NOTES FROM THE VAGABOND JOURNAL: A VISIT TO REDFIELD, SOUTH DAKOTA JULY 10, 2004

It's the top of the first,

the game already underway at the American Legion Tournament in Redfield. Lyn and Marlin Flint have brought me to the ballpark to watch the Redfield American Legion team play Bryant. Redfield has a man on base. The team is the "Visitor" on its own home field; that's the (bad) luck of the draw.

The first baseman, the pitcher, and the catcher for Bryant are chasing a foul ball by Redfielder Aaron Ford. No one catches it. Jordan Johnson is pitching for Bryant. Aaron hits another foul ball down the left field line; he hits a foul then he bloops a Texas Leaguer over second base into the outfield.

Jess Gruenwald draws a walk. Bases loaded.

No. 16 for Redfield, Chris Rude, is at the plate. Johnson winds up, here's the pitch. It's a passed ball. A run scores.

Rude flies out. Another run scores.

No. 10 for Redfield, Kelly Hodges, hits a fly ball deep to center field. The man on second is not able to advance.

No. 48 for Redfield, Greg Levtzow, is at the plate. Jordan throws a high pitch and the man on second steals third. Levtzow draws a walk.

No. 14 for Redfield, Keith Jandel, comes up to the plate. Levtzow steals second base. Jandel grounds out. That retires the side.

"That man in the blue hat," the Flints tell me, "is Vernon 'Casey' Roeber." I look over at the nondescript fellow. "He was a pitcher. He's in the South Dakota Baseball Hall of Fame."

Ian Rose, No. 24, the Redfield pitcher, is warming up. He throws side-arm. Then there's a batter at the plate. Hey, batta batta! "Two pitches, two balls," Marlin says. Then Rose throws a strike. Batter fouls off the next pitch, then lines one straight back to the mound. It bounces off the pitcher, over to short stop. The batter beats the throw to first.

Rose hits the next batter with a pitch. Two men on, no outs.

The batter takes two balls, then hits a Texas Leaguer over second base. A run scores. Men on second and third. No outs.

The batter takes a ball outside. Hey, batta batta. He swings at high, tight heat. Takes a ball inside. Takes a called strike high and tight. Gets hit by pitch. Bases loaded. No outs.

Hey batta batta takes a called strike, takes a ball, is hit by pitch. A run scores.

Batta takes a called strike, takes another called strike, takes a pitch high and outside. "That's not a balk, pitcher had time called." Batta fouls one over the screen behind home plate, fouls another one straight back at the screen, takes a called strike low and tight. One out. Bases loaded.

Batta fouls one off, takes a called strike, takes a ball inside. ("That was pretty close!") Hits a pop-up just at the edge of the grass. ("Hey, that should have been an infield fly!") A run score. Two men on, 2 out.

Batta takes a pitch way inside, hey batta batta, takes a pitch way outside, fouls off a pitch, strikes out swinging. That ends the inning: 3 runs, 3 hits, 2 men left on base.

To be continued....

Comments

[dave]

I have little idea what any of this means, but it makes good word music!

[Peter]

If you ever do play by play, let me know if the station feeds over the internet. Most enjoyable.

[Tom Montag]

Dave--Archibald MacLeish said "a poem should not mean but be." I think my report of this ball game is one of those instances when something simply IS. I think Peter got it right - I wanted it to sound a little bit like a play-by-play.

[Tom Montag]

Hi, Peter--thanks. You've got it pegged. I wanted to make it sound like play-by-play. The amazing thing is how much you miss when you concentrate on the "play-by-play," however. I just couldn't keep up with the action.

[dave]

Tom, i know what you were trying to do; all i meant was, i don't actually understand the terms - i'd need a glossary in order to actually picture what's going on here. but that's my problem, not yours.

[Tom Montag]

Dave, I've got it now - you never listened to baseball on the radio when you were a kid, I guess. This must sound like Russian....