Now THAT was FUN!

Here in St. Paul there is an independent baseball league team called the Saints. They are in the American Association, an independent league made up mostly of college-aged players. This year we had the good fortune of hosting the American Association All-Star Game. It was really a hoot! The Saints are in the North Division, so naturally we were rooting for them, and wouldn't you know it but the North gives up five runs to the South in the second inning. By the sixth, it was a ten-nothing deficit, and even the announcer was hoping the game would end quickly so we could all watch fireworks. But then the comeback started. One player on the North hit a home run in the seventh, ending the shut-out. The South scored again in the top of the eighth to keep the ten-run margin, and it stayed that way until the bottom of the ninth. In the bottom of the ninth the North squad really came to life! No, they didn't win, but they did score three runs to make the final score 11-4, South. It looks a lot more respectable than 10-0, and it gave us fans something to cheer about before the fireworks show. Anna and I decided to go home before the fireworks, however, because it was already ten-thirty and we both had to work the next day, early. Even though our team lost, it was still a really fun evening. Daryl Strawberry, a former Saint, was at the game, and Bill Murray, the actor, who is also part owner of the Saints, was at the game, and even called a mound conference in the ninth inning. That was funny because he gave out little bags of sunflower seeds to all the players who came to the mound, and even gave a bag to the umpire when he came to the mound to try to get them to move the game along! What a great gag! If you're ever in St. Paul during baseball season, it is indeed worth the effort to try to take in a Saints game.
blogged by Don