Take me out to the ballgame
On these warm, immensely sunny days of summer, there’s nothing quite like sitting amongst a few, a dozen, hundreds or even thousands of spectators to enjoy a baseball game.
On a hot, summer afternoon, a ball game seems like the perfect fit. Along with lazing around at the beach, indulging in ice cream to beat the heat, watersports and travelling, baseball is one of those signature representations of summer, hence the reason why those who play it are often referred to as the ‘boys of summer.’
Because there are no time constraints in baseball (if one doesn’t have a host of other things to do) it’s easy to just sit back and relax and enjoy the action taking place on the diamond.
I’ve been to my share of baseball games since I was a tot, including a few trips to the old Canadian National Exhibition Stadium and later the SkyDome in Toronto to watch my Blue Jays play. More recently, I decided to take in an Edmonton Riverhawks game. It was on a Sunday afternoon, and the Riverhawks were eager to take on the visiting Kamloops NorthPaws, who ended up winning 7-1.
But what really made the game a winner was the ‘Christmas in July’ theme in which old Saint Nicholas himself-despite the simmering 34-degree Celsius heat-made an appearance for a toy drive for local children. It was an all-around good time, and one I plan to repeat again once or twice before the cool, dark days of autumn arrive, setting the stage for a potentially long winter.
Yes, during our short summers in Alberta, it is important that we get outside as much as we can, and this includes either playing or watching outdoor sports. While my favourite sport during this time of the year to watch is baseball, soccer and cricket come in at a close second place.
When I’m not out covering events or writing stories, there’s a good chance that you can find me at a local ball diamond taking in a game and the summer sun.
