Home run story

In follow up to the last post, now is probably a good time for a home run story which occurred about 3-4 years ago.

Computer Boy, who would have been 8 or 9 years old at the time, and I went to Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio to catch a Toledo Mud Hens game. We catch our share of games there and around the 7th inning, Computer Boy likes to stand at the left field fence to try and catch a baseball and also I think just to be closer to the players.

The left field area has an elevated concrete walkway where if you stand at the fence, you can look directly down at the left fielder and typically there is some small talk going on between the Mud Hen left fielder and the fans. Computer Boy and I have caught balls in other areas of that park but not near the left field fence though there are no shortage of balls that are hit out there.

So at this game, as normal, we are standing at the left field fence enjoying the later innings of this game. I should remember the batter but I don't. Anyway, a batter from the opposing team hits a line drive shot HARD and it is coming right for us. This was not a high fly that just might plop over the fence. This was a screaming line drive hit with some authority and maybe the hardest ball I have ever seen hit (sign that guy up). I did not have much time to think about it but for the first time ever, I decided that I was not going to try and catch this one and would just let it go. This was probably a good call as the ball shot by us and hit the back wall (who knows; maybe dented it) of the walkway ramp and then ricocheted far away from us.

I recall a few people saying something like "Wow, did you see that one coming in?" and everybody laughed.

I then looked down at Computer Boy who was next to me and saw that he was crouched down as low to the ground as he could behind the fence.

I said jokingly "Hey, I thought you were going to try to catch a baseball?"

He responded "Not that one."