AVON — There weren’t a whole lot of fans gathering outside of All Pro Freight Stadium on Thursday night, but the crowd that was there made its presence felt.

Despite delays in travel, about 35 fans waited for the bus carrying the Frontier League champion Lake Erie Crushers to arrive.

When it did, at 10:06 p.m., the fans who waited, some for a few hours, let their professional baseball team know how much their championship win meant to them.

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Vermilion’s George Grayshaw, a season ticket holder, arrived at 8:10 p.m. and was the first person there.
“I used to live in Detroit, and when you waited on the Wings and Pistons to come back (from winning titles), you got there a couple of hours early,” he said. “I got here, and I was like, ‘Anyone? Anyone?’ ”

David Pilger, a season ticket holder from Sheffield Lake, arrived  at 8:30 p.m. with his wife June and sister-in-law Joan.

“These players are very respectful of all the fans,” Pilger said. “Children, adults, it doesn’t matter.”

Grayshaw listened to the web cast of the Crushers’ 13-10 Game 5 victory Wednesday over the River City Rascals in the St. Louis suburb of O’Fallon, Mo.

“I was up until 4 a.m. last night because my adrenaline was going from listening to that win,” he said. “And then my alarm went off at 6 a.m. Even with that, here I am.”

As the bus pulled in, the fans clanged their cowbells, held up signs and cheered. The cheers got even louder as head coach John Massarelli led the troops off the bus.

“It’s unbelievable, really unbelievable,” Massarelli said. “Thank you to the fans. They made my job easier.”
The players were tired from the long trip and the championship celebration. However, many hung around for almost an hour just talking with the fans.

“What an unbelievable season,” said designated hitter Gordon Gronkowski.

There is still no official word if there will be an official rally or parade for the team in the next few days.

Contact Dan Gilles at 329-7135  or ctsports@chroniclet.com.