The "Baseball Is Alive And Well Once Again!" Story

It was an ordinary day. "Game Day" Lancaster County style!  It's been almost a year since I have been able to have my baseball fix.  But, sure enough, we got the call from my son and daughter-in-law telling us that Grandson Caden was going to play on a team  that was going to play at "In The Net" which is located in Palmyra, Pennsylvania.  Neat complex that has a few full-sized baseball fields.  Games were scheduled for this past Saturday and Sunday with at least two games each day.  Well, rain canceled the tournament's first day so they decided to cancel the tournament.  

Beautiful ball field in the middle of corn fields.

So, the coaches of the Lancaster team, known as Team Vipers 16U (ages 16 and under) arranged for a double-header with another team know as the Mason Dixon Ruffnecks. The games were to be played on a field in Glen Rock, Pennsylvania.  We got directions to Codorus Township Park in Glen Rock and off we went on early Sunday afternoon.  The park was located close to the Maryland border and took close to 45 minutes to find our way through all the country roads in southern York, Pennsylvania.  

Looking through the stalks of field corn at the game.

Beautiful park that as soon as I saw the field I swore it looked like the field in the movie "Field of Dreams."  The field was surrounded by corn fields and a few foul balls during the game ended along the edge of the corn field.  But, to me it didn't matter where the game was played or by whom, it was a ball game!  The teams were evenly matched with the first game going back and forth with the home team, The Ruffnecks, winning.  

Fans sitting along the edge of the corn field.

My grandson had a chance to play 1st base, 3rd base and Right Field.  Had a hit and a couple of good plays in the field.  Games at this age last 7 innings and the game ended in about 2 hours.  You could tell that both teams hadn't played much baseball together as well as playing for a few months.  Didn't matter though since I was getting to watch baseball.  

Caden hitting one to the outfield to drive in two runs.

Oh yeah, I already mentioned that, didn't I.  I took a few strolls around the edge of the cornfield and even stepped inside the corn stalks for a photo or two.  Second game began a half-hour after the first one ended and it was another evenly matched game.  Caden had the chance to pitch 2 innings at the end of the game and put the Ruffnecks down one, two, three in the 5th inning, but did give up a run in the 6th inning.  

Caden delivering a pitch.

The team entered the 7th inning with a lead, but the Ruffnecks tied the game in the top of the 7th and the Vipers couldn't score in the 7th.  Game was called at that point with the final score a tie.  Caden drove in three runs in the game and did a great job pitching.  And, I had the best time watching my favorite sport.  Tomorrow we will travel to "In The Net" to compete against teams from all over the North East in another  thrilling tournament.  One of the teams that The Vipers will face on Saturday is ranked 51st in Pennsylvania.  Now, I don't know if that's 51st out of 52 or out of 100.  Doesn't matter, since it's baseball and any team can win on any given day!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Watching Caden pitch from the cornfield above home plate.