Opening Day

I will never forget the nervousness running through my body at the hotel the morning of my first college game. We were in Delaware in early March and the snow piles in the parking lot were an early indicator that it was going to be a cold weekend.

We arrived to the ball park before 10 AM, for a noon game start, and I got my first insight into the lengthy pregame that always preceded first pitch. It was sunny out but the wind whipping throughout the park made those 2 hours before game time painful. My stomach was churning as we stretched in the outfield. I watched Delaware State take their batting practice and could hardly believe that after years of working hard to get a Division I scholarship I had finally arrived.

I sat game one and for the first time in my life really watched a college game. There was something different about the pace and feel that made me eager to get in and get comfortable. The wind and cold was relentless as I watched my team open a 12-0 lead. Before I knew it I was in the batters box. I looked at 4 straight pitches and never took the bat off my shoulder.

I ended up going 4-4 the first day yet my “perfect Opening Day”, nor the weather, was the memory that sticks with me from opening day/weekend. Instead it was the odd outcomes of the games. The first game we won game one, 14-0, lost game 2 6-5, lost game three when Del. St exploded for 23 runs and tied game four due to darkness.

After the long weekend, all I had left was a 5 hour bus ride back to Binghamton where I got to thaw out and study for a Business Law exam.

Please share or comment on your Opening day memories or questions