Sky Sox splash

June 29, 2009

The Portland Beavers and Colorado Springs Sky Sox had a rousing game of back-and-forth baseball going when Ma Nature intervened and sent us all scrambling for cover at the Sox's Security Service Field in Colorado Springs. There was thunder and lightning in the metropolitan area, and on the field, as the Beavers built a 7-6 lead after four and a half innings before some real weather hit, drenching the field and, after several hours of pondering by umpires and managers, causing the contest to be called off and replayed as part of a twin bill tomorrow.

Security Service Field is in a lovely setting in Colorado Springs. The drawback is that you can't see the nearby Rocky Mountains and Pike's Peak from the grandstand, which faces to the east and south. Facing west, into the Sun, would be detrimental to hitters. According to the club's Web site, the field, at 6,531 feet above sea level, is at the highest elevation of any professional ballpark in the U.S.

Apparently they also have lots of thunderstorms in the area, including a "gullywasher" that blew through before the game could be declared official. The photo at right does not do the storm justice. It was raining HARD. None of this sissy Seattle sprinkly stuff.

One big black mark for the Sky Sox experience: my Sweetie, the official scorer, is not at all pleased that you could not get a sheet with the team rosters anywhere in the ballpark. They did have free programs, but those only featured Colorado Springs players, and didn't have their numbers. This led is to an interesting discussion of what is most preferable: a ballpark with roster sheets but no beer, or a ballpark with beer but no roster sheets. We've got another thousand miles of driving to work that one out!

Those following this adventure know that I griped at some length that beer was not available in Orem. Well, I'm pleased to report that it is available in Colorado Springs. Naturally, I didn't have any. We'd had a fairly hefty dinner with family who live in the area before going to the game. I was planning to have a refreshing brew... about the sixth inning or so. Alas. but it was comforting just to have guys wandering the park bellowing, "ICE cold beer!!" Speaking of concessions pitches, here's one we heard: "Cotton Candy! You can hit people with it and it won't hurt."

One guy probably happy that the game was washed out was Sky Sox starting pitcher and former major leaguer Adam Eaton, who was cuffed around for seven runs on eight hits in five innings. He wasn't helped at all by his defense, which committed three errors behind him that led to five of the runs being unearned. Journeyman catcher Sal Fasano started for the Sox and hit a towering three-run homer that capped a five-run first. A note for Mariner fans: former M's manager Rene Lachemann is the hitting coach for the Sky Sox.

We had a great time despite the weather, but are probably not going back for the twin bill tomorrow.