Day 3-Lynchburg

As we left Greensboro after 5 innings,we were on our way to Lynchburg for the final game of our trip.
The road we were on was a straight shot there and on the way we stopped at Dan Daniel Field,home of the Appalachian Leagues Danville Braves.
I may not have mentioned this earlier about the Appy League,but all the teams in the league are entirely owned by the Major League affiliates.
So that explains,why the teams in the league do not share the colorful nicknames that other minor teams do and why they change names with the affiliates.
The Appy League had two changes last year,the previously mentioned leaving of Pulaski and the Burlington (NC) Indians being sold to the Kansas City Royals and therefore becoming the Burlington Royals.
I figured that was going to happen as soon as the parent Royals hired Dayton Moore as GM last year and for the same reason that I believe that Pulaski will return next year with the Washington Nationals.
The people running teams that have an Atlanta Braves background tend to run things the way they were run in Peachtree Country and the Braves have always been a believer in player development and the Appy League.
Upon arriving in Danville,the 1st thing that strikes you is this,the field is just part of a city/county park and is just another spoke of a recreation park wheel.
One can see little league,soccer,etc fields all around as part of the same facility.
Upon arrival,we saw some practice from the Braves,before wandering around.
This field looks like a very nice high school field with some nice chair-backed seating and most of the stadium had a roof of some type.
The lack of a roof and metal bleachers seems to be the top complaint of most that have ever attended a Potomac Nationals games in Woodbridge Va.
I have never been to Pfitzner Stadium myself,but I hear this complaint often.
But at Danville,someone thought of that and the stadium is a nicer place because of it.
Danville looks like a nice,unspectacular field that looks like good autograph country,but worth the stop if you are in the area.
After a quick team set buy of the 2006 and 2007 editions,we were off to Lynchburg.
Dinner was at a Golden Corral in Lynchburg and most of the meal was dealt with an upset Battlin Bob.
Not at us though.
You see Lynchburg is the home of the late Rev.Jerry Falwell and his Liberty University.\
One can hardly walk a few steps without seeing something about Falwell or his university,but the most notable is the HUGE logo on the side of a mountain facing the city.
I wish we had gotten a better picture of the logo but the clear cutting of nature to basically advertise a college infuriated Bob and he was noticeably bothered by this,as he was earlier in the trip with the Smoky Mountains being "top-cropped" for coal.
We got there early and of course the Hillcats were the one team on the trip that opened the gates 60 mins before game time not 90 .
Just our luck,but Ryan did beat Battlin Bob to a batting practice baseball laying in the grass.
Lynchburg had been touted as an easy autograph place and I suppose it was easy,but not quite as good as advertised.
If you get in the 1st row of reserved seats the players have to walk right by you,but similar to Hagerstown,the relief pitchers for the Hillcats do not have to walk right by you.
So keep that in mind,if you need a Lynchburg bullpenner-be ready to shout for them!
On this night,I did not need much of the home team,so we attempted to concentrate on the visiting Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
The Pelicans had been a mixed bag at Frederick earlier in the season,so I was not sure what to expect.
Sadly I got the worst,as most of the prospects on the team had either been moved from Myrtle due to the recent trade with the Rangers or in the case of Elvis Andrus actually traded to the Rangers.
So,the 3 targeted players were the newest Pelican Chase Fontaine,Eric Campbell and Jordan Schafer.
Fontaine was nice enough,signing 2 apiece for Ryan and I before warming up,but Campbell totally ignored our requests,despite his being on the Disabled List and having nothing else to do.
Schafer walked out with Fontaine,yet ignored us even after Chase came over and signed.
That was pretty much the highlight other than talking to a few Lynchburg players.
Brad Corley was cool as always as was Matt Swanson.
Matt always talks to us like he knows and remembers us,although his unassuming nature makes me think that maybe he is just nice to everyone.
Messers Campbell and Schafer could take a few lessons from the Hillcats.
Lynchburg City Stadium and Calvin Falwell Field (yes,there is that name again) are the same place,just a way of honoring two things at one time.
This is similar to basketball arenas having one name and the actual court itself honoring someone else.
The field underwent a complete renovation a few years back and of all the fields that I have seen this is the field that Municipal Stadium could be if renovation money was made available.
You are close to the field like Hagerstown,but (Try to not to faint) Municipal Stadium has an edge over Lynchburg.
The seats in Hagerstown are far roomier,in fact I have never seen seats as small as at the home of the Hillcats.
One other odd seating item-the behind the plate seats are backed seats,but every seat is a general admission seat there.
If you buy the top seat at Lynchburg,you are behind the 1st or 3rd base line.
Keep that in mind,if you like to be behind the plate..
After a 7-5 Hillcat win,in which we waited around to try again for Campbell and Schafer,we did get two consolation prizes.
One was winning pitcher Luis Valdez signed his Hillcat card and the other follows.
Some of the Hillcats were signing as the players moved to the clubhouse,we tried to get Campbell,but he ignored us again and waited on Schafer.
Ryan and I were talking basically saying once Schafer was done,we could get moving and veteran journeyman Ron Davenport turned to us and said "you guys don't want Schafer's autograph anyway".
Being accustomed to the interplay between players,I assumed the two were friends and one buddy was jabbing at another.
So I replied "oh,really?"
Davenport then said "No,you really don't,Schafer is the biggest D***head in the league" and said it in a stone serious voice.
Jordan was the last player from the dugout and I told Ron,"I guess we will see if we agree in a minute."
Schafer then ignored all calls for him and never even looked at us despite being less than 10 feet away.
Davenport then glanced at me with a look that said "See"...
I hollered,"hey,Ron,looks like you have a point-LOL".
I really have to find some Ron Davenport cards now!!!!
Anyway,a long car ride awaited,which included a wonderful 15 miles in an hour stretch due to roadwork on I-81.
Lynchburg is a great park for being close to the action and the general admission seats are very good seats for the money.
Plus of all the parks that I have been to this year,the Hillcats were the cheapest as far as their food and drinks go.
The only thing that I wonder is this-after looking at both parks,one would think that Hickory's facility was the High A and Lynchburg was the Low A Pirate affiliate.
I doubt that would be happening anytime soon,but one would think that facility-wise a Lynchburg promotion would be a lateral one at best.
All and all,I would recommend Lynchburg for the game and for autographs,although it was a bit overrated for autographs in my opinion.

Next time- some grades for ballparks on the trip,some comparisons with the Suns and maybe even a few comments(if I can get them) from Ryan and Battlin Bob on their thoughts.

Photo Credits
Ryan Heimberger