Fans in the stands

Elizabeth Kerlikowske
Editorial Advisor

I hadn't been to a baseball game since my son played in grade school, so let's say fifteen years. I remember chiefly being bored out of my mind as was my son in the outfield where he stared at the sky when the ball was not coming his way and was busy looking at bugs when it was. Sometimes he pitched, and that gave me such anxiety that I would go to the refreshment stand and hide.

Watching the Bruin team play against KVCC was a completely different experience. Colton Loomis, one of my students, was the pitcher that day. Watching him warm-up, I could tell he had no anxiety about pitching. The ball rocketed into the catcher's mitt during his warm-up, and I felt pretty good about our chances based on nothing but my feelings.

When I arrived at Bailey Park, I didnt know which field we played on because I was shocked that there was more than one! I didn't know which stands were the home teams. I didn't know much of anything and I didn't know anyone. By the time I left, I knew Colton's mom and grandma, Sean Clancy's mom and Kody Carson's dad, who I'm guessing, had to move away from me because I was a moron. More on that later.

I had forgotten that there are certain things fans yell from the stands, but by the second inning, that all came back to me. "Way to watch 'em." "Wait for it. Wait for it." KVCC was supposed to have a good team, but it was definitely not their day. However, the game was all very polite and sportsmanlike, NOT like the Little League games where there had been taunting and jeering by opposing teams, and those were the coaches.

When the Bruins turn to field came, they rushed to their positions. When a player scored or sacrificed so a teammate could score, the Bruins came out and congratulated him. I was completely impressed by the team spirit. And I was impressed with the fan spirit. Many of the dads and other male fans stood along a fence near the dugout where there was much spitting of sunflower seeds. The sounds of the cleats on the asphalt sounded like a weird form of tap dancing.

Women sat in the stands and watched the game. Mikki Bortell, Cam's mom and former KCC employee and wife of Russ Bortell, women's softball coach, was pretty adamant about pointing out her son. Cam was HER son when he made great plays; he was Russ's son when he struck out. Anna Cox, math professor, is a regular attendee of games. By listening to her and Mikki and Mrs. Clancy, I learned a lot. For example, I learned about "walk up music."

OK. This is why Kody's dad might have had to move. I'm a person who loves silence, so to be sitting nearly in the country, staring at trees in the April sun with chatting around me was great. Then the music hit. Between each batter, even if it was five seconds, there was music. I'm complaining about it to whomever will listen. After I said for the nth time, "Do people here hate silence or what?" These kindly women explained that each player chooses music to be played when he walks to the plate. The fans know the line-up is changed by the music. And Mrs. Clancy added that at the beginning of the season, fans sit in fear that their son has chosen something wildly inappropriate. They all agreed, however, that mostly they couldn't understand the loud lyrics anyway, but it was a nice thing to do.

I still didn't love it, but at least I understood why it was happening. I saw a cop car across the field stop, back around, and take a short break at the game. Fans came and went. I asked where the restroom was, and most people suggested the Subway across from the park.

Colton pitched a great game. The final score was 6-0. His mom and grandma had come from Mt. Pleasant, and of course, they were thrilled with the outcome. They had utter confidence in his abilities. It was a double header, but I had a meeting and a class to teach that night, so I had to leave.

As a professor, I love to see my students doing what they are passionate about in case it's not literature. I certainly hope I get to see Sean pitch before the season is over. I commend Coach Laskovy on the team building and sportsmanship he has overseen. If you haven't gone to a game, promise yourself next year you will go to some KCC sporting event because you will see a side of college life you don't see in the classroom or the hallways.

Then I asked myself, "What would I choose for walk up music?" I'm sure everyone would be blown away by Gregorian chanting.

Drew Fleming greets his fans.
photo by Elizabeth Kerlikowske

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