Photo: David Demic

“When the doors opened and everyone came in at once, there was a little panic between everyone,” bartender Joe Hruska said.

The stress and excitement of the Crow Bar & Grill finally opening was underway.

“We had a list of drinks on our order tape about 7 feet long within four minutes. It was a couple of hours before we really got into a flow of things,” Hruska said.

And with all this business flowing in the doors, there were some kinks that the newest of Laramie’s bars suddenly faced.

“We had seven or eight kegs on tap opening night and all the beer was pouring warm and the pressures were way too far off. They had just been installed that day, so we never had time to fiddle with them,” Hruska said.

This beer malfunction made it difficult for customers’ needs to be met. Overall, the process of opening the Crowbar & Grill was no easy task. Co-owner Andy Glines, who worked at Big Hollow Food Coop before he decided to open his own gastropub with friend and co-owner Justin Turner, describes the hoops he had to jump through to get the business going.

“I guess the pieces that took the longest were … our building permit which [took] about two months,” Glines said. “We were changing this entire space from basically just a retail store to a kitchen.”

Glines has learned a lesson in the short few days of being open.

“Everybody says ‘don’t open until you’re ready,’ but the first thing we found out was like when we thought we were ready – you’re really not,” Glines said.

After opening night, and realizing the issues that popped up, there are some changes being made to accommodate the flow of business.

“We are currently waiting for a walk-in cooler to chill the kegs and get some kinks worked out with the tap lines as well,” Hruska said. The Crowbar & Grill hopes to serve up to 15 craft beers on tap.

“Another issue has been keeping a steady list of bottled beers for people to choose from. The distributors didn’t expect us to be needing so much of so many, and we keep buying out their stock,” Hruska said.

The Crowbar & Grill sets itself apart by its mood and relaxed atmosphere.

“It’s a great place to go for groups just wanting to eat, sit around and talk and enjoy some beers and cocktails you don’t normally find in other establishments in Laramie, or go on a date, or just got sit at the bar and have a conversation with someone,” Hruska said. “The Crowbar and Grill is different because of the atmosphere we are trying to provide.”

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“The players on the team give up their summer to play summer baseball in order to improve their game, learn new skills, rehabilitate injuries, and gain experience in a competitive setting with a lot of games in a short period of time,” Colts Manager Maria Almendares said. “These are the players that you will see playing at the next level.”

Photo: Edward Timmons. Second base forward Mason Smith during batting practice before the Colts versus Casper Cutthroats game June 7. The Colts won 14-9 against the Cutthroats.

But next to a strenous schedule, Colts Pitchers Alex Martin and Michael Coelho said that the team cohesiveness is also one of joking around and laughing with teammates. “We all love each other. We believe in the term ‘E.L.E.’ – everybody love everybody,” Martin said. The Laramie Colts Baseball Club started eight summers ago in 2005. They play on the University of Wyoming campus at Cowboy Field. This season, the Colts will compete with 27 players and three coaches on the team. “In the first seven years, the Laramie Colts have played in five league playoffs and won three league championships [in 2006, 2008, and 20090,” Almendares said.

The Laramie Colts Baseball Club has been off to a level start this season, with a record of 4-5 overall. With more than 40 games left to play, the Colts have plenty of time to turn their record into a winning one.

The Colts play that number of games in a relatively short season, lasting only a couple of months.

“Because the players are all members of their respective collegiate teams, our season is just two months in the summer,” Almendares said. “The players return to their schools for their regular seasons when school begins in the fall. Many of the players are on athletic scholarships with their respective colleges.”

In preparation for returning to school, the team is focuses on continually improving.

“The improvement of our guys [is our most important goal],” Head Coach Marty Berson said. “It’s about them.”

To Berson, working toward improving the players’ skills is the key to success as a team.

“It’s not about winning. If we improve, winning takes care of itself,” Berson said.

The Colts main competitor are the Ft. Collins Foxes, who are one of four teams competing in the Mountain Collegiate Baseball League and have defeated the Colts three times this season.

“I think eventually we are going to be on a par with them and I’m hoping that it’s between us for the championship,” Berson said.

Berson said he does not want his players working out too much during the season. He discourages players from lifting weights everyday, since it would be too strenuous with their schedule and it would be too easy for players to get injured, he said.

“These guys had a college season [and now] a summer season — these guys need a rest,” Berson said.

Martin said he would reccomend the beer and hotdog diet, which Berson referred to as the “Babe Ruth Diet.”

Since the Colts are just beginning their summer season, fans are welcome to come out and watch a home game at the Cowboy Field, Almendares said.

“The Laramie Colts are not affiliated with UW or the UW club baseball team, though our goal is to help continue to build a baseball community in Laramie and provide fun family entertainment during the summer in Laramie,” Almendares said.

Further information, game schedules and players statistics for the Colts can be found on their website, www.laramiecolts.com.

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