America’s Pastime, My Pastime
The Major League baseball season has just begun, but college ball has been underway for some time. I’ve seen many of the Gators’ home games this year, and have had a great time. I went last night, when UF crushed Jacksonville, and last weekend when UF split the series with Vanderbilt.
UF plays good ball, and I now have a favorite player: center fielder Matt den Dekker. Last Friday night against Vanderbilt, UF was just barely ahead late in the game, and Vandy was threatening with a runner on third. That is a dangerous situation, of course, because any deeply hit ball is liable to see that base runner tag up and score. When the Vanderbilt batter hit one to deep center, I fully expected to see UF’s lead slip away. But den Dekker caught the ball, and in a feat I could not believe–one of those feats that happen from time to time and that make baseball such a wonderful game–he threw the ball like a laser to home plate. I don’t think the ball hit the ground before the catcher caught it. No cut-off man was involved. Den Dekker just threw the ball all the way from center field to home plate, and the Vanderbilt runner didn’t get more than a few feet off the base before turning around and heading back. It was amazing. The “Bleacher Creatures” sitting out in left field have a variety of chants. When Matt den Dekker comes to the plate, one fan will shout “den!”, and all respond, “Dekker!” Now I know why.
The Gators are going on the road for a week or so, so I won’t be seeing them for a while (though I would like to go see the Softball team play a double-header against Kentucky on 17 April). But this weekend I will go with my dad to see the Rays play the Hated Yankees at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. Watch the game on Television, and see if you can spot us out by the right field foul pole.
Filed under: Sports on April 7th, 2010 | No Comments »