ENTHUSIASM ENLIVENS THE EMERALD
The pageantry and color rival a holiday parade when the Rock Cats fill New Britain Stadium for one of their Baseball in Education morning games.
The first color you see is yellow. The staggered line of school buses appears solid yellow as it snakes its way out of the Willow Brook parking lot and onto South Main Street toward the junction Ellis Street and Route 9.
The yellow river soon turns the lot into a yellow sea after streams of youngsters flow from the buses toward their seats.
The educational aspect of BIE is something the Rock Cats take rather seriously. A "mad scientist" in his long white lab coat sets up near the Rock Cats dugout, calls on some youthful volunteers, teams them up with Rock Cats players and uses visual aid to drive home scientific fact. Young eyes and ears are riveted.
The team's Hometown Champions program, generally reserved for those in athletic endeavors, honors the accomplishments of the Connecticut International Baccalaureate Academy, an ultra-successful magnet school in East Hartford. Principal Art Arpin, teacher Doug Clark and senior Derek Bogner represent the school.
The 10:35 a.m. gametime is approaching, and that's where the Rock Cats interject some pageantry into what was once the mundane activity of playing The National Anthem.
The New Britain High School Junior ROTC presents the colors. Selected fans are asked for assistance, which they cheerfully apply toward displaying a huge American flag that covers a goodly portion of center field. Seemingly on command, the stadium's flag billows in the soft springtime breeze.
"The Star-Spangled Banner" is performed by the John F. Kennedy Middle School.
The results of the Rock Cats' effort are stirring. On a mid-morning weekday bathed in brilliant sunshine with humidity not a concern, The Emerald glistens, filled to the brim with humanity, exuding the enthusiasm and din that only our youth can muster. The yard has that special feel that can inspire a hometown player to great heights.
On this day, the baseball was far from inspiring, but there are some things that just can't be controlled.
The first color you see is yellow. The staggered line of school buses appears solid yellow as it snakes its way out of the Willow Brook parking lot and onto South Main Street toward the junction Ellis Street and Route 9.
The yellow river soon turns the lot into a yellow sea after streams of youngsters flow from the buses toward their seats.
The educational aspect of BIE is something the Rock Cats take rather seriously. A "mad scientist" in his long white lab coat sets up near the Rock Cats dugout, calls on some youthful volunteers, teams them up with Rock Cats players and uses visual aid to drive home scientific fact. Young eyes and ears are riveted.
The team's Hometown Champions program, generally reserved for those in athletic endeavors, honors the accomplishments of the Connecticut International Baccalaureate Academy, an ultra-successful magnet school in East Hartford. Principal Art Arpin, teacher Doug Clark and senior Derek Bogner represent the school.
The 10:35 a.m. gametime is approaching, and that's where the Rock Cats interject some pageantry into what was once the mundane activity of playing The National Anthem.
The New Britain High School Junior ROTC presents the colors. Selected fans are asked for assistance, which they cheerfully apply toward displaying a huge American flag that covers a goodly portion of center field. Seemingly on command, the stadium's flag billows in the soft springtime breeze.
"The Star-Spangled Banner" is performed by the John F. Kennedy Middle School.
The results of the Rock Cats' effort are stirring. On a mid-morning weekday bathed in brilliant sunshine with humidity not a concern, The Emerald glistens, filled to the brim with humanity, exuding the enthusiasm and din that only our youth can muster. The yard has that special feel that can inspire a hometown player to great heights.
On this day, the baseball was far from inspiring, but there are some things that just can't be controlled.
posted by Ken Lipshez at
10:59 AM
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