tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67085215154511317912024-03-05T20:45:17.538-05:00Sally ForthVisiting all the South Atlantic League home teams in a summerUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708521515451131791.post-69096960621158792182014-08-17T15:26:00.001-04:002014-08-17T15:26:38.482-04:00South Atlantic League Wrap<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seeing all 14 teams in the South Atlantic League this summer was a challenging but rewarding adventure. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a little more costly than I would have guessed. Even midweek tickets are not cheap at many venues - the very best deal was a web Wednesday deal in Hickory for $6 right behind home plate. Most parks averaged $10 or so down the baselines. It's a good value, and you get more ambience for your buck at some parks than others.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was struck by how the league ranges from urban to rural and from older stadiums to new. The new parks are mostly in the ten-year-old range, but the oldest ones and from a century ago. It's a nice spectrum. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The costs also include travel expenses -- even though several parks are within driving range of Charlotte without needing hotels, there are still several that require a good bit of planning (I'm pointing at you, Delmarva and Lakewood!). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would go out of my way again to visit these: Greensboro (if only for the bat dogs!), Kannapolis (such a short drive for us in Charlotte and such a great park!), Charleston (but no beer shakes), West Virginia (also in Charleston but the other one), and I never would have believed it four months ago - Hagerstown (it's still everything a ballpark should be). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since we saw him last, Kannapolis catcher Jeremy Dowdy (Raleigh Wakefield, Appalachian State), has been promoted to the Class AA Birmingham Barons. Also, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Crawdads RHP Josh McElwee was promoted to the Class A+ Myrtle Beach Pelicans. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been fun, but I'm very much looking forward to next summer's Carolina League slate - they have only eight teams!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My mom, Julie Ritterskamp, was able to visit all but two of the Sally League teams with me. Here are her reflections.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mom's Take</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was fortunate enough to be able to travel with Ellyn on her tour of the Sally League baseball teams' summer games. If I had known I was going to miss only two stops, Rome, Ga., and Augusta, Ga., I would have tried to make sure I saw them all. But the twelve games I did get to were amazing, fun, and very much family oriented. Any baseball game at this level is an inexpensive way to enjoy a summer evening. Here are a few highlights, from my point of view:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Best national anthem</b>: Krystal Marshall Kasten, Charleston RiverDogs</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Most unbelievable drive</b>: Richmond, Va., to Lakewood, N.J.: $22 in tolls, but worth the drive.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Most eye-catching stadium decoration</b>: Three huge lifeguard chairs around the outfield in Lakewood, N.J. - people can actually climb up and sit on them!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Most interesting parking lot attraction</b>: Kannapolis, N.C. - One of Dale Earnhardt's cars that you can touch and get your picture made with.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Most old-fashioned baseball stadium feeling</b>: Hagerstown, Md. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Best example of wretched excess in a food item</b>: S'mores panini at Savannah - the thing would have fed six people!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Most fun mascot:</b> Charleston, W.V. This guy interacted with kids and families in a wonderful way. This stadium also has the most fun staff and attendees. The Toastman alone is worth a trip.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Stadium where we could have gotten in for free</b>: Asheville, N.C. We won't tell you how, but it involved climbing a high hill ... we paid, of course!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Best overall stadium experience</b>: Greensboro, N.C. The three charming bat dogs, Miss Babe Ruth, Miss Lulu Gehrig, and Master Yogi Berra, make any game fun. I took more people back twice, just to see the dogs. The last time a very helpful employee, Tim, made sure that my request was honored to be seated where we could see the dogs the best, and the kids I brought from Charlotte have three new best buddies. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks go out to friends in Richmond, Va., who let us make their home our base for visiting three stadiums. At the Salisbury, Md., venue, we were joined by a high school friend we had not seen in many years. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Lexington, KY, we visited the Woodford Reserve and picked up a bottle of their finest double oak bourbon, a gift for a friend. Driving around that area was just lovely with lots of horse pastures. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I count myself lucky that my daughter looks on me as a suitable traveling companion, and that my husband Jack does not mind me leaving him with the house and kitties. It has been a super summer!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708521515451131791.post-29157988831229433342014-08-13T20:34:00.005-04:002014-08-13T22:49:47.696-04:00Greenville's not a bad Drive<h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Observations from Greenville, S.C.</span></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Greenville didn’t disappoint in our final stop of the season in the South Atlantic League. It was the third-hottest game of our summer tour - Savannah was 97 degrees and Charleston 92 in early July - but you expect that. We were just glad the rain held off.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Highlights:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We parked for free on the other side of Falls Park and walked through it. This is a must. The waterfalls are just breath-taking for a downtown setting. There is a free shuttle for before and after the game, but ride it on the way back, at night. Walk through the park (be careful on the first set of stone steps, though!).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The story is that the Drive are so-named because of the nearby BMW plant. It may be the weakest name of the league.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There seemed to be even more youngsters at this game than any other we saw all season, especially for a night game. There was an infant race between innings to promote a local college that was pretty embarrassing, but sitting on the left-field grass provided lots of kid-watching excitement the rest of the game.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The grass seating brought another a big chuckle when a loud song stopped unexpectedly between innings and a nearby fan was in the middle of blurting out, “Let’s go home and smoke a blunt!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum across the street is open from <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_507955460" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">10 a.m.-2 p.m.</span></span>on Saturdays.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The field is built to the same specs as Fenway Park, though the Green Monster is seven feet shorter to allow condo owners to see the field. Those owners on terraces in center field got to scrap for a home run ball.</div>
<div class="im">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Drive Carolinas Connections</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pitcher Ty Buttrey, Providence High</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pitcher Jamie Callahan, Dillon (S.C.) High</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708521515451131791.post-67745769739483898312014-08-08T17:12:00.004-04:002014-08-08T17:12:55.197-04:00No power outage here<div class="im" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<h2 style="font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
Observations from the West Virginia Power</h2>
<div style="font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
Best team store name so far - the Power Outlet. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
Downtown Charleston, W.V., is a great location for a Class A-level ballpark. There is a high hill nearby with a cemetery overlooking the field. A hospital next door means plenty of foot traffic that made us feel safe about our car being parked at a meter a few blocks from the park. Warehouses windows across the street from left make inviting home run targets.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
The logos are baseballs with pirate hats and eyepatches, to salute the parent Pittsburgh Pirates. A previous Charleston team was named the Charlies, so the mascot is Chuck the Pirate. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
Besides the five teams close to Charlotte, this is another close one, where it's not out of the question to drive straight up I-77 for a game and come back without having to pay to spend the night. A day game would be very easy, with an early start.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
<h2 style="margin: 0px;">
Power's Carolinas Connections</h2>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
3B Chris Diaz, N.C. State</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708521515451131791.post-29999791774518919492014-08-08T17:11:00.000-04:002014-08-08T17:11:24.423-04:00Everything is StacheTastic in Lexington, Ky.<div class="im" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<h2 style="font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
Observations from the Lexington Legends</h2>
<div style="font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
The mascot is Big L, a hefty fella with bats crossed over his shoulders and an enormous handlebar mustache. The StacheTastic theme is everywhere.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
Tuesdays feature 37-cent hot dogs, sponsored by the Ford F-150, which they say has been the top-selling pickup truck for 37 straight years. Pretty cheap dinner.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
Section 203 was a great view and angle for $10, but it took a few innings to identify a strange sound every 90 seconds or so - it turned out to be the rotating advertising sign in front of the section.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
It was hard to take seriously a promotion for Hearing Loss Awareness night a few days after our visit that also included fireworks. Why not go ahead and destroy what's left of folks' hearing?</div>
<div class="im" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<div style="font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
Legends' Carolinas Connections</h2>
<div style="font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
Pitcher Matt Tenuta, Apex High (son of Jon Tenuta, Virginia defensive coordinator. He was also the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at North Carolina in 2001 and was the linebackers coach at N.C. State from 2010-12. </div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708521515451131791.post-30318078086383180872014-08-01T00:38:00.000-04:002014-08-04T23:08:32.053-04:00Worth the drive to the Eastern Shore<h2>
Observations from Delmarva</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<b>This
is a great park</b> in one of the league's more remote locations. As the
crow flies, it's 165 miles from Richmond (our home base for a trip to
see the league's northernmost three teams - thanks, friends!), but Chesapeake Bay prevents
that sort of direct path. Our drive was five hours from Richmond by the
northern route (slowed by Annapolis rush hour) and more than four hours
by the southern route (slowed by overnight bay tunnel construction). It
would have been great to pair this visit with Lakewood N.J., but our
schedule and the games didn't match up that way.<br />
<br />
The fellow behind us sounded exactly like <b>Wilford Brimley.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Shorebirds
starter Luis Gonzalez </b>(6-0 in 12 starts) had a nice outing, throwing
seven strikeouts in six shutout innings in a 4-0 win Wednesday against
Lakewood.<br />
<br />
<b>Food highlight</b>: The Swamp Dog, a spicy sausage with shrimp and grits on top.<br />
<h2>
Shorebirds' Carolinas Connections</h2>
Pitcher Hunter Harvey - Catawba Bandys High (son of Bryan Harvey, brother of Kris Harvey)<br />
Pitcher John McLeod - Wake Forest (on disabled list)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708521515451131791.post-24103196219611851912014-07-31T23:54:00.003-04:002014-07-31T23:54:56.982-04:00Hagerstown: This place still smells like a ballpark<h2>
<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Observations from Hagerstown</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Municipal
Stadium was built in 1930, putting it in the same category as Asheville
and Savannah in this league for elderly stadiums. This one has a great
feel to it -- the concessions were simple and the crowd much more, well,
non-urban than I'd expected, but all in a good way. The atmosphere is
only improved by the manual scoreboard with three guys we could watch
changing the numbers, the absence of a radar report or even clock, and
yes, the smell of hunks of meat being grilled near the gate<b>. It</b> all added up to a great experience. The left<b>-</b>field
picnic area is just steps away from the visiting team's warm-up area --
I had a nice eye-catching moment with a reserve outfielder before the
game, and a couple of kids got easy foul balls during the game.</span><br />
<div class="im">
<br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Former Clemson catcher Spencer Kieboom made a great play at the plate to end a scoring threat in the sixth inning of an 8-4 win </span><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1659762273" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">on Tuesday</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">. </span><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
</div>
<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Retired
jersey numbers: 42 Jackie Robinson, 24 Willie Mays, 50 John Henry Moss
(commissioner of current and previous incarnations of the Sally League
for 50 years)<b>.</b></span><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The Suns are pretty proud of Bryce Harper's 72 games during the 2011 season in Hagerstown: .318 average, 14 home runs, 46 RBI<b>s</b>. </span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Suns' Carolinas Connections</span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Catcher Spencer Kieboom - Clemson<br />1B Carlos Lopez - Wake Forest<br />Utility
player John Wooten - East Carolina and Goldsboro's Eastern Wayne High.
Wooten was called up to the Carolina League's Class A+ Potomac team on
July 28. </span><br />
<div class="yj6qo ajU">
<div class="ajR" data-tooltip="Show trimmed content" id=":so" role="button" tabindex="0">
</div>
<div class="ajR" data-tooltip="Show trimmed content" id=":so" role="button" tabindex="0">
<img class="ajT" src="https://ssl.gstatic.com/ui/v1/icons/mail/images/cleardot.gif" /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708521515451131791.post-45407744438679186542014-07-31T19:58:00.002-04:002014-07-31T19:58:47.063-04:00The Sally League's northernmost stop<h2>
Observations from Lakewood, N.J. </h2>
A Monday night game sold very well with Gaylord Perry in the house to throw out the first pitch and sign autographs. <br />
<br /><b>Retired jerseys</b>: Ryan Howard (29) and Cole Hamels (19)<br /><br /><b>The
mascot</b> is not any sort of creature with claws, as we'd expected (but
which might have scared kids), but a critter named Buster who is not
any particular sort of animal, just like the major league club's
Philie Phanatic. <br />
<br /><b>Cool feature</b>: 12-foot beach chairs in the outfield grass seating areas (use at your own risk).<br /><br /><b>Fans</b>
here are no better than Southerners at waiting until the end of an
inning (or even an at-bat) to leave for the concession stand.<br />
<br /><b>Highlight</b>: about six service dogs in training, learning how to behave in crowds.<br /><br /><b>Superlative</b>: The largest scoreboard in the league I've seen so far (three parks to go).<br /><br />
<h2>
BlueClaws Carolinas Connections</h2>
NoneUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708521515451131791.post-86720432842552312692014-07-11T22:39:00.000-04:002014-07-31T19:52:33.632-04:00Savannah: Historic Grayson Stadium has character like crazy<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">OBSERVATIONS FROM SAVANNAH, GA. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;"></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">Character usually is a
good thing but not always ... a park where general admission seats are the best
ones gives me pause. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">
We loved the Sand Gnats' stadium setting in a large city park (we got in some
walking before the game) and loved the idea of it being at one of the nation's
oldest functioning ballparks (they fight with <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Asheville</st1:place></st1:city> among others for the distinction).
But our seating experience was less than great, for a while.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">Our box seats were
close behind home plate even though the map had showed them closer to first
base (our preferred angle). My mom's seat was not fastened securely into the
concrete. We moved to the general admission area near Landshark Landing and had
a great time from then on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">The netting spans just
about all of the seating areas so this is a difficult place to catch a foul
ball. But the angles are so odd management has to put up all of this netting or
they would lose a fan every night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">The daytime high was 97
or so, but enormous ceiling fans in the covered areas keep spectators from
rioting. We also were told we could ask for bug spray from fan services, but it
never came to that. There is a reason the team is named the Sand Gnats ...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">Food item in the
Wretched Excess category: the S'mores Panini. There was Nutella involved, plus
chocolate syrup on top. I can't even ...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="background: white;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">Sand Gnats <st1:place w:st="on">Carolinas</st1:place>
Connections</span></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">Outfielder Champ Stuart, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Brevard</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">College</st1:placetype></st1:place></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708521515451131791.post-12861399976409908702014-07-11T22:36:00.004-04:002014-07-31T19:53:02.894-04:00Charleston let the dogs out<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<h2>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">Observations from Charleston</span></h2>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">Since Charleston is the RiverDogs, this is the
only South Atlantic League entrant allowed to use "Who Let the Dogs
Out?" as long as it is judicious about it, which is is. We heard it once
for a scoring play during an early inning, and again during a thrilling
bottom-of-the-ninth sequence resulting in a win. Gosuke Katoh singled and advanced
on a bunt by Michael O'Neill, then he slid around a tag at home after a line
drive by Mark Payton. Payton was in the game only as a replacement for Tyler
Wade, who was ejected after being called out on an attempted steal in during
the eighth inning. O'Neill had his own big moment to open the game with a home
run.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">Temperatures were in the high 80s or low 90s
for a recent start of a night game, but the breeze off the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Ashley</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">River</st1:placename></st1:place>
keeps things bearable at Joe P. Riley Stadium (“The Joe”). The seagulls add a
fun obstacle - though none were hit with batted balls, the possiblity kept us
all on high alert.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">This is the first of seven parks I've visited
in the league with a keyhole - a graded dirt area between the plate area and
the mound. One of these showed up recently in the World Series, and we
confirmed there were only two in the major leagues at the time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="background: white;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">RiverDogs Carolinas Connections</span></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">Pitcher Rookie Davis, Sneads Ferry, N.C.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">Pitcher Eric Ruth, Winthrop<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708521515451131791.post-50355147166474140512014-06-26T00:24:00.005-04:002014-07-31T19:54:18.520-04:00Any excuse to visit Asheville is a good oneNext up on our tour of the South Atlantic League: the Asheville Tourists.<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Observations</span> <span style="font-weight: normal;">from</span> <span style="font-weight: normal;">McCormick Field</span> </h2>
<br />
<b>Arrive early </b>and wander around the Grove Park Inn, back up Charlotte Street on the other side of I-240. There is an amazing waterfall sequence, and you get free parking for the first three hours.<br />
<br />
<b>If you are still early</b>, walk up -- seriously, straight up,
altitudewise -- Buchanan Street beside the front entrance, go left on
White Fawn Drive to a trail head to Beaucatcher Greenway. The path is
cool and pleasant, though there are some mosquito critters. After you
climb over a fallen tree, there is a trail back down to the left that
leads to the employee parking lot for the stadium. Go up to the parking
lot entrance to get back to the stadium front.<br />
<br />
<b>Go on Doggies at the Diamond night. </b>I bet we saw 30 dogs, of all
sizes and colors. The coolest was a huge white dog -- unknown breed --
with sunglasses pushed back on his forehead. Certain he weighed 180
lbs., we almost asked to ride him out to the parking lot. There was also
a Newfoundland who accepted all the attention gracefully. Many of the
dogs gathered to argue and play in the general admission area --
concrete benches where folks make their own nests with blankets and lawn
chairs.<br />
<br /><b>Lots of local beers available</b>, plus there are the deep-fried Oreos and deep-fried Moon pies.<br />
<br />
<b>No Carolinas Connections</b> - but several players on this team stood
out as not fitting the Sally League mold of 19-year-olds who are
6-foot-2, 170 lbs. The Tourists have some older, bigger players. It was
nice not to worry about their nutrition like I have some others. I felt
sorry for the lefties, though -- they have a 36-foot fence in right,
though it's only 297 feet from the plate. Still, not many dingers are
going over that baby.<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708521515451131791.post-43878570489675047872014-06-07T16:10:00.002-04:002014-07-31T19:54:41.291-04:00Drowned by the deluge<h2 style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; font-weight: normal;">Observations from Rome, Ga.</span></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
The spicy alfredo sauce at the Bella Rosa Grill in the parking lot is worth the drive 40 miles north of Atlanta and 25 miles west.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
The Braves' unique food offering: fried bologna sandwich at Bubba's BBQ Barn.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
They charge $3 for programs, unlike most parks.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
It was really all about this storm that rolled in twenty minutes before first pitch and drowned all of northwest Georgia (photo courtesy of Dalya Adams).</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYH56sxFJtehFRohFJQ9QcEpAuwbXruzDkR8l9zGiVa2z4BjnwDE1pJvx7oqYLY90KAsHBNfbaPXiEriDRpSODGjTMY3DyM0Skdz-4J3Gb3uCw5jeb5nmFKlq05ONuYwxsqdV333khS4sP/s1600/storm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYH56sxFJtehFRohFJQ9QcEpAuwbXruzDkR8l9zGiVa2z4BjnwDE1pJvx7oqYLY90KAsHBNfbaPXiEriDRpSODGjTMY3DyM0Skdz-4J3Gb3uCw5jeb5nmFKlq05ONuYwxsqdV333khS4sP/s1600/storm.jpg" height="320" width="247" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Braves Carolinas Connections</h2>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Pitcher Tyler Brosius - Waynesville, N.C. (Tuscola High)</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Pitcher Colby Holmes - Conway (S.C.) High and South Carolina</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Pitcher Matt Marksberry - Campbell</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708521515451131791.post-17556993031145113072014-06-07T16:02:00.003-04:002014-08-16T00:54:13.385-04:00Augusta: Go to see the GreenJackets, stay for the pecan pie<h2>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Observations from Augusta, Ga.</span></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Augusta isn't the southernmost team in the South Atlantic League, but it's the only one I've been to so far that serves pecan pie, so it may be the SouthernMost.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
The 2013 (inaugural) Hall of Fame is Pablo Sandoval (San Francisco's Kung-Fu Panda) and Tim Wakefield, who played infield for Augusta and was advised he'd never get past Class AA, so he switching to pitching and developed a remarkable knuckleball.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
$13 gets you a seat very close to the action, and with no parking fee, it's comparable to the other parks.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Baseball bingo is much harder than the usual sort: you check off boxes for home players achieving such feats as bunts, touching the warning track, and putouts. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
The less said about the fifth inning's grounds crew "Macarena," the better.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
GreenJackets Carolinas Connections</h2>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Pitcher Jake Smith is from North Augusta, S.C. (his parents come across the river to attend most home games) and he also played at Campbell</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
Second baseman Will Callaway is from Taylors, S.C., and played at Appalachian State</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708521515451131791.post-70951112750722685982014-06-01T02:46:00.000-04:002014-07-31T19:55:26.133-04:00Three Dog Night in Greensboro<h2>
Observations from Greensboro </h2>
The Grasshoppers have a magnificent
park in downtown Greensboro, with a truly endearing mascot named
Guilford. But it was three labrador retrievers who caught nearly all of
our attention on Friday night: Miss Babe Ruth, Miss Lou Lou Gehrig, and
Master Yogi Berra.<br />
<br />
Miss Babe Ruth is in likely her final season as a bat retriever for
the Hoppers. She worked several innings at our game, either retrieving
bats for the home team or delivering balls to the home plate umpire
between innings (safely dry in a bucket). We rooted for Hoppers to get
hits just so we could see her do her thing (hitters brought their own
bats back to the dugout if they struck out).<br />
<br />
Yogi's big moment was between innings when he retrieved a baseball launched into the outfield by one of those T-shirt cannons. <br />
<br />
The
other animal excitement came on the scoreboard. During rally moments, a
video showed a chicken jumping several inches in the air, over and
over. We were stumped for a few innings but finally realized it was A
Hopper, as is most everything at the park. The usher said it does not
have a name, so we proposed Hedda the Hopper.<br />
<br />
Friday's game went crazy fast, finishing nine innings in 2:20. Even
the extra innings (the game went 12) still had folks out close to 10
p.m. A base-running choice in the bottom of the ninth prevented a chance
at a Hoppers win, and instead the game stayed tied until the 4-run boom
in the top of the 12th.<br />
<br />
This park (in its tenth season) leads the list of those I'll visit
again. Maybe next time the family in front of us will stand up for their
frequent concessions visits between innings instead of during at-bats …<br />
<br />
<h2>
Hoppers Carolinas Connections</h2>
Outfielder Kentrell Dewitt - Green Sea (S.C.) Floyds High and Southeastern Community College (Whiteville, N.C.)<br />
Pitcher Josh Easley - N.C. State<br />
Pitcher Brad Mincey - East Carolina<br />
Pitcher Sean Townsley - High Point UniversityUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708521515451131791.post-29244976912895222902014-05-21T00:33:00.000-04:002014-05-21T20:02:52.180-04:00Kannapolis team might not intimidate but park shines<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">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.</span><br />
<br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" />
<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">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? </span><br />
<br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" />
<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">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. </span><br />
<div class="im">
<h2>
<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Highlights from Kannapolis</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><b>A
Chevy chassis</b> 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).</span><br />
</div>
<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><b>Three
jersey numbers</b> are retired at this park: 50, 3, and 42. Earnhardt was
No. 3 and Jackie Robinson No. 42, but I was stumped on No. 50. Turns out
it was for John Henry Moss, who was president for 50 years of what is
now the South Atlantic League. Every team in the league has retired it.</span><br />
<div class="im">
<br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" />
<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><b>Mark your calendar:</b> Bark in the Park is </span><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1957200868" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">June 1</span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">. This is a gorgeous park and the dogs will love it.</span><br />
<br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" />
<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><b>Bingo</b> drew more boos than cheers. At least no one forgot about the free space.</span><br />
</div>
<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><b>I
met a player's parent.</b> Starting pitcher Tyler Barnette's mom was in my
section. We sympathized when he struggled to adjust to the plate
umpire's strike zone, as did every pitcher.</span><br />
<div class="im">
<br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" />
<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><b>Loved hearing </b>Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" after a steal.</span><br />
</div>
<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><b>The
Hickory lineup included Joe Jackson</b>, who was batting .412 coming into
the game. He's from Greenville, S.C., and The Citadel, and is the
great-great-great-nephew of Shoeless Joe Jackson, who died in Greenville
in 1951.</span><br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Kannapolis Carolinas Connections</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Pitcher Tyler Barnett - Hickory High, UNC Charlotte<br />Pitcher David Putman - Duke<br />Catcher Jeremy Dowdy - Raleigh Wakefield, Appalachian State </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708521515451131791.post-8950762724039122572014-05-08T00:39:00.000-04:002014-05-08T02:51:49.057-04:00Rolled Hickory: First stop in a tour of the Sally LeagueThe host Crawdads made it interesting late but fell 4-2 <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_509145674" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">Wednesday</span></span> night to the Hagerstown Suns.<br />
<h2>
Highlights</h2>
<div class="im">
<b>Crawdads starter </b>Akeem
Bostick caught my eye a day before the game. I was looking for players
from the Carolinas on the roster, and he's one of four (all pitchers,
see below). Bostick signed out of high school with the Texas Rangers for
a nice bonus, and went 4-1 in rookie league ball. </div>
<div>
He went 5 1/3 innings <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_509145675" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">Wednesday</span></span>,
giving up six hits but mostly staying out of trouble for only one run.
He is very quick to be ready to throw the next pitch, which I loved, and
his velocity was nice.</div>
<div class="im">
<div>
I was lucky to meet his mom on the way
out, and told her I'll be watching his progress over the next few years.
I think he will become an even better pitcher as he fills out and puts
in the repetitions (as is true for most of us!).</div>
<div>
I<b>t's fun to be at a game</b> where there are so few
fans in attendance (513 official but we saw about half that many) that
we could hear everything the players said to each other. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Crawdads right fielder Nomar Gazara</b> didn't earn points
in our group - he bobbled a ball in the field and failed to back up a
throw to first on a bunt that could have been costly. The bunt was ruled
foul after the runner reached second, but Gazara was on our bad list.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<b>We chuckled</b> at the announcement
during the second inning that "the carousel is now open." Part of the
charm of a Class A ball park is that you get to ride a merry-go-round.<br />
<h3>
Crawdads Carolinas connections</h3>
Akeem Bostick - West Florence (S.C.) High <br />
Josh McElwee - Newberry College and Andrews (S.C.) High<br />
Ryne Slack - Spartanburg Methodist and Ninety Six (S.C.) High<br />
Tyler Smith - USC Sumter and Sumter (S.C.) High Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708521515451131791.post-48519365459457273312014-05-05T17:12:00.000-04:002014-05-05T17:12:44.143-04:00Seeing all of the Sally League In the summer of 2013, I visited my final four home parks of all 30 Major League Baseball teams. This summer, I'll be attending a game at every South Atlantic League home field.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I live in Charlotte, so almost half the parks are drivable within a few hours. Several others will be road trips that combine 2-3 teams. Fourteen teams in one summer should be doable, though the Sally League is more spread out than I first realized: it stretches from three Georgia teams to three teams in the NJ-Maryland area. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The combinations: </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>The Peach State:</b> Augusta GreenJackets and Rome Braves</div>
<div>
<b>The coast: </b>Charleston RiverDogs and Savannah Sand Gnats</div>
<div>
<b>Charlotte-drivable:</b> Hickory Crawdads, Kannapolis Intimidators, Greenville (S.C.) Drive, Asheville Tourists, Greensboro Grasshoppers</div>
<div>
<b>The northern trio:</b> Hagerstown (Maryland) Suns, Lakewood (N.J.) BlueClaws, Delmarva Shorebirds (Salisbury, Maryland)</div>
<div>
<b>The western swing: </b>West Virgina Power and Lexington (Kentucky) Legends</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
First up: Hickory on Wed., May 7</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1