In the 5th inning against the Sussex SkyHawks, Anthony Granato argued a called strike all the way to the dugout and continued when he got there, until he was tossed by the home plate umpire. That may have been the end of it, but not for J.C. Huguet. Huguet, a starting pitcher and coach for the club, stepped forward and took the fall saying that it was him who was mouthing off in the dugout.

He walked toward the umpire, hitting his chest. "It was me," he yelled, "why didn't you talk to me?" J.C. fought for Granato all the way across the field and into the clubhouse, an old farmhouse, at the end of the park.

Up and down the roster, the team is full of guys like that. Unfortunately, heart does not win ballgames. If it did, the Atlantic City Surf would have won that one.

Instead it was their third loss in a three-game series against Sussex at Skylands Park, as the Surf were swept masterfully by one of the best hitting teams in the Can-Am League.

Following a game one blowout in which Surf's pitchers gave up a combined nineteen hits, leading to a 12-6 Hawks victory; Huguet and Jim Wladyka were visibly shaken. Wladyka struggled in his previous outings, entering the game with an 8.02 ERA.

Huguet, however, pitched a shutout in his previous start. Cecil Fielder said, "He just competes."

But there was no doubt about how much Wladyka and Huguet cared after that loss. It was on them and they knew that. No one needed to baby them. They manned up.

The three-game series began a six day road trip, then the team headed home to face the New Jersey Jackals for four games.

Shortly after the team arrived in Sussex , Manager Cecil Fielder made out the lineup and it didn't include first baseman Joe Burke.

"I'm not playing tonight and I'm not happy about it," Burke said." I'd rather swing through it then rest."

Fielder opted to play Billy Kovatch, but empathized when told Burke wasn't happy. "That's how players are. I never liked days off either. I understand."

That night Kovatch earned his keep going 4-5

Burke was back in the lineup the following night, but in a frustrating loss for the Surf Sussex won 3-2. Adam Cox pitched well allowing one run on five hits and struck out seven. Carter McQuigg had an opportunity to save the day when he was up with the bases loaded and one out. But he grounded into a double-play, inspiring Fielder to throw his helmet across the field toward the dugout from first.

While they played more solidly in the final game of the series, they fell short in a way that Huguet sees as the major problem. "We're just not getting that big hit or that big pitch."

Fielder also called out umpires in the Can-Am league. "That umpire cost a chance to score. That's what I hate about the umpires in this league. They think they're getting it right and they're not."

Make no mistake, though; he wasn't apologizing for the team's performance. "You have to have a little pride in your game. You have to have pride."

The team did not take it lightly. They were as somber as they'd ever been and, in an unusual move for them, they refused to talk.

Their pride matters to them. That much was clear. But as the second half begins the team must make clear how capable they are of getting those big hits and making those big pitches. Huguet also sees another factor involved that no baseball game is without.

"We need a little luck on our side."