North Carolina State University Athletics
The Way The Ball Bounces (4/29/09)
4/30/2009 12:00:00 AM | Pack Athletics
It’s April 23, 2009, a date that will always be special in my heart because it is the day that I took my last college exam. I think one of the best feelings I have ever had was turning that exam at approximately 1 p.m. and knowing that I never have to take another exam in my life.
Enough about that. We have a three-game series with the University of Virginia coming up this weekend. This is going to be a tough weekend for us because UVA has a very strong team this year and is ranked in the top 15 of almost every poll.
It is Thursday night now and we have already had practice at UVA. We took some batting practice and groundballs, nothing to intense. Thursday night practices on the road are normally pretty easy going and kind of a feel good practice for us, as we prepare for the weekend.
After practice we all just go back and hang out at the hotel. With exam week coming up on Monday most of the guys are trying to get major projects done or studying like crazy. As everyone knows already I don’t have to study because I no longer have exams but I still have something’s to work on, such as my internship portfolio. I still have to put the finishing touches up on my final portfolio for PRT 486 that is due on Monday.
This is two road weekends in a row where the most ridiculous event winner revealed himself early. This week’s winner is Joey Cutler. During batting practice the pitchers stand in the outfield and shag fly balls. To be honest they really can’t stand doing it because they don’t get to hit and they think it is boring. Oh well it’s something they have to do everyday and they will get over it eventually.
Anyway, Cutler is standing along the outfield fence and is just minding his business when someone hits a homerun. Well, the ball hits off of the stands in left field; bounces all the way back on the field, hit Cutler in the head and bounces back over the fence. It was one of the funniest things I have ever seen in my life. If anyone doesn’t find this funny just ask Kyle Rutter the next time you see him, he will probably be crying by the time he gets the story out of his mouth.
Friday morning after breakfast the guys that have study hall have to go get some work in. I went down and joined them to rub it in that I don’t have to study and also to get my projects done. Study hall was packed because everyone has so much studying to do this weekend. We don’t play till 7 p.m. tonight so guys really are trying to knock a lot of their studies out so they don’t have to be doing it all weekend. Among the things we hate doing on road trips, studying is at the top of the list.
Saturday, we played at 1 p.m. and this game was actually on television, I think on Fox Sports South. I did not know this until we got to the field but showing up and seeing all the cameras kind of gave it away. Television games aren’t that big of a deal for me because I try not to pay attention to the surroundings but I know some younger guys were pretty excited because they have never had the chance to play with lots of people watching everything you do.
After the game Saturday we had some free time to do whatever we would like. Most of the guys went and grabbed some food and went back to study. My family was in town and they took me out to dinner.
Overall the weekend was okay for us we came out with a very good win on Sunday and we hope this is a kick start to getting us back on track. Hope everyone has a great week and see everyone at the field this weekend
DM#7MP
