Ball boy David Crandall throwing back foul ball. 4/18/17
Think about this philosophical question. Could a baseball game be played without a baseball? Of course not.
With that in mind, some of the unsung heroes of any baseball game are the ball boys and girls who retrieve and throw back foul balls to the umpire. Without them — and the unsung fans who also throw back foul balls — there would be no game.
Today, in the opening round of the East Tournament, Waterloo beat Greece Olympia and defending tournament champion East beat Lyons 8-3, with East standing now at 7 – 0. The consolation and championship games are scheduled for Wednesday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The game would not have run smoothly — if at all — if David Crandall, son of East Coach Kyle Crandall was not on the top of his game. First, David ran down a foul ball that was rolling down a hill, only to deftly throw it over back over the fence. As if that were not enough, David deftly swept up home plate after the game.
David is not the only unsung hero. At the game was also his mother Ginger Crandall. Ginger says she herself has thrown back many a foul ball that came her way. She pointed to the East building, claiming she has retrieved balls that have bounced off the wall. As she said, it’s the retrieving fans who keep the game moving. I did wonder if Ginger has ever had the urge to keep a stray ball. She said no, as actually she has no sentimental attachments to a simple baseball — but did admit David might like to keep one.
The game brought out many of the same avid East fans we’ve seen all year. Sherica Anderson ’17 and Nickaye Coke ’16 are at every home game. Sherica was there to cheer on her “boo,” # 8 Jorge Hernandez. Boo Hernandez didn’t play today, but Sherica says she was rooting on the team just the same.
Lyons didn’t win the game, but its fans enjoyed the visit to Rochester which for some is considered the “big city.” By coincidence, one of the Lyon’s fans, Kendra, graduated with East Coach Crandall from Lyons High School in ’94. All game, Kendra’s kid were pestering her to make the trip to the big city even bigger by having dinner at Sticky Lips across the way on Culver Road.
The last player to leave was leftfielder John Carlos who was picked up by his ride outside the front of the school at 6:12 p.m.
OTHER 2017 GAMES
Bundled up loyalists at Cobb’s Hill watch East stay undefeated.
Joel Alicea throws second straight no-hitter; three generations celebrate at East
Excitement grows on Culver Road as East wins third straight. Bishop Kearney is next.
Following a historic season, East baseball opens with back-to-back no hitters.