Ever optimistic, I discovered another silver lining in this lethargic economy: we were able to skedaddle for a few days to watch a some short season baseball. As is widely known, MiLB is a bargain for families. For us as parents of a player, we are fortunate to get complimentary tickets and hotel discounts. So, off to Orem we headed this week for a very affordable adventure.

Seeing number 39 run out onto the field at Brent Brown Stadium for the first time was strangely underwhelming. All I could do was smile and remember the hours son put in hitting wiffle balls off his Grandma when he was about five years old and had exhausted all the rest of his BP pitchers (his dad, myself and two brothers). He was still a couple of years too young for Little League back then. Sixteen years later, that’s what I see out there on the grass.

Owlz luminaries encountered on our trip:

Matt Gittens, announcer, radio broadcast producer, entertainer, greeter, Ghost Buster—Matt does it all with boundless exuberance every night. They definitely found the right guy for this job.
Jeff Katofsky and Jason Taylor, part of the Owlz ownership group: thanks for making us feel welcome.
Seen but not met (yet): Stephen C. Smith of “Future Angels” fame.
Jim, the Owlz official Hooter during the games (pictured below – Thanks for letting me snap your photo, Jim!).
Parents of David Carpenter. (Enjoyed getting to watch them watch their son)
Aunt Pam and Uncle Bill who belong to Mike Piazza (thanks for saving the newspaper for us, Aunt Pam! See you later in the chatroom.)

Ode to Owlz Host Families:

Son’s host family, the Dablings: Bart, Janice, Cody, Sienna, Chelsea, and Gentry. There’s no adequate way to express how much it means to us to know they are the special folks providing a home to son this summer. We brought them blueberries and homemade bread from the Provo Farmer’s Market, but will be forever trying to find better ways to show our thanks. (See Bart and Janice below)

For more on the this system of housing ball players new to the pros, read this article about the host family tradition.

Milestones:

• Seeing son’s face and batting average displayed on Jumbotron (top right corner is the Owl that he purportedly hit in batting practice one day).

• Being interviewed on TV for the first time about being the mom of a pro ball player. (Thank you Tracy: it wasn’t that painful after all and you have a bright career ahead!)

• Last and best, being treated to lunch by my son on his dime.

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