Sunday Brunch–Part One

This week, there will be two installments of Sunday Brunch.  There is a lot to report from the Brainard home front.  Tonight’s report will be about the opening of the Gems Baseball season.

First, a brief history of Gems baseball in our town.  The Gems (which are a type of potato, in case you didn’t already know that) originally played in the Basin from 1948 to 1951. 

The stadium, originally named Gem Stadium, was renamed for longtime youth baseball supporter Estin Kiger.  The ballpark is one of two all-wood stadiums left in the United States.  Sitting at an elevation above 4,000 feet, baseballs travel much farther at Kiger than the other sites of league opponents, most of which are right around sea level.

Scotty and Emily came over on Friday to go to opening night with us.  Over 1,700 people turned out, which is pretty good for our town.

Only at a small-town baseball game can you go to the beer stand and come back with a six-pack!

And only at a small-town baseball game is your mascot a large carton of French fries that answers to the name of “Tater”.

Friday night’s game ended with the Gems beating the Bend Elks by a score of 5-2.  Although the weather has not warmed up, none of us had to put on our heavy duty winter jackets.

Saturday night Scott had to work so Tonja and I went to the game.  It was a nice night at the park and, again, the Gems beat the Elks in extra innings by a score of 3-2.

Tonight was an earlier game, and the last in this series with the Elks.  Prior to the game, the OIT Softball team was introduced.

This team won the NAIA Championship a couple of weeks ago. 

Pitcher Jackie Imhof was named Player of the NAIA tournament.  That could be in part because she threw a no hitter in the semi-finals.  She threw out the first pitch of tonight’s game.  I am not sure if the Gems catcher has ever had to catch for a girl, but I think he was pretty impressed by Jackie’s pitching.

The lighting was better today because it was an early game.  Scott took his extra zoom lens.  Here are a few of my favorite shots from tonight’s game.

Tonight’s game broke the winning streak with a loss by 5-6.  It got pretty intense in the bottom of the ninth inning, but we just weren’t able to pull it out. 

Next game, next Friday night, against the Wenatchee Applesox (the defending league champions).  This should be a real test for our team.

Tune-in in the next couple of days to find out what happens when you leave the boy scouts unattended in your yard, and Scott’s idea of redneck fishing.