51s’ trip to Edmonton again full of crazy tales

Nick Christensen

Tuesday, June 15, 2004 | 9:11 a.m.

The Edmonton Trappers are moving to Round Rock, Texas, next year, and you won't hear too many complaints from the Las Vegas 51s.

Early Monday, the 51s trekked from Edmonton to Las Vegas in what has become a twice-annual headache for the team, due primarily to customs inspections and the lack of a direct flight from Alberta to Las Vegas.

In the past, the team flew from Edmonton to Denver, then transferred to Las Vegas. Last season, the team narrowly averted disaster when players' game equipment made it to Cashman Field just hours before the first pitch.

This year, the team tried a different tack, flying from Edmonton to Seattle-Tacoma, then to Las Vegas after a two-hour layover. While the equipment arrived on time, there were nonetheless headaches in what became a 10-hour journey from hotel to home.

The fatigue showed as the 51s lost their fourth consecutive game, and the eighth of their last 10, a 4-2 defeat Monday night to the Portland Beavers at Cashman Field.

According to clubhouse manager Rick Schweitzer, the team's wakeup call was just after 3 a.m. for a shuttle to Edmonton's airport. They then waited for the customs office to open at 5 a.m. to clear their equipment and luggage for federal inspection.

"They took a couple bottles of medication and confiscated some tape remover," Schweitzer said, noting that the team expects such seizures when traveling internationally. He added that authorities also wanted to check the team's radar guns.

Customs authorities also held up Taiwanese outfielder Chin-Feng Chen, who had passport problems. Schweitzer and Chen went to the U.S. Consulate in Calgary, 188 miles away, last Thursday to get Chen a new visa. The consulate's computer system crashed, though, and with Friday's day of mourning for former President Ronald Reagan, Chen had to wait until today to return to Calgary solo to get his visa.

Chen was listed in the lineup for the game, but was a late scratch after he did not return in time to play. Daylan Holt was added to the outfield in place of Chen.

Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, only the 51s' game equipment made it home with the team. Schweiter drove back to McCarran International Airport during rush hour Monday to get players' personal luggage, and many players were carting their suitcases out of the stadium after Monday's loss.

Even for a night after a loss, the home clubhouse at Cashman Field was quieter than usual, as tired players filed out early after putting in a 19-hour day. A few slept on the plane, said manager Terry Kennedy, who called off batting practice Monday despite the team amassing only nine hits in its previous two games.