Commentary: Things to do in Wichita

8-8-04

By Nick McQueen

Hays Daily News

Eating shards of broken glass.

Watching anything on television featuring Dr. Phil.

And oh yes — slamming my fingers in a steel door over and over again.

These are all things my former self would have rather done than sit through an entire baseball game on a hot summer day in July or August.

That was before I was introduced to baseball in Hays.

After watching the teams produced by the Hays Baseball Association over the past couple seasons and all the athletes who have worked so hard to win, I have found a love for the sport that I never dreamed would have existed. It's amazing what an understanding of the game will do for one's attitude. I have seen the error of my ways and realized that baseball is alive and well.

No sooner than it dawned on me that I felt this way, I found myself in a box seat at the 70th annual National Baseball Congress World Series Friday night in Wichita.

I arrived very early to make sure I knew what was going on at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. I was glad I did. I got to watch some great baseball on one of the nicest days I think I have ever experienced. I watched as the crowd shuffled in and out between the afternoon session and the evening session, following their favorites from all over the nation. I even had a chance to talk with a few fans from Seattle and Lake Havasu, Ariz., who were there to support their teams.

It seemed as if they got what they paid for. Everything from the time I arrived to the time I left was a positive experience. Although the tournament had its flaws, as every event does, it was not without its perfection. After all, what could be better than spending a Friday night at the ball park? Not much.

As I sat through the feature game involving Hays that night, I noticed the Larks' faithful in the crowd and wondered if they were enjoying the game as much as I was. I wondered if any of them were there for the first time or if they were thinking about coming back. I know I was. So, I came up with a list of reasons why I am going back to Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, whether it be this year or not, to witness first hand this spectacular event.

Here are the top five reasons to attend the NBC World Series as a Hays baseball fan:

5. ‘Hooters' girls — Good, now I have your attention. Hooters restaurant was just one of the many sponsors who help bring the tournament to life. Several businesses throughout Wichita and the state had their own contribution to the festivities, which did include the girls of Hooters encouraging “the wave” during Hays' feature game. Some of the other events made for good entertainment during the break between innings. Children in attendance were able to compete in baserunning competitions and shopping cart races as the teams prepared for the next inning. Not to mention the “Round the Clock” competition which looked to have many great prizes in store for those who could weather the baseball storm for 56 hours straight.

4. Escape from the “aroma” at Larks Park on a Friday night — Although the Larks burgers at Hays' hometown field do a good job of masking the fragrance of the southern feed lot, it is nice to get away to a city with nothing but the smell of fried foods and beer enhancing your feel of the game. Wichita's skyline behind Lawrence-Dumont at night doesn't hurt anything either.

3. “I was there when ...” — Wouldn't you like to say you saw some of the major leaguers play when they were younger. Many of the college athletes in Wichita are the future of Major League Baseball. Guys like Albert Pujols and Lance Berkman have gone through the Larks program and played in the NBC World Series. The list of talent at the tournament could go on for miles — probably more than it would take to drive to Wichita for the day.

2. ‘Judge' Reimold — You mess with him, he'll seal your fate. Watching Nolan Reimold come to the plate in the seventh inning, I just knew he was about to send one over the fence and sure enough, he came through. Reimold sparked a two-run seventh inning in front of what he said was the “biggest crowd” he had ever played in front of, to pull the Larks within two runs of Seminole (Okla.) with his blast to the upper level of advertisements on the left field wall.

1. “Larks Magic” — Since I have been in Hays, I have listened to my same-name predecessor, Nick Schwien, ramble on about this source of miracles the Larks seemingly possess, but never really experienced it until this season and it does somehow exist. I now see some magic in the future for the Larks as they try and fight their way out of the losers' bracket tonight.

Sports writer Nick McQueen can be reached at (785) 628-1081, ext. 128, or by email at nmcqueen@dailynews.net.