Week Eight

This past week was All-Star week which meant most of the front office staff went on a road trip to Asheville, NC for the South Atlantic League (SAL) All-Star Game while the rest of us were stuck in Charleston. I was given Tuesday off but still had to come in Monday and Wednesday to prepare for the second half of the season and the upcoming five-game homestand. 

Sunday wrapped up a seven-game homestand and I ran the wireless camera. Before the 2:05 game, we had an 8 a.m. tarp pull. It was Father's Day and we were supposed to have a propane tank cover giveaway for the first 1,000 fans. Well, the covers were sent to an undisclosed location in Europe instead of Charleston, WV. The two are pretty similar, right?

After the tarp pull, I didn't have to be back at the park until 11:30 while my boss went home to have Father's Day breakfast with his daughter. So I went home and watched ESPN for a while and then went to Tudor's for breakfast. I then walked to an overpriced coffee shoppe before heading back to the stadium. I decided that I had worked hard all week during the seven-game homestand and deserved a little treat. It was a great way to start my day and geared me up for a long day in the sun. After the game, I went home and it didn't take long to fall asleep. It's strange getting home before midnight and even stranger falling asleep before midnight. I won't complain though.

Throwing BP to Mike

I came in Monday and spent the day compiling the top ten plays from the first half of the season. The Power fell just short of reaching the playoffs after a losing skid in June. They finished in second place in the SAL Northern Division. Here is a link to the first half top ten. After I finished the top ten, the other production intern, Mike, and I went to the player's batting cage to take a few hacks. I threw a batting practice session and took a session as well. It was my first time actually throwing a full round of BP and my first time hitting baseballs with a wooden bat. I still don't know how some guys don't wear batting gloves. I had blisters galore afterwards and still have a few now.

Tuesday was my off day and therefore, laundry day. In the evening, I went to a pizza restaurant downtown with most of the remaining staff that didn't go to Asheville. The Power manager and hitting coach also went with us. It was fun listening to stories from the coaches about different players, past experiences they've had and many others. It was a nice night out away from the ballpark. 

Thursday began the five-game homestand that we are currently in the middle of. It was promoted as Margaritaville night featuring a Jimmy Buffet tribute band performing after the game. We played a lot of beach themed music and summertime music videos. Most of the Power staff, including me, dressed up in Hawaiian shirts and lei garland (pictured right). It was another night on the wireless camera walking around in a red Hawaiian shirt with the Power logo embroidered on it.

After the game, we had to put the tarp on the field for, yet again, overnight showers. Then I cut part of the highlights and helped take down the stage. The Power won 2-1 and didn't produce many offensive highlights. The fewer highlights there are, the sooner I get home. I would have gotten home around 11:15 or 11:30, but because of the stage and tarp, I didn't leave until 12. The night did produce a gorgeous sunset appropriate for beach night.

Friday was, as every Friday is, Fireworks Friday. We took the tarp off at 9 a.m.and prepared for a day of rain. Surprisingly, the rain held off for most of the day and we were able to play the game without any delays. I had the opportunity to MC once again. I didn't find this out until about a half hour before our production meeting. 

Yes, I have to do
the chicken dance
for the KFC Chicken
Dance Cam as the MC.

Our mom of the night was the Power's Jordan Luplow's mother. Luplow is currently considered a top 30 prospect in the Pirate system. So that was kind of cool. I also got to participate in my first oversize check presentation. Columbia Pipeline Group presented three checks to different charities Friday night and I got to stand on the dugout with Chuck during the presentations. 

The stadium at night in the dark.

Immediately following the last out of the game, I had to run down to the field to tarp the field. There were storms in the area and it was only a matter of time before it hit us. As soon as we covered the field, we set off the fireworks. Then we hurried to clean up as much as the firework debris as we could. Not long after that, it started to sprinkle. The early forecast predicted that it would rain all day Saturday. There was a large picnic that needed set up on the third base concourse that they decided to set up after that chaos instead of waiting until the next day. Then, finally, I was able to go back to my press box and begin cutting highlights after I changed out of my tarp clothes that didn't get wet from the tarp on the field, but form the rain on the concourse. Saturday's game was much different from Friday's 2-1 win. The Power still won, but this time by an 8-5 final. The more runs, the more highlights. I left the park at around 12:30 - after the lights to the stadium were shut off. That's when you know it's been a long night. 

The players' new warm up shirts. The Power logo in the center
of the WV state with the words "War Machine" on the front.
The DriFit shirts are an upgrade from their 100% cotton shirts.

We were supposed to take the tarp off at 10 am. Saturday. Usually on Saturdays, I don't come in until noon. I got to the park right at 10, only to not take the tarp off until 1:00. An hour later, we put it right back on for a chance of scattered showers. I had the chance to MC once again Saturday night, but this time, I was notified in the morning instead of right before the game.

But that didn't mean it wasn't a night for me to get surprised once again. After our production meeting, I was told that I would still get to do MC, but I would also run the wireless camera. Two jobs at once. Every half-inning, I was doing something. I was running back and forth between running a camera and doing normal MC duties. The ZOOperstars were at the ballpark for a special appearance and we were down several people in the press box. I wasn't even on the original schedule to do either wireless or MC. I was slated to do high-home camera. 

After a long night of running around and doing everything, I think it's safe to say that Saturday night's game was one of the hardest that I've worked at a game. I put more into that game than many before it. The good news is that the rain is gone for a few days and I can sleep in a little bit Sunday before our afternoon start.
I really am loving it here. July is right around the corner and that blows my mind. I can't believe that I'm two months into this summer. This summer has been incredible. I'm loving every minute. Even if I'm doing multiple jobs at once and pushing myself to utter exhaustion at the end of the game, only to stick around for two hours afterwards to do more work. Hey, I signed up for it. I'm fine with it.

Because, why not?

Hours June 21-27

6-21 Sunday: 11:30-7:30 (8)
6-22 Monday: 10-5 (7)
6-23 Tuesday: Off
6-24 Wednesday: 10-5:30 (7.5)
6-25 Thursday: 9:30-12 (14.5)
6-26 Friday: 9-12:30 (15.5)
6-27 Saturday: 10-12 (14)

Total: 66.5

Week Seven?!

Week seven is in the books. I've reached the halfway mark in my time with the Power this summer. I can't begin to wrap my mind around that. I'm halfway done here. I decided it was time to reflect and the first two days this week helped me do that. 

Sunday was a double header to make up from Saturday night's cancelation. Two seven inning games under the mid-june sun. That's baseball, man. That's baseball. 

We have converted my camera that usually is locked down in the pit to a wireless camera. So now, instead of standing in the dugout for the entire game, I begin the game on the field for lineups and transition to the stands where I do everything that I usually did. That included following the batters as they walk up to the plate and getting hero shots when they get on base, along with occasional and hard to get crowd shots. The perspective from the dugout simply isn't the best for crowd shots. Now, on top of everything that I usually did, I get crowd shots and follow our MC around for the between-inning promotions. 

Setting off the fireworks with this little guy Friday night

Technically, during the innings, I don't have to do anything. I can go sit in the press box and relax in the air conditioning and take a breather. My primary responsibility is to get shots in between innings. I occasionally walk back to get a drink of water, but nothing more than that. I'm getting paid to help contribute to the best

possible production that we can put on for the fans. Not to sit in air conditioning. That includes getting unique angles of the game while it's happening. That's what I try and do. Otherwise, our director only has one camera angle to choose from. There's not much diversity on the video board and it gets boring to look at the same angle of the batter walking up again and again. 

I love the wireless camera. Not just because I get to get different angles of the action, but because I get to interact with the fans more. The crowd was pretty light Sunday, but Monday featured an above-average and energetic crowd for a Monday night. 

People look at you differently when you have a camera. I've always known this and have experienced it before, but not to the capacity that I do with a live video board. People know to either avoid you or stay close to get the best chance at seeing themselves on the video board. 

I loved having the chance to interact with the fans Monday night. It made me remember why I'm here and why I'm pursuing the career that I am. 

Monday night, I had the chance to talk with a little league team celebrating a great season, an energetic youth softball team on a night out, a family celebrating their sons birthday (he ran away when they brought me over to try and get him on the video board), a youth group, visitors from Charlotte, NC and so many more people. 

I chatted with Pablo Reyes and Tito Polo's biggest fans and told them a couple funny stories about each guy. I met a little girl and her parents celebrating her 9-month birthday. I talked with a single mother and her son who were at their first game together of the season. 

Not only did I have the chance to talk with and get to know some of these fans, but I also made some of their nights. Not just by throwing their faces on the video board. All I did was give out a few baseballs that I found throughout the day. It was a long and rainy day that required multiple tarp pulls. During the day, I managed to collect four baseballs and throw them in my backpack with the intention on giving them out during the game.

After our final tarp pull after gates already opened, I found a fifth ball and tossed it to a young kid with his two friends. They weren't looking when I tossed the kid the ball and laughed and smiled at their well-fortuned buddy after he showed off his souvenir. I then gave two of my other four out before the game started to a couple shy kids who came back and thanked me after their parents persuaded them to. 

As the game went into the 8th inning, I still had two baseballs left. Walking to the press box, I saw a few kids standing beside the box waiting for a foul ball. Only one of them had a glove and he was the one that noticed me and my camera as I walked by him. I asked him if he could catch with his glove and when he nodded, I tossed him the ball. He thanked me multiple times as I walked away and once more when I passed him later in the night. 

During the 9th inning, the crowd was starting to make their way to the gates, freeing up more seats in the stands. I spotted a little girl with pigtails and a purple and pink baseball glove sitting four seats in the row behind the first base dugout. Her parents occupied the two seats beside her, leaving the end seat vacant. I walked down to the front row one section over to shoot the first couple batters of the inning walking up to the plate. I then began heading back up to the concourse to relocate and stopped at their row. I gave the ball to her mother and said it was for the little girl. When she gave the ball to her daughter, she couldn't help but smile from ear to ear as her jaw dropped to the floor. The look on her face was priceless. She raised it up in the air and showed it off to the people around her. That was the highlight of my night. 

I loved everything about working the wireless camera. I was more sweaty and exhausted after Monday's game than any other before it. I had a bruise on my right shoulder from where the camera sits. It was worth it. Not just because I made people's nights and not just because I got to interact with fans. But because it reminded me the reason that I'm here and the reason that I'm in this field. 

Minor League Baseball is as much of a sporting industry as it is an entertainment industry. Sure, you want the best product on the field from the players. Sure, some of them may make it to the Big Leagues some day. And that's why some of the fans come to watch the games. But for most of them, it's about the entire experience. It's about the food, the friendships, the family time, the laughs and the memories. Not about balls and strikes, swings and misses and outs and runs. 

The fans are there for the overall show. They don't care if you're running on fumes during game seven of a seven game homestand. That doesn't matter. Just because it's just another game for you, doesn't mean that it is for them. They could be, like many that I have talked to were, at their first game ever. You want to do everything in your power to make it an enjoyable and memorable experience for them so that they come back again. My job is to do my very best every night to make memories for fans who may be at their first game. It's a sports industry, an entertainment industry and a memory making industry. 

When I was thinking about this, I tried to think back to all the baseball games I've been to in my lifetime. I can remember the outcome of a few memorable ones. I can remember a few specific plays from a few of them. But for the most part, even as a huge fan of baseball, a good majority of my memories from baseball aren't from the field. They're from the people that I was with, the laughs that I had and the overall experience at the game. I have a hard time remembering games I went to last season off the top of my head, but I can tell you specific stories from separate games about the people that I was with, where I sat or what we did. 

I don't know how many of the people that I gave a baseball to Monday night will remember the outcome of the game (a 5-2 loss). But there's a better chance that some of them will remember me giving them or their kid a used scuffed-up baseball. There's a better chance that some of them will remember getting on the video board as they did the chicken dance. There's a better chance that some of them will remember participating in a between-inning promotion. 

At the end of the day, it's not about balls and strikes, runs and outs. It's about the laughs shared and the memories made. 

Life is a lot like baseball in the same way. At the end of the day, when you're gone, people aren't going to necessarily remember the little successes and failures, or your balls and strikes. They'll remember your smile, the laughs they shared with you and the memories you created. 

I loved interacting with the fans at the park. I got to know them used it as a chance to practice my interviewing skills. I love interviewing people, even if it isn't for a story. In my mind, I want to hear what the other person has to say. If they say something interesting, I want to follow up on that. It makes me want to work on my feature writing even more. I love talking to people and hearing their stories and having the chance to share those stories with others. 

I had the chance to talk with a scout with the Atlanta Braves before a game last week. In his mind, I was a kid interested in the game of baseball and trying to learn how scouts do things. In my mind, I was interviewing him. Picking his brain to figure out how it works, asking him questions to learn more about scouting and what he's looking for in a player. Comparing today's baseball with the one that he began working in 35 years ago. It was a good ten minute conversation. If I was writing a story on scouts, I would have at least a dozen good quotes from him to use in a story. 

Those one-on-one conversations, or interviews, is what I love doing. I love getting an answer out of people and I love hearing what they have to say about things. I've done a lot of "interviewing" in Charleston with die-hard local fans, visitors and every-day people. If I could summarize the people of Charleston in two words, it would be passionate and hospitable.  

I read that Charleston is called, "The North's most southern city and the South's most Northern city."

I get that now. The city has a mix of the northern personality and character that I grew up around and the southern charm that the south is known for. 

1 have experienced genuine southern hospitality down here. I have seen strangers go out of their way to help other strangers. I have yet to go on a walk around town where I don't get a hello, a smile or a head nod from a

A park in downtown Charleston

single person. I was given a discount at lunch the other day simply because the cashier thought I looked like a guy she graduated with in 1980. 

Their not just hospitable, they're passionate. Passionate about their state, their lifestyle and their schools. 

People that are born here usually stay here. There's something about West Virginia that won't let one leave. We have a lot of that in Western, PA, but I think that West Virginia has that to a greater extent. 

They are very proud of the way they live and their reputation. Most of them embrace the redneck culture that they are stereotyped with. We even poke fun at it by celebrating redneck night at the ballpark. It's a West Virginia think. A West by God Virginia thing, I suppose. 

They love their sports, particularly high school and especially college sports. Marshall and WVU are everything down here. Marshall is just down the street, so a lot of people love Marshall. But everyone else is all in for everything WVU. It seems like everyone went to, goes to, or has a connection to WVU. A large majority of our interns and part-time game day staff went to or go to WVU. I'm not going to lie, growing up in Pittsburgh during the backyard brawl era, I was taught that everyone from WVU was overly obnoxious, dumb and rude, and only knew how to set couches on fire. Now, they will admit to setting a lot of couches on fire. But they are not all obnoxious, dumb or rude. Quite the opposite. The people from WVU have been so nice to me and have developed into good friends of mine. So much so, that I actually may find myself rooting for WVU in the future.

I'm loving it here, without a doubt. I'm halfway done with my time here and that still blows me away. In about seven more weeks, I will leave here for good. Unlike leaving Point Park in Pittsburgh, there is no "see you next school year." Although this is only a temporary position here, I can definitely see myself coming back to visit or potentially work again in the future. 

Moving on from reflection time, this is how the rest of the week played out.

After the seven-game homestand, the team went on the road for three days before returning for the weekend. 
Tuesday was supposed to be a half-day for me along with Thursday. Wednesday was supposed to be an off day. I went in to the office Tuesday to cut my top ten from the last homestand. After I finished around noon, I went to the hospital for lunch and returned to the press box. There weren't a lot of people at the park and I was alone in the box all day. Instead of going home, I decided to stay in the press box all day and watch Netflix, SportsCenter and enjoy the air conditioning. Before I knew it, it was 5:00 and I finished Parks and Rec on Netflix. Jay came in at 5:00 surprised that I was even here and asked if I realized that I had a half-day. Technically, I only worked for  half the day. I just like hanging out in here. I waited until a storm that popped up passed and went home at 6:30. I later went over to Trip and Alex's house to watch game six of the NBA Finals with another intern, Scott. I was the only one rooting for the Cleveland Cavaliers, but it was still a fun night.

Jazz trio playing in the mall's center court

I woke up Wednesday and checked out the weather for the day. There was a fairly strong storm that was moving in, but it looked like it would fizzle out eventually. I walked to the mall and just beat the storm. While I was there, I went to the foot court and got Taco Bell for lunch, then I went down to the first level and got an iced coffee from Starbucks and enjoyed a live jazz trio. It was a relaxing and well-deserved treat myself afternoon. While I was walking home, I ran into Trip, who was out on the road going to lunch, and offered me a ride home. We met up later and played basketball at the court near his apartment. 

Thursday, my second half-day, turned into a full day after our homestand meeting. We got a long list of things to do ahead of just a three-game homestand that featured a theme and giveaway every night. The Pirate Parrot was visiting Friday, so I made a Pirate Parrot video. There was also a plush black bear giveaway, so I made a video about West Virginia's state animal. Saturday was West Virginia day and we had a New River Gorge replica bridge giveaway, so I made videos detailing the history of the bridge. It was one of my more productive days of work, especially considering I wasn't even supposed to be there past noon.

Friday began a three-game homestand. It was raining on and off all day Thursday and Friday and when there's rain, there's tarp. We arrived Friday at 9 a.m. to remove the tarp so the field could begin its prep for the night's game. I was supposed to be on the camera behind home plate, but ended up getting a chance at being the MC for the night. The last time I was supposed to do something other than camera, PA, we got rained out. We put the tarp on after the gates opened ahead of what looked like a large storm. We had a light drizzle for about an hour with periods of harder rain, but nothing more than that. So at 8:00, we took the tarp off the field in the rain and started to get ready to play. We actually played baseball Friday night and I did something other than camera. 

Click here to watch us get the game started

The MC gig was a fun one. My MC name that the PA announcer gave me was "2 Live Croup," after the band 2 Live Crew. I had to do the chicken dance with the mascot on the dugout, I had to throw newspapers and T-Shirts to the crowd and I had to run the on-field contests and promotions. My first one was a bucket toss where a kid threw tennis balls into a barrel. I forgot to turn my microphone on at first and was a little embarrassed, but powered through it. The rest of the night went smoothly and ended with a 6-5 victory for the Power in a seesaw type of game. I had to stall on the field for about 5-10 minutes after the game while the post-game fireworks were getting set up in center field. That was interesting, but it was still fun. Overall, it was a fun experience and I'm glad that I got the chance to do it. 

I didn't leave until 1:00 a.m. after I cut my highlights and got back at 9:00 a.m. for another tarp pull. 

During the afternoon, we hosted the annual season ticket holder picnic. At the picnic, the season ticket holders had the opportunity to take batting practice on the field. I just happened to have my glove in the press box and they just happened to need people to field BP. So the interns all went to the outfield and infield and shagged fly balls and fielded grounders in the infield. I shifted from left to center to short. I'm glad that the rain held off for it because that was something that I've been looking for. Tropical depression Bill swept through West Virginia and gave us a night off. We canceled the Power game and instead watched the Pirates get no-hit against the Nationals on the video board. I went home and enjoyed the night off by going to bed before 11:00. It was glorious. 

I guess this past week was all about the new experiences, breaking routine and discovering why I'm here. I made a lot of people happy and did my best in every capacity to put on good shows and give people a night that they will remember. It's more than balls and strikes, wins and losses. I learned that this week more than anything. 

Next week is the All-Star break. We're halfway there. The midpoint of the season and the midpoint of my summer. 

Because, why not?
Josh

Hours June 14-20

6-14 Sunday: 11:30-7:30 (8)
6-15 Monday: 10-12:30 (14.5)
6-16 Tuesday: 10-12 (2)
6-17 Wednesday: Off
6-18 Thursday: 9:30-5 (7.5)
6-19 Friday: 9-1 (16)
6-20 Saturday: 9-6:30 (9.5)

Total: 57.5

Chicken dancing with Chuck on the dugout

Week Six

Nearing the halfway point of the busiest month of the Power baseball season, we are getting by one day at a time. That's what you have to do in baseball. Some players get injured and are listed as "Day-to-day." Well, we all are day-to-day. 

Sunday I adventured around the city and beyond. I walked for a few miles on train tracks, something I've always wanted to do. This past week was hot nearly every day and Sunday was no exception. 

We had the homestand meeting Monday ahead of a seven-game homestand. Seven days, seven games. The true test of a minor league baseball employee. After a fairly simple work day, I had to come back in the evening for a 7:00 tarp pull ahead of overnight storms. While we were at the tarp pull, I chatted with our new Japanese intern. We call him, "K." He brought us all Japanese Kit-Kats that are green tea flavored. It was a new, yet familiar taste. It was strange, but delicious. I can't describe it anymore than that. 

My dad was in the area again for work and I met up with him and my grandfather for dinner at Five Guys. 

It was great seeing them both after not seeing my grandfather in some time. It was nice to catch up with them both as my grandfather told me how proud he was of me. They talked about possibly coming to the game Tuesday night. 

The fam

A few hours before game time Tuesday, my dad texted me and told me that they would come to the game. I was able to reserve the two of them tickets and met up with them before first pitch, just as one of my videos was playing on the video board. While I stood with them, three more of my videos played on the board and my grandfather seemed impressed and proud. It was a cool moment. 

And of course, I put them on the video board during the game. Multiple times.

Another cool moment happened after the game. I have written before about how much I enjoy watching Cole Tucker play and how nice of a kid he is. The Pirate's 2014 first round draft pick wasn't in the lineup Tuesday through Thursday night because of general soreness he told me after Wednesday's game. 

It's hard to miss my dad's yellow shirt in the crowd
from my spot in the dugout.

After Tuesday's game, I was up on the concourse talking with my dad and grandfather about the game, surprised that they stayed for the duration. Then a man and a young boy approached us. The man said, "hey, you're the Power Minute guy!" 

I was happy that I was recognized for one thing, and in front of my family for another. What came next was better. 

The Power's shortstop and Pirate's 2014
first round draft pick, Cole Tucker.

"You do a great job with those highlights," he said. "You keep us up to date all the way in Arizona."

"Oh, you guys are from Arizona?" I replied. 

"Yeah, we're Cole Tucker's family," he said. 

"Oh, that's awesome! Cole's a good guy. Good kid."

"Well thank you. He's not bad for an 18-year-old," he said as he walked away and I told him to have a good night. 

After he left, my dad asked who he was again. When I told them that it was the Pirates' number one draft pick's father, my dad and grandfather both seemed surprised and amused. It was awesome. 

Cole Tucker's mother, father, little brother and grandmother are all in town for this homestand. Starting Wednesday, Tucker's little brother dressed in full uniform and stood on the field and in the dugout with the team during the game as his family watched from the stands. I've had a couple other exchanges with his father since Tuesday night, along with the rest of his family. Great people. I actually ran into them at Outback Steakhouse Saturday night while out with some friends. Crazy. 

Also after the game Tuesday night, I saw someone wearing the pirate's 1970's free t-shirt Friday shirt given out earlier this year, sponsored by Point Park University. I guess Point Park has found its way to Charleston in more than one capacity. 

I somehow obtained a streak of three nights in a row where I returned to the apartment before midnight. A lot has to do with the team losing each game and there not being a lot of highlights to cut, but I was still happy with going home "early." 


Friday was a different story because of post game fireworks. After I finished cutting the highlights, I began to walk out of the stadium when Jay asked me if I wanted to fill in as the Public Address announcer for Saturday night's game. I was thrilled. The only question was, would we actually have a game? There was a lot of rain in the forecast for Saturday, but it was possible. 

Reporting time was noon Saturday. I showed up at 11:45. At 11:50, it started to sprinkle. There was nothing on the radar in our area. Two minutes later, it started to rain harder. Then the sky opened up to a vicious downpour. I quickly changed into my tarp clothes and sprinted down to the field to meet the few front office staff that was already there to begin putting the tarp on the field. 

I was already drenched when I got to the tarp. When we began pushing it into the outfield to roll it out, the rain was coming down so hard that I couldn't open my eyes to see. When I did, I couldn't see the center field wall from right field. When we rolled it out into the field, we spread out and grabbed a strap and began running with the tarp to the infield. Not even a minute later, there was so much rain on the tarp that it was too heavy to pull anymore. We barely made it to first and second base, so the rest of the infield was completely exposed. We missed it by a couple minutes and a couple of bodies. There weren't that many of us because the downpour occurred before the noon reporting time. By the time that we began leaving the field to get out of the rain at around 12:00, most of the staff had arrived, except our head groundskeeper, ironically. 

By 12:15, the rain had stopped completely. We began pushing as much water off the tarp onto the outfield grass and warning track so we could pull the tarp across the field and dump the rest of the water off so we could actually cover the infield. This took until after 1:00 when we finally went back inside with the infield covered. I dried off and tried to recover from the craziness that was the first hour of the Saturday work day. At around 4:30, we took the tarp off the field after the rain appeared to have stopped for at least a few hours. 

Not even an hour later, an ASAP tarp pull call went out and we ran down to quickly tarp the field once again. Another pop-up storm came out of nowhere and began another downpour on the field. As of 5:30, the game was still on and we were in our production meeting going over notes and information for the game. I was going over the PA script and was anxious to get the game underway. The rain looked like it would stop around 6:30 or 7:30 for the rest of the night and it looked like we were going to get the game in. 

Then, at 5:45, they called off the game. I was upset that I didn't get to do PA, but I did go to Outback with a lot of the game day and press box staff for a late sit down meal. Not only did we run into the Tucker family there, but we also saw half the coaching staff. Keoni De Renne, the Power hitting coach, has always been a cool guy to talk to in the dugout and he came over and said hey to us at our table. He followed up with me the next day about the meal. 

Sunday is a double header to make up Saturday night's game and Monday concludes the homestand. Then the team has three road games before a weekend homestand. 

This is fun, organized chaos. It's baseball, man. Baseball.

Because, why not?
Josh

Our mascot, Chuck.
The non-inflatable version.

Hours June 7-13

6-7 Sunday: Off
6-8 Monday: 9:30-4 (6.5)
6-9 Tuesday: 10-11:15 (13.25)
6-10 Wednesday: 10-11:45 (13.75)
6-11 Thursday: 10-11:45 (13.75)
6-12 Friday: 10-12:45 (12.75)
6-13 Saturday: 12-6  (6)

Total: 66

Week Five

Week one of the busiest month of the Power baseball season is over. And it kicked my butt. 


The sun barely showed itself Monday through Wednesday for the Power's three game series with Greensboro. The game Monday was delayed by an hour because of rain. There were quite a few tarp pulls 

Watching myself on the
video board through binoculars

Monday and the only one that I missed was before the game actually started because I was working in the press box. The game went along at a good pace and I was able to cut my highlights quickly and get out of there before it got too late. During pregame, the Special Olympics torch was lit on the field in a really nice ceremony.


I finally think I have the giant inflatable mascot figured out. The giant thing takes forever to get set up at first, especially when I don't have any help, which I didn't Monday. But after I get it set, I think I have it down to a good system. It hasn't fallen over since I began tinkering with it. Josh 1, Chuck 0. 

Inflatable Chuck from the street

There was no rain Tuesday, but it was a gloomy day. The team lost a game that ended around the same time as the night before without a rain delay. I couldn't wait until the next day to archive every highlight because of the early 12:05 start time, so I stayed late to get it all done that night. 

Wednesday was another kids day and I was again surrounded by elementary school students armed with vuvuzela horns and sugar. At one point, there were over two dozen of them surrounding the table that my camera and I stood on. They jumped, screamed and blew their horns trying to get on the video board, which they did multiple times. 

After the game, the other intern and I stayed late to watch the Pirates, Giants game in the press box and get a head start on the next homestand. I cut the highlights and began sorting through the top ten plays from the homestand. 

I went in Thursday to continue the top ten so it could be aired throughout the West Virginia High School State Baseball Tournament. Thursday was insane. There were people in and out of the press box all day searching for answers that we didn't have, wanting things that we couldn't give them and looking for wires that didn't exist. It was crazy. In the meantime, we are beginning to look into uploading my highlight videos to the official Power website through MiLB. That would be awesome if we could do that. 

I didn't have to work the first round of high school games Thursday night. My dad is starting a Sheetz store in Ripley and South Charleston and he was in town with another one of his guys so we met up on my off night and went to dinner. We plan to do the same thing Monday night when the two bring my grandfather down with them so we can go out to eat again. 

The first day of games in the tournament.

Friday was non stop. As teams rolled through the gate, I was running back and forth from the head shot station we had set up and the press box trying to get their pictures ready for the score board. I was also running back and forth from the box and the front office making copies of lineups and box scores all day. The first game started at 10 a.m. so I showed up at 8 a.m. to get things set up. There were four total games on Friday. I ran the line score for the first two and was putting head shots together for the final game during the third game. 

The Gutter Mountain Challenge. 

Saturday was a similar day but a little less hectic because the headshots were already put in. The best part about the weekend was the free food from the concession stand. Saturday was the day where all of us attempted the Gutter Mountain Nacho Challenge. These were no ordinary nachos. Actually, there weren't many nachos at all. 

The entire beast was contained in a Pirates souvenir batting helmet. There were nachos somewhere at the bottom of the pile with a lot of pulled pork, barbecue sauce, chile, beef, jalapenos, salsa, sour cream and nacho cheese. It was intimidating. It was a beast. Way more challenging then the Sternwheeler. At least that was possible to eat by a normal human being. 

I ate about half of it before I tapped out. In my defense, I had a sore throat and am not a huge fan of spicy foods. There were way too many jalapenos in that mess. A 100% healthy Josh without jalapenos could have conquered a lot more of that. 

One team celebrates their championship
as players from the other teams crouch
at second base and at home plate after
falling short.  

The tournament was long and tiring but it was cool to relax and watch some baseball for a change. Granted, I couldn't look away for a single pitch and was getting paid to do so, but it was cool to see so many kids celebrate on the field after winning it all and seeing others crushed. There was some good baseball played this past weekend. 

I fell asleep before 10:00 Friday and Saturday night, the earliest I have fallen asleep in months. That tournament wore me out. 

Sunday is an off day and Monday is a day to prepare for a seven game homestand that begins Tuesday. The early forecast has a chance of rain almost every day for the next couple weeks. That should be interesting. 

For now, it's time to relax and mentally and physically prepare for the long week ahead. Baseball, man. It's a marathon.

Because, why not?
Josh

Hours May 31- June 6

5-31 Sunday: Off
6-1 Monday: 10-12:15 (12.25)
6-2 Tuesday: 10-12:45 (12.75)
6-3 Wednesday: 9-8 (9)
6-4 Thursday: 10-4 (6)
6-5 Friday: 8-7 (11)
6-6 Saturday: 8-6 (10)

Total: 61