The middle of June holds a special place in my heart. Yes, the days are longer and warmer, and there are finally leaves on the trees in Avery County. But that’s not why the time is special.Appy League baseball has returned!
For the price of admission, I have found no local sporting event to be a bigger bargain than watching Minor League Baseball from the Appalachian League. The short-season league kicked its year off last Tuesday in stadiums across the Mountain Empire area of Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Of local interest, the Elizabethton Twins, winners of last season’s league title and two of the last three championships, hosted the Bluefield Orioles at Joe O’Brien Field in its opening series of the season. I managed to take in the second game of the three-game set, witnessing the game of baseball as it should be played. Solid defense, timely hitting, and massive home runs ruled the game, along with a couple of managerial discussions with umpires thrown in as Elizabethton took a hard-fought 5-2 victory.
The atmosphere of Appalachian League baseball is a treat that everyone should try to enjoy at least once. From the “Hillbilly Horseshoes” competition between innings in Elizabethton to the “Pizza Scream” competition at Johnson City’s Howard Johnson Field, fans get the opportunity to interact in ways not often seen in big league ballparks.
One of the most attractive facets of the local league is an opportunity to see future Major League Baseball greats as they begin their climb up the ranks to super-stardom. A number of talented and successful pros have traveled through the Appalachian ranks on their way to “The Show”. MLB Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett and current players Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer began their Twins baseball careers donning the jersey of the Elizabethton club.
Current St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina was behind the plate in Johnson City just a few short seasons ago, sharing the field with teammate Rick Ankiel, whom I once helped to his pickup during a rainstorm following a game at Howard Johnson Field. Ankiel was sent to Johnson City after an erratic stretch as pitcher to begin a transition to playing the outfield, which last time I checked has worked out fairly well.
This year there should be no shortage of young talent on the field either. Once he signs, there is a chance that shortstop and number one overall draft pick Tim Beckham will debut with the Princeton Rays. Former North Henderson High School and University of North Carolina standout outfielder Seth Williams will report this week to the Kingsport Mets once the Tar Heels finish its run in the College World Series. Catcher Jason Castro, the tenth overall pick in this year’s MLB draft, will take the field for the Greeneville Astros, while former Appalachian State baseballer Jason Rook starts for the Bluefield Orioles.
With soaring gas prices and tight budgets, a short drive to a local minor league park is a great and inexpensive way to take the family out to the ballgame and have a great time.
