Chambers Brings Marauders Two More Supporters

Evan and Denise Chambers rarely miss a Bradenton Marauders game in this Florida State League season.

The Lakeland-based couple are regularly in the stands to support their youngest son, Marauders center fielder, Evan Chambers Jr. Whether at home or on the road, the couple has been there without fail since April.

But with the Marauders seeking their first win of the season over the visiting Daytona Cubs, Monday proved to be one of those rare exceptions. Evan Chambers’ job as a radiologist forced him to work late, so he and his wife could not take their usual spots behind the home dugout.

It turns out, Evan Jr. almost didn't make it to the park himself. He ran out of gas on the way to the game from his Tampa home and stalled out on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

“I was kind of in a little bit of a rush,” he said. “I thought I would be fine and I thought I would make it. I guess the incline just kind of moved all the gas to the back of the car.”

Eventually, the 5-foot-11, 210-pound Lakeland High graduate was able to get to work. Later in the night, his parents got on the internet to follow the first multiple home run game of Chambers' three-year professional career.

Already 2-for-2 with a home run and two walks, Chambers gave Bradenton some much-needed insurance and capped the scoring in a 10-5 victory by hitting a two-run shot to left field with two outs in the bottom of the eighth.

After the game his usual postgame chat with his parents was also delayed because he had interviews with the media and had to makeup for his missed pregame workout. Still the ritual was not to be missed.

“We just talk about the positives and negatives,” Chambers said. “My dad and I go over that every night. It’s good to have some people to talk to who understand the game for the most part. My mom gives me advice here and there. She comes up with the more obvious things, but it’s all in a good nature. She is actually a pretty big student of the game and she knows a lot.”

Chambers followed up Monday night’s performance by going 1-for-3 with a run scored and a pair of walks in an 8-5 win over Daytona on Tuesday night. By hitting .353 with three home runs, six runs scored and nine RBI over his last 10 games, his average has climbed to .228 on the season.

“I’ve always heard it’s not how you start the year, but how you finish it,” Chambers said. “Through all my struggles, I wanted to finish off the second half of the season strong.”

After graduating from Lakeland High in 2007, Chambers played one season at the University of Florida and one season at Hillsborough Community College. The Pittsburgh Pirates selected him in the third round of the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft and assigned him to the State College (Pa.) Spikes of the New York-Penn League once a contract was signed.

Chambers' .245 average in the 58 games with the 2009 Spikes is his highest as a professional. He batted .239 with 21 doubles, 12 home runs, 35 stolen bases, 52 RBI and 71 runs scored last year with the West Virginia Power, which is the lower of Pittsburgh’s two full-season Class-A affiliates.

Finishing strong is crucial for Chambers because another season at the Class-A Advanced level would stunt his climb through the organizational ranks. He attributes his recent turnaround to working on his stance and plate adjustments, but never discounts the efforts of his support system.

A support system that has never been too far away for the struggles and the triumphs such as when he hit what proved to be the game-winning grand slam in the seventh inning of a 7-6 win over the host Dunedin Blue Jays on July 13.

“Often times, they just jump right in the car right after my dad gets off work or my mom (a former teacher) gets done with her volunteer work,” Chambers said. “It’s awesome because I love having my parents here and having them watch me play. Their appreciation and effort they put into it is immense.”