Boys of Summer...

Last night, we used up the last of our free tickets for events in July. Brian and I took the kids to see the local AAA baseball team, The Columbus Clippers. We got the tickets from Brian's brother, Randy. Since we haven't been to a game in almost 2 seasons, and since it was a rather rainy day, I didn't think that we would actually go...but I'm glad we did. I really had a great time.

What is it about a minor league baseball game that allows one to feel free to do the Chicken Dance, loudly sing "Take me out to the ballgame" off-key and basically act like a freak in public? Since I'm not a beer drinker, I can't blame that. :o) Whatever it is, I'm happy for it. It reminds me so much of when I was a kid. I grew up going to the games whenever we were in town during the summer. There's just something really great about sitting in the stands on a summer night...the sounds of the game and the smell of beer.

My kids seemed to actually enjoy themselves. We snacked on cotton candy, nachos and ice cream! Meg was very lucky and caught a free Clipper's squishy ball and a box of White Castles (which had a free coupon inside for 3 free sandwiches). They really liked the mascots too. The Clippers used to have this one mascot that looked like it had rigamortis! He was dressed up like a Sea Captain (think Capt. Hook!) and he had this horrific crescent-moon shaped face (think Mac the Knife meets Jay Leno) that was greyish and terrible! I always thought he would have been a better mascot for a funeral home than a baseball team. Kids must have had nightmares looking at this guy! Terrible. Luckily he is long gone, and has been replaced by a parot and a seal (LouSeal to be exact) whom the kids adore.

The Clippers played against the Durahm Bulls. The previous game between the two teams was a scoring blitz (Bulls 16 - Clippers 10), but the game we saw was low scoring. In fact, the Bulls ran in 3 in the first inning but it was several more innings before the Clippers began to creep back onto the score board. What was really exciting though was watching the Clippers hold runners off 3rd and thus saving a chance for themselves to win. There were a few homers, double-plays and even a "save this clip for the evening news" catching dive in the outfield. After one additional inning, the Clippers managed to come-up with the winner 4-3. Huzzah!

I was very taken by their catcher - Will Nieves. Not only was he such a happy guy - always smiling and joking around...but check out his picture (above) - what a cutie! :o) A very decent hitter, Will also made two really great plays during the game - one of which included him running down a Bulls player on the third baseline. He also got a bit fancy when the ball popped up behind home plate and rolled into the netting. Will waitied for the ball to roll back down to him, and just as it did he spun around and caught the ball behind his back! Now who can resist a guy like that?! Not an ex catcher-loving girl like me, that is for sure! Gush!

Anyhow - it was a very fun & relaxing evening. I hope we can make it out to another game before the season ends.