A Mountainside Baseball Gem

Leaving behind the familiar streets of Knoxville for the two-month road ahead that was summer break, I didn't feel as sad as I might have felt in the past. There's a feeling of confidence that I feel inflicted by that makes me feel like everything is going to be all right.

After a great year of school, VFC and everything else, I needed this time between the school year and the upcoming summer to relax. To do things where I can take my mind off the problems in life and challenges that are to come and focus on the moment, and the things that will be given to me in the present. How do I fill this four-day gap? A quadruple header of baseball in the great state of North Carolina (Ok, are any of you really shocked by this?!??!?)

Every twist and turn along I-40 opens up to breathtaking view after view. The area is gorgeous, with trees and forests sprawling across the mountains and valleys of the border Caravan after caravan of trailer trucks come down the highway on a seemingly sequential rate. In almost no time, the city of Asheville welcomes us into its limits and a peaceful, quiet mountain city pops up out of the North Carolina mountain area.

Near the heart of the city lies historic McCormick Field, home of the Class-A Asheville Tourists, a Minor League affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. Here in the South Atlantic League, the players are a year or two removed from rookie status, the degree of play is good, but not unbelievable, and the fans give a sense of mountain hospitality to the ballgame. Fans call players by name and have real conversations with them, introduce them to their kids, or try to get an autograph from a potentially future major leaguer.

And Asheville has provided its share of Major Leaguers. From Eddie Murphy to Lou Gehrig to Babe Ruth, Asheville is responsible for 506 Major Leaguers in its history. The ballpark is on the mountainside, literally carved out of the mountain and features "The Blue Monster", a tall blue wall in right field, similar to its greener counterpart in Boston. The game itself was a bit sloppy, but overall dominating effort by the visiting Augusta (GA) Green Jackets, San Francisco's A affiliate. A 13-6 loss didn't deter the experience of baseball in Western Carolina. Tomorrow evening, the old history of Asheville gives way to the brand-spanking-newness of BB&T Ballpark in Winston-Salem, NC, and the W-S Dash.

Photos are on facebook!