Camden s Chris Walker steals third base on Sunday as York s Chris Nowak takes a late throw. Camden won the game, 4-1. York finished the Atlantic League first half at 36-34. (Randy Flaum photo)

Most players stuck around the clubhouse shortly after Sunday night's game.

Others filed out one-by-one, some wishing teammates a happy break.

And chatting with York Revolution manager Andy Etchebarren, it sounds as though the team's first half might have wrapped up at a good time.

The Revs dropped a 4-1 decision to the Camden Riversharks in front of 2,762 fans at Sovereign Bank Stadium on a muggy Sunday evening. It marked the final game of the first half for York (36-34), which officially finished in second place in the Atlantic League Freedom Division behind Lancaster (45-25) by nine games.

But that's not to say York didn't give the Barnstormers a run for their money. After a sloppy start to the year, the Revs

York Revolution pitcher Yunior Novoa pitches in relief against Camden on Sunday. Novoa pitched two shutout innings. (Randy Flaum photo)
later pulled within 21/2 games of Lancaster at one point, only to see the Barnstormers stay hot in the month of June and eventually clinch the first-half division title on July 2.

"The way we started the season and the way Lancaster played, I mean they're in line to win 90 games if they keep going in the second half the way they played the first half," Etchebarren said. "I don't see anybody beating them at this point. But you never know."

The Revs collected just six hits on Sunday, getting their lone run on an RBI single from Salvador Paniagua that scored outfielder Michael Hernandez in the bottom of the second inning.

Castro, Shanks hurt ing: It didn't help York that two of the team's best hitters, outfielder James Shanks and third baseman Ramon Castro, were out of the lineup. Shanks, who has been battling tendonitis in his left knee all season, tweaked his hamstring vs. Camden on Saturday when rounding first base. Etchebarren said Castro is dealing with a health issue, too, but didn't disclose further details. And he said the pair could be out of action when York begins the second half on Friday at home with the first of a three-game set against Lancaster.

"If you got to start the second half against Lancaster without those two guys, then you're hurting a little bit. Do I gotta bring somebody else in? Probably," Etchebarren said.

Haveman to miss time: Outfielder Brandon Haveman will also miss time at start the second half. Haveman's wife, Sarah, was recently named the new head women's cross country and assistant track coach at Dayton (Ohio) University. Brandon Haveman said he needs to help his wife move from their old home in Indiana to their new home near Dayton. He still plans on playing in the 2012 Atlantic League All-Star game on Wednesday, but he'll be out a total of six games for the Revs to start the second half, returning on July 19.

It's unclear if Shanks or Castro will play in the All-Star game.

Pitching: Revolution starting pitcher Matt Chico didn't look sharp against Camden, giving up four earned runs on seven hits in three innings. At this point, Etchebarren said he isn't sure about his starting rotation.

"We got to try to improve the starting pitching somehow," he said. "As for right now there's nobody out there. Hopefully we can survive the first couple of weeks of the second half and we'll have some pitchers the first week of August."

-- Reach John Walk at jwalk@yorkdispatch.com.