The Journal

Issue date: 10/12/06 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Max Gersh A new look: Members of the Webster baseball team from left to right, Blake Sanders, Alex Raetzloff and Ben Helton watch attentively as their teammates take on UMSL, Oct. 3 at GMC Stadium. The scrimmage was the first for new Head Coach Bill Kurich.

As I ventured over the mighty Mississippi to Sauget, Ill. for the men's baseball scrimmage against University of Missouri St. Louis, a number of things crossed my mind. Did I leave the iron on? Is there an all-new "Family Guy" on Fox this weekend? Man, the new Gorlok is a bad ass. But primarily, now that I am of age, I couldn't wait to enjoy my first ever Gorlok game with an ice-cold Bud in my hand. Although refreshing, (and only $4 for what seemed to be a bottomless cup), the drafty goodness was not even close to being the highlight of the game.

It was like little league all over again - all of the things I had never witnessed in the previous three seasons of Gorlok baseball. The Gorloks took to the field with a sprint. There was chatter, butt pats, high fives. Both coaches were out of the dugout, radiating with confidence, calling their players in for a team conference after the third out. It was almost surreal to see the drastic change in coaching style. These things didn't happen last season. It all reminded me of what it was like to be on a baseball team and before the game even started I felt the urge to grab my glove out of the trunk of my car and just sit in the dugout. This was the Webster baseball program I had always envisioned - although I would include free foam fingers and rally towels for every fan.

As the game progressed, I became more amazed after every pitch. I even purchased a second beer and a pretzel with cheese that was quite possibly the crunchiest, most awful pretzel I had ever eaten, but it did not matter. I happily swallowed every last bite. The joy of watching this fall season scrimmage exceededany game I had attended during my three years at Webster.

I think subconsciously I was having flashbacks of the 1989 classic "Field of Dreams." My upper lip quivered at the thought of the teary-eyed exchange between John and Ray Kinsella. It made grown men weep when the bombshell hit. "Hey … Dad? You want to have a catch?" It felt like baseball again.

Continued...

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