Saturday night
with Bart, Erik, and Marc
Little Falls, NY
After a day sampling beer at the Ommegang Brewery, we almost skipped out on this game because of the gloomy weather. I said no way! It's a baseball trip! We're going!
Plus, it was hot college league summer action and the last time I saw that, it was super awesome. AND it was Halloween Night - wear a costume, get free admission. Before we left for the trip, Erik threatened to drag his chicken costume on the trip. Alas, he didn't. I guess he's made of money these days if he's willing to pay 3 bucks that he didn't have to pay if he had simply made a little bit of an effort. I was quite disappointed.
The only costume though was a Diamond Dawg player who wore a purple mohawk. I give him props but am very disappointed in Little Falls, NY.
Despite the threatening skies, it never actually rained.
Bart wasn't worried.
(photo by Marc)I liked the ballpark. Nestled in a quiet neighborhood and across the street from an ice cream stand, Veterans Memorial Park opened in 1949. It is a bit rundown but still quite charming. Little Falls actually was the home of the Mets' NY Penn League team (currently the Cyclones) in the late 70's and early 80's. Now it houses summer college ball. Nice.
(photo by Marc)Scarier skies.
The Diamond Dawgs didn't play too well. The Phillies of Saratoga clearly are not David Bowie fans.
I love games in parks like this - where the players walk through the grandstand to go to the bathroom or to get snacks before heading back to the dugout. The kind of park where the players sell raffle tickets to fans between innings like this did on this night.
I never got a good picture of the hilarious batboy but he reminded me a lot of Spanky from The Little Rascals. At one point, he was swinging a bat between innings for practice. The bat was way way way too big for him and he kept falling over on the back swing. He also wore an old man mask for one hitter earlier in the game. So I guess I was wrong - two people wore costumes on this night.
This was the best I got.
We left a little early. We had some drinking to do in Albany.
Other things of note:
1. A kind woman overheard Marc mention that he never had had a peanut. She immediately handed him one. He tried it and hated it. But then he thought more about it and decided to have another. Bart bought a bag and by the end of the game, Marc had been won over to the joys of peanuts at a ballgame.
2. A girl almost fell through the bleachers if it hadn't been for the sure hands of my tripmates. Nice save guys. I can't remember who it was but I'll give credit to all three.
3. There was an ice cream eating contest between innings. At the completion of it, the two boys decided to wipe the ice cream all over their faces and hair.
4. The first inning was terrible. The defense was putrid. It was laughable. However, after the 1st, things immediately turned for the better and we were treated to stellar defensive plays. Diving catches in the outfield, great double plays, diving stabs with strong throws from third base. Very impressive.
Posted: 8/13
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