Making The Best Of It
While being sent away for training down south, all you can really do is make the bes
t of it. I did this by taking in some great Minor League Baseball action in some historic cities with great baseball atmospheres.
Charleston RiverDogs: I was able to make it to two games of the RiverDogs here in Charleston, South Carolina. They are Single A in the South Atlantic League. It’s always nice to be at a ballpark for the first time and ‘The Joe’ as they call it is a nice place to watch a game. It’s pretty big ballpark, but you still got a great view from anywhere. I was shut out at getting a game ball and the Dogs beat and lost to the Lexington Legends.
Savannah Sand Gnats: Luckily the Sand Gnats were also in town while I was down here, this time playing the Charleston RiverDogs (maybe they’re thinking I followed them). I love Grayson Stadium, though, as I was here back in 2005 when I was training in Brunswick then. Always a good time in Savannah, and the Gnats played well losing a close game Tuesday night and winning in extra innings the next. I’d love to bring the family down here at some point.
Sorry the picture quality is so bad, but had to pick up a desposable camera while down there. They’re better than nothing, I guess.
Photos property of MIB
Minoring In Baseball 
I’m from Savannah, so imagine my surprise when I login to check on my Red Sox and see Grayson Stadium mentioned at the blog on the bottom! I love that place! I lived there for 31 years and my parents are still there. My father was the official scorekeeper of the Savannah Braves/Cardinals/Sandgnats from before I was born in 1971 until about three or four years ago. I practically grew up there, going to about 30 or 40 games every summer with my dad and playing at Grayson during the games. I remember getting to run the bases every night after the game while my dad was completing the box score to send off to the AP.
I was lucky enough to get to go back a few weeks ago in late June and it brought back a lot of good memories. It has changed a bit. It is a lot more modern, which is better for watching and enjoying the game and there is a huge new scoreboard there and the left field bleachers are now gone. But the best part of the visit was that I had my parents, wife, and two small children with me. I didn’t get to watch much of the game though, I was too busy watching my little ones…running up and down the same steps and walkways that I roamed over thirty years ago.