This past Sunday, I was scheduled as the ballgirl on the field for the last day of Alumni Weekend, and it would soon turn into the most exciting game for myself to date! We walk out around 630pm to set up our stool and interact with the fans that come down to the fence in hopes to score a player autograph and take in the field before the start of a game. I take out my cards and go along the fence signing cards for any fan that wants one. Who would have thought that someone would want my autograph? It's a pretty cool feeling. When the announcer Dan Baker greets the stadium with "Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen!" and the music starts playing, I make my way back to home plate for the national anthem. Usually on Sundays they have the Starting Nine, which is when nine little kids get to stand on the field with the players for the national anthem, while the ballgirls stand with the kids assigned to the pitcher and catcher. But today was different: it was Alumni Day and there was an on-field tribute. After I got over the absolute excitement of standing in the presence of Phillies history, I immediately put my game face on and prepared to sit on the first base line for nine innings. If you've ever, or have never noticed, after the national anthem the ballgirls hang out on the warning track behind home plate as they announce the line up for the game. The Phillies then run out of the dug out onto the field and after the ninth player Jimmy Rollins leaves the dugout, the ballgirls then take off running down the warning track headed for our spot on the field. I put my helmet on and take my seat on the stool. I was ready.
I will always be honest on this blog for you guys. After all, it's all on television anyway. When the first foul ball was headed my way, I went to play it nice and clean and BAM! It went right through my legs!! I was so embarrassed as it hit the concrete below the fence behind me and flew out into fair terriroty, and right fielder Grady Sizemore threw me the ball, and I handed it to the cutest little girl in my section. I sat back down and brushed it off, because I knew I would do better next time. After the game, my boyfriend Dan said it looked like I played it off very well, so at least there is that.
There was a lot of action down the first base line that game. There were foul balls I played off the wall and handed to eager kids along the fence. One ball was hit down the right field line and the umpire calls it fair! I immediately grab my stool and run to my left into foul territory and I noticed the ball was curving towards me! I don't think I've ever run so fast to get out of the way before! It hit the fence and popped up, where Mets right fielder Granderson was there to field the ball from the outfield. It all happened so fast that I can't remember where the ball actually was, all I knew was I was out of the way and the ball didn't hit me, so I was safe!
When I sat back down, all the fans sitting near me said, "You were fast! Great job! Do you always have to take your stool with you?" YES. If the ball hits me or the stool, it is considered a ground-rule double and the ball is dead. I cannot in any way interfere with a ball in play, and I do not want to be one of those ballgirls you see online making that mistake. I know when the ball is fair and foul, and I know the signs the umpires use to designate the ball fair or foul.
The most memorable ball hit in my direction was the last hit of the game. The score was 6-5 with the Mets in the lead. Ryan Howard was up to bat, and it was the Phillies last chance to win the game. Byrd was on third and all Howard had to do was hit him in. Strike one. Strike two. Ball 1, 2, 3. The count was 3-2 with two outs. One pitch was the difference between losing the game or taking the win. He knocks the ball down the right field line, the ump calls it fair and I grab my stool to get out of the way. It was a base hit, and Byrd flies home!! The dugout empties and dog piles on Howard for the winning RBI! I threw my hands in the air, with the stool of course, and the crowd was ELECTRIC! No one fielded that ball since the Mets knew they had lost, so I ran to get the ball that won us the game. I had fans screaming at me from left and right for it, and I grabbed the ball and handed it to the cutest little kid on the fence. His father started screaming and yelling with joy, and I've never seen a smile so big on such a little kid. It was the cherry on top of the perfect day on the field! I am so blessed.
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| Here's that adorable little kid and the game winning ball! This picture will also appear on the Phillies Ballgirls Facebook page, like I told his parents. |