Cougars, Country and Calisthenics

It had been a long weekend of work with more on the horizon.  Suddenly a window of opportunity presented itself and I jumped through it.  A quick, impromptu drive up Kirk Road brought me to the doorstep of the Cougars for a beautiful Saturday  night game.

Ok, doorstep, not so much.  How about the last freaking row of the parking lot?!  Seriously?  Yes, I showed up as the game starts but c'mon.  It's minor league ball after all and Kyle Schwarber and the Cubs left last season.  Oh wait, I get it.  It was Country Music night.  Some local group did a pre-game concert, country music played between innings and fireworks set to country music after the game.  Of course it would be packed.

While the game was less than stellar (Cougars lost 7-0 committing two errors), it was memorable for all the right and crazy reasons minor league ball is so awesome.  The Cougars rightfielder Chuck Taylor made an unbelievable catch running full force through the visitor's bullpen headlong into the low fence keeping the fans at bay.  Actually it was more like "running thigh-long" into the fence since that's the part of his body that connected with the barrier before he catapulted head first into the stands - hanging on to the ball to record the out.

This was the first time I think I ever saw a 3-4-3 groundout occur ---- twice.  Not a double play mind you where the first baseman snags a grounder, throws to second to get the lead runner and then catches the return throw to get the batter.  No, this was (and IT HAPPENED TWICE) a ground ball caroming off the first baseman, over to the second baseman who grabs it, and threw to first to record the out.  It was awesome.  Twice.

There were the usual between inning antics with a country flair.  They even had two World Championship Arm Wrestling matches after the game.  But then the pinnacle of the night was reached.  I thought it would be the fireworks.  Anyone who has been to a Cougars Fireworks Night knows how awesome the fireworks are.  But that was usurped by . . . The Jesse White Tumblers.

At 10pm a group of twenty or so 8-15 (?) year olds took to the field, laying out mats and mini trampolines.  They began by doing some basic tumbling that would leave me in traction for years, gradually getting more creative as they loosened up.  I was sitting half way up in the stands on the left field side, basically behind the thirdbase dugout and that provided me with the best view in the house.

The tumblers all ran and jumped, twisting and soaring over fellow tumblers who were providing a sort of pyramid to jump over.  About half way through the performance I glanced down and was struck by the sight.  Standing in front of the third base dugout was not just a player or two from the visiting team.  IT WAS THE ENTIRE TEAM.  Standing, captivated, watching these young kids do wonderful acrobatic things.

These baseball athletes had just spent the evening hitting balls thrown at 95 miles an hour, leaping in the air to catch spheres hit at rocket speed, running and sliding and doing amazing acts of physical agility.  And here they were, transfixed watching these kids perform.  The team I'm sure could have hopped on their bus to get to the local motel, yet they didn't move. 

When the final tumbler did his thing, which was amazing (he ran and jumped over all his fellow tumblers [I didn't count how many, but at least 15?] ala Evil Knieval jumping his motorcycle over a string of cars) the kids all exited the field through the third base dugout where they were met with . . . .high fives from the entire visiting team.

Watching hockey teams shake hands at the end of a playoff series is pretty cool, but this was remarkable.  Multiple ages, multiple races, multiple cultures, multiple talents high fiving each other respecting what had been accomplished.

Then the lights were doused and the fireworks began.  Accompanied by Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown, Blake Shelton and a host of other country artists and the most amazing Aquarian blue moon down the right field line, past the picnic area, hanging just so in a perfect summer night's sky.