Take Me Out To The Ballpark

My earliest and best childhood memories are of being at a baseball park. I can still vividly remember the smell of popcorn popping at American Legion Field in Greenwood, SC. My mom, two siblings, and I tagged along with my dad to home and road games for the Greenwood Braves, while he did radio play by play for the Class A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Back then it was more about running around, playing and getting a box of that freshly popped popcorn than it was about watching the game. It was also the beginning of my love and appreciation for the game of baseball and all the memories that go with it. 

Our family also traveled to Florida for two weeks every year for Spring Training.  Our home base was West Palm Beach while Dad traveled all over South Florida to get interviews with players and managers for WLBG Radio. We got to meet and hang out with many baseball greats including Glenn Hubbard, Dale Murphy, and Hank Aaron, but more importantly we were making precious family memories.

Over the years I would go on to spend lots of time watching my brother play Dixie Youth Baseball at Collyar Park  and keeping the team scorebook while he played for Laurens District 55 High School.

While pursuing a degree in Advertising and Public Relations at USC, I interned for the Columbia Mets, a Class A affiliate of the NY Mets. Not only did I gain valuable experience in my field of study in the spring of 1984, I met and fell in love with my husband of 25 years. We spent the first 10 years of our marriage making lots of memories in Major League Baseball with the Mets organization.

Even today, my 11 year old daughter will tell you the best days of her young life were spent at baseball fields while her big brother played Dixie Youth and travel baseball. She got to play with all of her friends and eat freshly popped popcorn while mom and dad were glued to a baseball game. We met some of our very best friends and made memories as a family at Ballpark Road in Lexington.

This weekend, our family will be glued to the radio for opening weekend as the Back to Back College World Series Champion USC Gamecocks take the field at Carolina Stadium in downtown Columbia.

Saturday we’ll be at Lexington High School to watch the Wildcats play at noon in a pre-season scrimmage prior to their Opening Day on March 6. Even though we no longer have a child participating, we’ll be at Ballpark Road watching our nephew playing tee ball in the Lexington Dixie Youth program. They will celebrate their Opening Day on Saturday, March 10. 

Whether or not you know or have a child participating in any of these leagues, make a plan to take your family out to the ballpark and support local baseball.  You will see great baseball, meet new friends, enjoy affordable ballpark food, and best of all, you'll make family memories. 

For more information about Lexington High School, Lexington Dixie Youth, and USC Baseball and their schedules, visit the following websites:

http://lexingtonwildcats.com/

http://www.myldyb.net/index2.html

http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-basebl/scar-m-basebl-body.html