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Saluting the flag prior to play.
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The Salem Red Sox dug-out during the Washington Potomac match-up.
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Salem's winning pitcher Kyle Kraus
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Salem's infielder Deven Marrero
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Salem Red Sox dug-out
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The voice of the VT Hokies Bill Roth at the Sox game.
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Topping off the victory with "Sweet Caroline"
Don't you just love a package deal? The all-inclusive deals. BOGO - buy one, get one. If we're all honest, we look for things where we think we get more than for what we pay.
Take for example, baseball. I got this package deal in Salem, Virginia.
For one ticket, I experienced all this:
No technology needed: Fresh air and the company of thousands of my closest friends, all with the same thing in mind - cheering on the home team. Simple and uncomplicated with no smartphone attached to my fingers. Just what summer requires.
Out of this world music: For the 20 seconds it takes for a on-deck batter to reach the plate, it's the Walk-Up tune that tells me everything I need to know about the guy with the bat. There's the proverbial "Take me Out to the Ballpark" but there's also Ozzy's "Crazy Train", Zeppelin's "Kashmir", Jay Z's "Already Home", and my favorites - Ian Kinsler's "Black Betty" and Dropkick Murphy's "I'm Shipping Up to Boston." If I had remained seated after these, well, I should have stayed home. When I'm home in Atlanta, during the seventh inning stretch Atlanta Opera tenor Timothy Miller melts my heart and strokes my patriotism with "God Bless America." There's no concert anywhere better than this.
Food you can eat right from the palm of your hand: Okay, this does cost extra (sometimes a lot extra), but I can't fight the urge of a hot dog in one hand and cold drink in the other. Stadium food has transcended stereotypical fare to include Boston's clam chowder, the sausage pretzel roll smothered in crab dip in Baltimore, a three pound banana split in Chicago, an 18-inch corn dog stuffed with cheese, jalapenos and bacon in Arizona, an eight pound Strasburger with the Washington Nationals, and even a pulled pork parfait in Milwaukee. Call me old-fashioned but give me a wiener on a bun every time.
Boys playing ball: What's better than watching baseball rivals battle on the diamond, just like The Sandlot playing out before my very eyes? On this very field of dreams, I hears echoes of Babe Ruth urging these guys to follow their dreams. Even though I'm only a spectator, I understand the legacy of this game, and its roots in my collective summertime memory. I am as much a player as the boys on the field. There's no other place on earth I'd rather be.
The Boys of Summer are taking the field and not just in the Big Leagues. The Minor Leagues offer as much excitement as the boys who are the big tickets. We invite you along to our first visit to the Salem Red Sox, the 2013 Carolina League Champions where they are definitely "growing champions down on the farm." It's Awful Night with the Salem Red Sox.
Judy and Len Garrison make their home in Athens, Georgia. Len, an IT manager for a major Atlanta company, and Judy, an editor and travel writer, want to hear from you as you follow along on their travels and then experience them for yourself. They would love to hear your comments and travel or profile suggestions at seeingsouthern@gmail.com. They make their home on Two Coots Travel, and you can always follow their travels on Twitter at @judyhgarrison and @seeing_southern. Don't forget to like them on facebook.