   10-4 Benj with two in 18 seconds and STA responds with 2 Stauffer and Silvester Koss and Yovino Benj ball after TO  3:33 left in 3rd   10:34   11-5 after three, with Benj getting a late killer Koss asserting himself more and Yovino getting going Stauffer with 3 goals in supporting role STA looks like it might have one more run in them but it has to start early   10:46   13-7 teams trading goals and STA can’t make a dent in the lead O’Connor outplaying Curtin in marquee matchup Benjamin keeping STA outside in fourth and taking time off on offense   10:58   Griffin Bowie injured, able to walk off 13-8 3:53 left   11:02   Late penalties kill STA chances of making a run Benjamin deserved the game and we are set for a great final tomorrow at 5:00pm tomorrow Cicio huge in first half as 7-1 Benjamin lead held up all game   Koss with late two-man down short-hander 14-9 final