Tuesday's score was Hickory 10, Kannapolis 3, but a game with 13 runs and five errors by the hosts won't get my attention.
What
did get my attention was a broken bat from the Intimidators' Jacob Morris that flew into our section during the first inning. The man
sitting behind me snagged the barrel and gave it to me, and batting
coach Rob Sasser offered the handle from the dugout. So now I have a bat
used by a professional baseball player. What's the big deal, right?
It
represents talent, and it makes me want to follow Harris' career.
There is something about Class A ball that makes us root for these
underdogs, many of whom will never see the majors but most of whom do
love the game enough to travel half the year. They live four and five to
an apartment just to be able to pay the rent, and live in places where
landlords won't rent month-to-month … and all of that. It's a life we
might envy on one level, but we mostly don't envy the low pay and the
tedium and the hard work parts of it.
Highlights from Kannapolis
A Chevy chassis with No. 3 artwork sits at the park's entrance, in memory of Dale Earnhardt, whose purchase of a share of the team in 2000 sparked a name change from the Piedmont Boll Weevils to the Intimidators (chosen by a fan vote).Mark your calendar: Bark in the Park is June 1. This is a gorgeous park and the dogs will love it.
Bingo drew more boos than cheers. At least no one forgot about the free space.
Loved hearing Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" after a steal.
Kannapolis Carolinas Connections
Pitcher Tyler Barnett - Hickory High, UNC Charlotte
Pitcher David Putman - Duke
Catcher Jeremy Dowdy - Raleigh Wakefield, Appalachian State