On Monday, we got a bonus in our unexpected explorations schedule. Good friends, Bill and Denise Shade, parents of Alex Shade, a 2010 Calvert Hall alum and classmate of son #1, Alex, offered us four tickets to the Monday night Ironbirds game. The Shades were headed to the beach for the weekend. As the Shade Construction representative, we also had the chance to throw out the first pitch and get a behind-the-scenes tour. Of course, we were happy to do it! Andew was elected to be the pitcher! I snapped this photo of him right after this pitch! 
Andrew has been to plenty of Ironbird games. We picked up his friend, Ryan. He was even more familiar with the stadium since his family had hosted Ironbird players when he was younger. After we arrived at the ball park, we picked up sub sandwiches, which were a great choice!
Before we knew it, Andrew, Ryan and I were down on the field, waiting for the first pitch. Since we had some time, I looked up a couple of Ironbird players with college connections. Michael Rooney, who was the 2010 CAA Defensive Player of the Year in his final seaso
n at North Carolina-Wilmington, was the first "find." We had a great chat about his transition to Aberdeen and the great race in the CAA this season. We both agreed that the league should have a minimum of six teams in the baseball championship.
We also connected with former Indiana standout Kipp Schultz and former Mount Olive player Jeremy Nowak. Nowak, who hit .446 for Mount Olive in his only season for the Trojans, led his team to the top batting average in the country. His director of athletics at Mount Olive, Jeff Eisen, is a good friend of mine. I'm not sure of our conversation with the former college players was inspiring, but Schultz and Rooney both collected four hits on the night! Unfortunately, Nowak did not get to play.
Andrew was one of three fans throwing out "first pitches." He tossed a great strike to "catcher" T.R. Keating, a three-year pro pitcher. It made those tutoring sessions at Perry Hall High worthwhile! It was fun to see Keating pitch in relief later in the game, and he did not allow a run in his two innings of work, despite the possible bruised hand from Andrew's fastball!
Rooney got the scoring going for the Ironbirds in the second inning when he singled in Michael Flacco (yes, it's Joe's younger brother). The game was quite a contrast to the last one we watched (a 2-0 affair) as the two teams combined for 30 base hits and Aberdeen rallied for a 9-6 win. Rooney, who had four singles, two runs scored and two RBI was selected as the player of the game. It was nice to see a former CAA star do well.
After the fifth inning, we got out tour of the press box and club level. The Ironbirds do have lots of great hospitality options. Andrew and I had been on the club level previously, thanks to the generosity of Cal Bowman, who worked for the Ironbirds during the 2006 season. Good luck to Cal as he runs for delegate in Maryland!
All in all, it was a good night for the Hermann family and a memorable experience with Andrew on the mound. Thanks to the Shades for a great evening and a bonus road trip!
Andrew has been to plenty of Ironbird games. We picked up his friend, Ryan. He was even more familiar with the stadium since his family had hosted Ironbird players when he was younger. After we arrived at the ball park, we picked up sub sandwiches, which were a great choice!
Before we knew it, Andrew, Ryan and I were down on the field, waiting for the first pitch. Since we had some time, I looked up a couple of Ironbird players with college connections. Michael Rooney, who was the 2010 CAA Defensive Player of the Year in his final seaso
n at North Carolina-Wilmington, was the first "find." We had a great chat about his transition to Aberdeen and the great race in the CAA this season. We both agreed that the league should have a minimum of six teams in the baseball championship.We also connected with former Indiana standout Kipp Schultz and former Mount Olive player Jeremy Nowak. Nowak, who hit .446 for Mount Olive in his only season for the Trojans, led his team to the top batting average in the country. His director of athletics at Mount Olive, Jeff Eisen, is a good friend of mine. I'm not sure of our conversation with the former college players was inspiring, but Schultz and Rooney both collected four hits on the night! Unfortunately, Nowak did not get to play.
Andrew was one of three fans throwing out "first pitches." He tossed a great strike to "catcher" T.R. Keating, a three-year pro pitcher. It made those tutoring sessions at Perry Hall High worthwhile! It was fun to see Keating pitch in relief later in the game, and he did not allow a run in his two innings of work, despite the possible bruised hand from Andrew's fastball!
Rooney got the scoring going for the Ironbirds in the second inning when he singled in Michael Flacco (yes, it's Joe's younger brother). The game was quite a contrast to the last one we watched (a 2-0 affair) as the two teams combined for 30 base hits and Aberdeen rallied for a 9-6 win. Rooney, who had four singles, two runs scored and two RBI was selected as the player of the game. It was nice to see a former CAA star do well.
After the fifth inning, we got out tour of the press box and club level. The Ironbirds do have lots of great hospitality options. Andrew and I had been on the club level previously, thanks to the generosity of Cal Bowman, who worked for the Ironbirds during the 2006 season. Good luck to Cal as he runs for delegate in Maryland!
All in all, it was a good night for the Hermann family and a memorable experience with Andrew on the mound. Thanks to the Shades for a great evening and a bonus road trip!
Mike
No comments:
Post a Comment