Sweet Summer Memories
Growing up in St Louis I have a lot of memories of summers
in the backyard listening to the Cardinals’ games on the radio. Of BBQs, family gatherings and playing
catch in the backyard. Of softball
games and of friendly neighborhood games that usually ended up with one of us
climbing into the sewer to retrieve the ball. I’ve spent many a warm summer night in the bleachers at
Busch Stadium, cheering them on and people watching when the action got slow. So when I had the opportunity to see a
live baseball game again I couldn’t pass it up – even if it was a minor league
game.
Behind Home Plate
The Tri-City Valley Cats play at Joe Bruno Stadium on the
grounds of Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. The stadium is intimate with only one level of seating and
the “suites” that are situated high above the field. We sat behind home plate. That was cool, never sat behind home plate before. The seats behind home plate were
protected by nets which was good because there was foul ball after foul ball
hit over the nets and into the walkway where the concession stands are and over
the roof and even hitting the guttering that lined the “suites”. Which kept the game exciting. If you’re looking to take home a foul
ball, t-shirt or other souvenir sit along the baselines and not behind home plate. There you might even get on the big
screen. The game that night was a
doubleheader with the Hudson Valley Renegades. I was thinking that a
doubleheader was going to be a long, boring event but I was pleasantly
surprised since there was plenty of entertainment between innings, like the
barrel roll, the chuck it in the bucket along with a lot of music and
dancing.
The Valley Cats won the first game: 9-4. Which caused the Renegades to change
their uniforms. Ball players can
be so superstitious, but it didn’t help because again the lost, this time 4-2.
There a few games still left if you’d like to watch a live
baseball game. Most nights have
promotions and fireworks after the game.
The stadium is family friendly with easy entrance and exit and tons of
food options at the concession stands.
Sitting in the stands on a cool summer night, listening to
the crack of the wooden bats.
Watching the umps call the strike outs and walks. Listening to the crowd as they cheer for
the hits and groan for the swing and a miss. It was almost like being back
home, watching the Cards play–I almost felt like a kid again.
