Memories of Elkland - 2008 edition

Here it is again, "Memories of Elkland", the 2008 edition.

- Beautiful weather the entire weekend. Couldn't have asked for better. A bit disappointing that there were only 14 teams. But, to quote Billy Sherman from Elkland: "There are two things we can't control - the number of teams that sign up and the weather. 1 out of 2 ain't bad". The local Elkland Softball Association team members were very visible out preparing the field before every game.

- Lots of fans out the games and they really seem to enjoy themselves. With $4 chicken, and $1.50 beer ($2 if you insist on the 'classy stuff' and I don't) you can't go wrong when you think about it. The locals are very friendly bunch - not the most sophisticated folks, but very nice.

- WC Electric tried a new idea this year and we camped out at the diamond. I'm not what you would call a camper, but given the weather it was a perfect idea, close to everything and cheap too as the camping rates are very reasonable (i.e. free). We had a 16' x 20' military tent as our "base camp" and it worked well. We actually ordered pizza and gave the guy the address of "Elkland Ball Diamonds, Big Green Army Tent" and it showed up no problem.

- The Moose Lodge was again a popular venue. Some Electric players made it there for three nights, some of us two, and other just one night, but we all made it there at least once to experience the high class atmosphere (translation: smoke you could cut with a knife), the cutting edge music (translation: pretty much my cassette collection from high school in the late 80s in rotation) and the excellent beverage selection (translation: pitchers of a 26er of rye and coke for $25). Some other teams including I4C Victory and Greenbush Generals were represented at the Moose, but their antics and the names of the perpetrators will be withheld.

- I was fortunate enough to receive a tour of the "press box" and private club house at the park. Couches, stocked fridge, TVs, memorabilia - great spot.

- Our bat boy returned for another year. Last year a local kid asked if we would take him on as bat boy and so we did. This year he showed up again and was back helping us out and filling us in with local news and views. It's very interesting to get the life perspective of a 15 year old rural Pennsylvannian. He told us about his unemployed 21 year old brother, who between him and his girlfriend have five kids (not all together), with twins on the way (presumably together). Let's just say we encouraged him to stay in school.

- I can say with pride that West Carleton Electric has great sponsors. Dale and Laurie Hanna and Jim and Barb Wilson came down in their trailers and camped out at the park with us all weekend, bought us beer, fed us muffins, offered us life advice around the campfire. The financial help they give is greatly appreciated and helps make ball affordable for the lads. Having an "owner" that cares so much makes us all want to play better for him. Great people and great fans.

- Speaking of sponsors, I had a chat with the Yeungling team sponsor. Apparently this guy loves fastball, is a pitcher with 30 years experience and his father-in-law owns the Yeungling Brewery. (Try it, it's good stuff, or at least I think so...others differ.) Now that's a good sponsor: a ball loving brewery owner that can throw in a pinch. I asked him if he tried Labatt 50 before and invited him to the army tent to sample a duty free can of the good stuff but he never made it over.

- One of the best crowds of the tournament was the Sunday night finale between Greenbush Generals and ESA Thunderbellys (host team). Large number of very vocal fans on hand for this one. Thunderbellys got up early, sending 15 batters to the plate in the first inning and scoring nine. Crowd was going wild, especially when a certain Greenbush veteran was ejected from the game late in the inning. Quite the spectacle!

- Last year we were beat out early and many of the guys with families returned on Sunday. This year was a bit different. I don't think I was the only one with a cell phone conversation like this:
ME: "Hey I've got good news and bad news!"
MRS. FITZROY FASTBALL: "What do you mean?"
ME: "Good news is we're playing great. Bad news is I won't be home until Monday."
{PROLONGED SILENCE}
MRS. FITZROY FASTBALL: "You're sure Monday? You're not forgetting I'm a teacher, right? And you realize your son starts Grade 1 on Tuesday?"
ME: "Oh don't worry, I'll be home Monday for sure" {TRYING NOT TO THINK WHAT I WILL DO IF BY SOME MIRACLE WE MAKE THE FINALS AT 4PM ON MONDAY}

- While a lot of humourous incidents happened over the Friday to Monday period that we were there, including a "man-siere" made out of a softball cover and a helmetless ride on a back of a Harley doing a catwalk in downtown Elkland, the funniest thing in my opinion happened around the bonfire on Saturday night. A couple of kids come over to check out our fire and they seemed interested that our firepoking stick was a defective COMBAT softball bat, courtesy of the only person from Shawville that wasn't at the Fair this past weekend. These kids sit down, they're probably about 8 and 10, and we find out they are cousins camping nearby. We quiz them with questions about where are they from (Jersey Shore), do they play ball (yes, little league), do they play hockey ("we don't care much for hockey where we're from"). One kid comes back with a question of his own for our shortstop: "Hey, why do you talk like a leprechaun?" Man, we laughed at that one. I guess the combination of Valley accent and #16's unique vocal timbre prompted the question.

- Anyway, all that to say, if you haven't been, you should go. It's worth the trip and you really should see this place at least once.