Bartenders of the Taproom

09/17/2026

Thursday

Regular Menu: 11am - 8pm

Wings: 5pm - 8pm (or out)

Drink Specials: 5pm - 8pm

Bar closes as early as 10pm.

09/03/2026

Thursday, September 3

Regular Menu 11am - 8pm

Wings and drink specials: 5pm - 8pm

Bar closes as early as 10pm

08/27/2026

Thursday - August 27

Wings and drink specials: 5pm - 8pm
Regular Menu: 11am - 8pm

Bar closes as early as 10pm.

08/26/2026

Drink Special of the Day!

Raquette Rum Runner! 🍹☀️

08/20/2026

Thursday Wings and Martinis!

11am - 8pm: Regular Menu
5pm - 8pm: Wings and Drink Specials

Bar closes as early as 10pm
(Unless you are here…then we don’t close at 10 - so come hang out?

08/19/2026

Lunch specials Wednesday 8/19
Kitchen open 11-8pm
Last call at least 10pm latest 12am

08/13/2026

Meatloaf with fries and gravy lunch special today 11-2pm
Wings 5-8pm

08/12/2026

Congratulations to Inlet and all teams on a great season!

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1518278623437668&id=100057666331110

Mudsliders vs. Hot Screamers Championship

In a repeat game from last year’s championship game, the Raquette Lake Taproom
Mudsliders met on Inlet’s Matt’s Hot Screamer’s field on Tuesday, August 11th. The weather was perfect for softball. Fans were standing two to three rows deep on the sidelines, smells of hot dogs from someone’s grill filled the air and music pumped from the speakers. Even boats were pulling up and lining the boardwalk. Both teams worked through their warmups and pre-game rituals in preparation for the last game of the season and at 6:30PM, the National Anthem played, the coin flip thrown and the ump shouted “play ball!”

Raquette started on offense in the top of the 1st inning with Sandy “Strippy” Tetreault who
cracked a hard grounder at the short stop beating the throw to first. Sara “Bring it on”
Shanahan smacked a grounder toward the third base woman who quickly sent the ball to
second and then second cruised the ball to first for a double play. Sara “Slugger” Warner
ripped a line drive into center field and Jenifer “Jenna-T” Temple hit a hard grounder, but no
runs were scored. Score 0 – 0.

In the field, Madison “Mad-Dawg” Rice scooped a hard grounder behind second base and
propelled it to Lora “Lo Lo” Bornemann at first. When Inlet hit a long fly ball that dropped
just shy of Strippy in the field, a relay from Strippy to Mad-Dawg to Sara Shanahan behind
the plate nabbed a runner trying to slide into home. Rhonda “Help us” Pitoniak grabbed a
pop fly near the mound for the third out. Score 0 – 1.

Top of the second inning, Deb “Toga” Dalpos, Aris “’Merica” Bird, and Jennifer “Shins”
Ernenwein all cracked solid grounders but didn’t beat the throw to first.

Bottom of the second inning, Mad-Dawg fielded a grounder and zoomed it to Lora at first. Sara Warner collected two challenging outs, catching long fly balls to left field and making it look like a day in the park. Score 0 – 1.

Back behind the plate, Leslie “Firecracker” Beauchamp muscled a ball into center field that
the was caught. Mad-Dawg crushed a long fly ball into left field that held promise to sail
over the fence, but the left fielder reached up and snagged it. Jaimee “J-Bolt” Tormey gave a
little poke toward third base that was bobbled and channeled her inner lightning to first.
Lora thundered a hard-line drive over the third base woman into left field. Kaycie “Haul it in”
Haller hit a grounder to short that forced an out at second. Score still 0 – 2.

The game was moving quickly for both teams and Inlet pressed during the bottom of the
third inning to advance in a second run. Aris “’Merica” Bird fielded a grounder and threw to
first, Mad-Dawg scooped a grounder and flicked to Bird at third and Bird snagged a
grounder and tagged third. Score 0 – 2.
Gary and Elaine pulled the team side during the top of the 5th inning. He told us to “breathe
and go have fun.” There were some laughs and smiles and Raquette went to work at bat.
Sara “Slugger” Warner lived up to her name and annihilated a ball over the left field fence
for a homerun. Jenifer “Jenna-T” Temple gave a little poke that was bobbled by third base
and beat the throw to first. ‘Merica cracked a fly ball over third base before the left fielder
for a single and inched Jenna-T to second. Jennifer “Shins” Ernewein smacked a ball
through the infield that loaded the bases. Leslie “Firecracker” Beauchamp for the second
time this season put a fireworks show on for display cruising a ball up center field bringing
in Jenna-T and Bird. Mudsliders pulled ahead 3-2!

Bottom of the 5th, Bird stopped a grounder and threw it to Lora at first, then caught a fly ball
in the infield. Mad-Dawg finished the inning collecting an infield fly. Score 3-2.

Top of the 6th inning, Raquette did their best but couldn’t get the bats going. Headed back
into the field, Raquette knew they needed to remain firm. Kaycie Haller ran through center
field, slid on her knees and reached for a ball to collect an out. This play was featured on
ESPN play backs this morning. Warner nabbed the second out that was another long fly
ball to left field. She calmy ran it down and grabbed it. For the third out, a fly ball was hit
toward Mad-dawg. As she was looking up and running toward the ball, a runner was
advancing from second to third; a solid impact collision occurred. With the runner and
Mad-Dawg on the ground, the runner pushed up and gave an effort to finish to third, but
Mad-Dawg quickly threw to third for the out. Score 3-2.

Top of the 7th, Raquette really needed to advance runs in but were unable to do so which
meant holding Inlet from any runs was required to win the game. Back in the field, Sara
Warner was also featured on ESPN this morning with another incredible catch in left field followed by Sara “Bring it on” Shanahan behind the plate who once again demonstrated her tiger like reflexes pouncing up from her crouching stance behind the plate to in the air
grabbing a foul ball. The third out Mad-Dawg scooped and flicked to Deb at second. Inlet
snuck in a run this inning matching the score 3-3, pushing the game into extra innings.

Raquette went back to bat in the top of the 8th inning with Shanahan, Warner and Jenna-T
who all had solid hard hits, but no advancements home.

On defense, bottom of the 8th inning, Mad-Dawg earned a hat trick this inning collecting all
three outs. She snagged a fly ball, fielded a fast grounder and rocketed it to Shins at first
and in Venus fly trap fashion grabbed the third out from the air. Score still 3-3.

Advancing to another extra inning and darkness filling up the field for both teams, the lights
were turned on making the atmosphere even more exciting. Deb, Bird and Shins all ripped
hard balls, but Inlet’s defense remained firm. With Inlet behind the plate again, Raquette
quickly collected the first two outs, but a runner had made their way onto “the pond.” With
hope of pushing to a 10th inning, fans held their breaths. The pitch was thrown, Inlet
smacked a ground ball up the center of the field and managed to advance their runner
home. Score 3-4. Inlet wins.

The match between the two teams was extremely hard fought, well played and good
sportsmanship was at an all-time high between both teams. Congratulations to Inlet on a
fantastic season.

The day after the season ends is always a tough one for so many of us. Whether we win or
lose – it means the end of Tuesday night softball. When summer ends, some folks head
home, some who had time off, go back to work, some prioritize their week differently –
whatever the situation may be, we see each other less and that is what is most valuable to
our team. At the Taproom, we have what we call “the sharing table,” where the team sits
down in the front room at the long table and highlights things in life. If you are there on
those nights, you will hear laughter, excitement, folks invited to “Join the sharing table,”
music selections that get everyone singing and love. We love this about our team and the
season. Year after year, it’s the time we spend together that we remember.

If you have ever spent time with our team, you know almost every single player on the team
is a strong Adirondack woman – passionate, driven, competitive and always willing to rise
to a challenge. It truly takes a special person to have the ability to navigate that many
strong personalities all together while guiding them to success – to Gary Miller and Elaine
Dillon – thank you for your never-ending support. We appreciate your time (every Tuesday and sometimes Sundays) and patience all season. Our team is better because of both of you.
To Lorraine Esposito, who keeps control and order in the dug out with the book, providing
us with the batting order (even when we aren’t listening) and letting the field know who
batted where previously – thank you.

Kurt Murdock – once again, thanks for your commitment and tolerance throughout the
season.

To our fans – thank you so much for following us, cheering for us with bull horns, shakers,
signs and fun cheers. You make the environment better than the Major Leagues.

To my team – love you all. Thanks for being a Mudslider. I am proud to wear our colors and
logo with every single one of you.

Finally, to the Raquette Lake Taproom and the Dillons – thank you so very much for loving
us and continuing to sponsor us each year. We are honored to wear your name on our shirt.

That’s a wrap for the Summer 2026 season friends. Hope to see you next season.

Until then.

~Merica

08/08/2026

Saturday, August 8

Auction is 5pm - Close

Taproom Food is 11am - 9pm

B**r Special is 5pm - close (or we run out)

Bar closes as early as 10pm…but definitely by 12:30am.

Stop in and donate to the FD and come say hi to Kurt and Aris on the bar 5pm - Close.

08/05/2026

Taproom is a proud sponsor of our Mudsliders!! 🥎❤️

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1511953670736830&id=100057666331110

Raquette Advances to the Championship

If you bet on sports, the Semi Final game between Raquette Lake Mudsliders and Inlet
Clam Pots would have been a difficult one to place a bet on. Las Vegas odds would have
favored it as 49-51 without specifying who would win. Clam Pots, who didn’t win a single
game in the 2025 season earned most improved in the league and held the #1 seed in the regular season standings. Mudsliders, the reigning season champions, had a tough start to the season and were unbalanced in the early season games but held promise in the off season. Rolling into the game on Tuesday, August 4, 2026 – it was nearly impossible to tell who would pull away with the win.

After spending 14 years coaching collegiate sports, I can tell you, every single athlete and
team has their own ritual before games. Headphones on, music, dance party, yoga, mindful meditation – every team has a vibe and routine before they compete. For the Mudsliders, the moment Mad-Dawg walked onto the field, pumping the tunes from her speaker everyone fell into a groove. Coach Gary said, “Those warm-ups were the best this season.”

Laughter came naturally, the tension diminished and at 6:16PM when both teams decided they were ready to start the game slightly early – time felt like it stopped.

Sandy “Strippy” Tetreault started off the batting order with a solid grounder to Clam Pot’s short stop who sent the ball to 1st nabbing Strippy out – which I must say is rare. Her speed is so fast, she could probably fuel a nuclear power plant on her own. KT Orr connected with a ball earning a single to first base. Aris “Merica” Bird decided to change up her style with a hard-hit grounder up the first base line into right field to earn an RBI and triple. Jenifer “Jenna-T” Temple strategically hit a grounder and used Mario’s Star power to propel to first faster than the throw; she also earned an RBI when Bird snuck home. Sara “Bring it on” Shanahan blasted a ball to left field which Kelsey Pipkins grabbed for an out. Sara “Slugger” Warner annihilated a long fly ball to left center field. Jennifer “Shins” Ernewein waited patiently and was walked. Kaycie “Haul it in” Haller wasn’t the least bit nervous with the bases loaded and the pitcher Crystal trying to throw her toughest pitches. She waited patiently until she drove a line-drive up the middle of the field earning 2 RBI’s. Madison “Mad-Dawg” Rice kicked dirt up and around while she settled into the box and crushed a ball into left field, earning an RBI. Deb “Toga” Dalpos, new to the team this season, but not new to delivering results, torpedoed a hard-hit grounder, up the 3rd base line into left field earning 2 RBIS and a home run. Score at the bottom of the first inning, 8-0.

After making a statement with their first inning start, Raquette held tight on defense.
Jennifer “Shins” Ernenwein fielded a fly ball at first, Jenna-T fielded two grounders to the
mound an threw to first. Score 8-1.
Rhonda “Help Us” Pitoniak cracked a hard ball just over short stop into left field. Leslie
“Firecracker” Beauchamp was walked to first. Strippy gave a strategic poke. KT nailed a ball
bringing in Rhonda. ‘Merica cruised a ball into center field to bring in Strippy. Score 10-1.
In the field, Mad-Dawg grabbed a fly ball in the air. Leslie fielded a tough grounder and
flicked to Mad-Dawg at 2nd and Jenifer Temple knocked down a ball hit to the pitcher with a scoop to first. Score 10-2.

Top of the third inning was a quick one with no runs. Back in the field, Mad-Dawg fielded a
grounder and threw it to Shins at first. Jenna-T scooped two more hits at the mound and
flicked them to first. Score 10-2.
Kaycie started off the top of the 4th inning with a thwack between center field and right field. Mad-Dawg gave a tough single but Kaycie and Mad-Dawg were tagged out. Deb “Toga” Dalpos told us all to hold her Gatorade while she popped a ball just over the 3rd base-
woman into a hole in the field. Jenni “8675309” Wehrlin reeled in a solid poke beyond first. At the end of the 4th inning, the score still held 10-2.

On defense, Strippy used that nuclear power she keeps secret to run down a short fly ball.
Leslie scooped up a grounder and flicked to Shins at first and Bird at third collected a
grounder and threw to Shins at 1st. Score 10-2.

Top of the 5th inning, the fans were getting restless. They wanted more action. Raquette
gave their best efforts to advance runs with Lora “Lo Lo” Bornemann who hit a ball into left
field toward outer space, Rhonda, Leslie and Strippy, but the Clam Pot water was really
boiling, and they put forth a solid defense.
Bottom of the 5th inning, Jenifer “Jenna-T” Temple knocked down a line drive toward the
mound and flicked to Bird at 3rd. Sara “Bring it on” Shanahan was a mountain lion behind
the plate when she pounced on a foul ball off the tip of the bat for an out, and Sandy
“Strippy” Tetreault did an acrobatic move running the field, sliding on her knees and
catching a fly ball that fell short between infield and outfield. Score 10-3.

With two innings left in the game, Raquette went back to bat but could not advance
additional runs.

Before taking the field at the bottom of the 6th, Coach Gary pulled the team aside. Most
baseball games sing about the 7th inning stretch, but for the Mudsliders, Gary pep talks
about the 6th inning slump – truthfully for the Raquette Lake Taproom Mudsliders – this
season they have become tense in the 5th and 6th inning.

“Play together, over communicate
and have fun” – he said. With fans using the siren from their bull horn and chanting in the
stands, Raquette returned to the field. Inlet scored 2 runs, but Mad-Dawg snagged two fly
balls like they were black flies that she was squashing and Jenifer Temple took a hard hit to the chest, knocked it down and flung it to Lora at 1st.

One inning left. Anyone’s ball game.
Top of the 7th, Raquette loaded the bases but could not budge the score.
Bottom of the 7th– all the Clam Pots needed was a good inning of batting to continue the
Cinderella story. All Raquette needed was solid defense.

With Inlet’s Base Coach, Billy encouraging his batters to step and drive the ball, Inlet
started working. Sara “Slugger” Warner effortlessly sprinted down a fly ball for the first out.

Mad-Dawg stopped a grounder from advancing and flicked to Deb at 2nd out. Score 10-6.

One of Inlet’s best batters behind the plate, 2 players on the bag; the moment could have
broken or made either team.

When Inlet’s batter ripped the ball to center field, everyone held their breath. Strippy calmly ran through the field and time stopped. When Strippy realized, the ball was going to fall short, she slid on her knees like this was something she practices every Sunday at home while watching the most intense show ever. She caught the final out of the game. Cheers erupted.

For the 2nd year in a row, Raquette earned a spot in the Championship game against Inlet’s
Matt’s Hot Screamers. Who will win? Who will lose? Your guess is as good as ours. Guess
you will have to come watch both teams play at Arrowhead Park on Tuesday, August 11th at
6:30PM.

Until then.
~Merica