Friday night
with Marc and Erik
Harrisonburg, Va
There was one month in the summer of '94 where I had the chance to catch a Harrisonburg Turks game. Jamie and I were living in town for the summer. We headed over to the high school one night to catch a few innings but I think we were too cheap to pay the three dollar admission fee. Instead, we watched an inning or so from the hill overlooking the field on So. High.
I soon lost my job at Sam's Hot Dog Stand. So I moved back to MD for the remainder of the summer to reclaim my summer camp counselor gig. Thus I lost my last best chance to see a Turks game disappear like a Mo Vaughn home run ball in the late 80's Harrisonburg night.
Fast forward 17 years and I finally got my chance. Granted, the Turks now play in a fancy new stadium courtesy of JMU which course also means that the JMU baseball team no longer plays at that crappy stadium behind the parking lot by McGraw Long Hall. Somewhere Billy Sample is happy right now.
As we walked into the park, someone asked me if I was part of a host family. I wish!
If I was, I'd travel around in a bus like this.
As we walked into the park, someone asked me if I was part of a host family. I wish!
If I was, I'd travel around in a bus like this.
Dan Meyer sure was a bust, huh?
The players prayed to America and for the weather to hold.
But soon after the game started, there was lightning and the game was delayed. We decided to wait out the delay by playing some bocce.
(photo by Marc)
(photo by Marc)
I may have lost the JMU bocce crown to Marc earlier in the day but I am officially the Turks champion!
(photo by Marc)When the game didn't look like it was going to start anytime soon, we went to Dave's Taverna to be insulted by the owners. But we made it back for some more baseball action.
Some highlights:
- To entice fans to return foul balls, the Turks' management offered one free freezepop. I'd rather have a ball.
- The Turks have an amazing theme song called I'm a Turks Fan but I can't find it anywhere online. I'm pretty upset by this.
- At one point, Marc was hopeful that we'd hear some great walk up songs by the players. "We are going to hear all the freshest jams tonite. These kids are young, they know what the new music is." I think he was disappointed.
- There was a lots of heckling of the umps on the night after a botched call in the late innings. The home plate ump loudly ordered the players to cut it out which riled up the fans even more.
- My favorite announcement of the night was "A personal medical device of an electronic nature was lost on, we believe, Wednesday. Please return it to the concession stand if you find it. Two minutes later, came the word "We are pleased to announce that the device has been found." Erik yelled something to the effect of the ump not being the one to find it though. Laughter ensued. You know, cuz umps are blind.
- The 5-5 tie was broken up by an inside the park home run in the bottom of the 8th when the River Bandits' right fielder and and center fielder collided. It was painfully exciting.
Marc and I both were fascinated by one of the Harrisonburg coach's 'staches. We both took very similar pictures.
Handshakes all around.
And then the ball boy got it.
Hey guys - don't plan on going to Dave's Taverna - those guys are assholes.
It took me way too long but I'm glad I finally made it to a Turks game. Now all I need is an Mp3 of that theme song of theirs.
For pictures from earlier in the day, check here.
For pictures from earlier in the day, check here. Posted: 3/12/12
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