Day 2-Asheville

After the latest Pirate disaster,I wanted to write about something fun and other than the return of Megyn Kelly to Fox News today,there is not much fun other than the trip day two to Asheville.

I had been to Asheville a few years back,but this time we had an entire day to kill before the game.
We started by going into Knoxville to shop to stores and looking for Tennessee Volunteers items.
Even though it seemed that there were lots of people wearing Vols stuff,there was not as many places selling items in Sevierville,so we traveled to the scene itself.
Knoxville was not tough to navigate,but it was tough to find parking in.
We passed both the Tennessee football stadium and basketball arena,but were unable to find parking to take pictures of them.
I also came up empty on a few stores near campus,although we were greeted in one from a fellow Marylander that had heard of Hagerstown because he had a friend "In the penitentiary for a minute".
Corey informs me that means a long stretch of prison time.
After a trip to the local mall,where Corey had his name put onto his Tennessee Smokies hat,but saw me spend no money,a stop at the staple for me-Sonic.
Generally,if I see a Sonic,I try to stop and Sonic delivered their usual quality with a Chicago Dog and burger.

We left Knoxville and returned to Sevierville,where we shopped at some stores that saw one bargain that I grabbed for the lovely Cherie's either birthday or Christmas present.
This one was a slam dunk for me and should be a popular present.
Asheville is roughly 90 minutes away and featured a beautiful drive through the winding roads of the Smoky Mountains.
We arrived in Asheville earlier than expected and decided to grab some food at Fuddruckers before the game.I generally shy away from ballpark food,if I can between the taste and cost,I often become disenchanted.
Upon arriving at McCormick Field,the gates were already open as the parking attendant told us "The gates are always open 90 minutes before the game for all".
So much for that SAL rule that I have heard so often through the years on 60 minutes.
I worked on the Charleston Riverdogs,while Corey did the home Tourists.
I was able to get most of the Riverdogs except the one everyone wanted most-Dominican catcher Gary Sanchez.
Sanchez said one word "after".
Notable gets included Garrison Lassiter,who signed eight,Tommy Kahnle,Anderson Feliz and Kelvin DeLeon.
I didn't see manager Aaron Ledesma,who either was not there or was wearing a different number.
Corey did well with the home squad getting Kyle Parker and Peter Tago on multiples of their SAL top prospect cards along with outfielder Corey Dickerson among others in the team set.

The two players that we had the most cards for were the aforementioned Sanchez and Asheville pitcher Tyler Matzek.
Matzek is a top prospect that missed Hagerstown twice in two years.
In 2010,Matzek was called up to Asheville a week after their only trip to Hagerstown and was demoted to the Tourists a week after their visit this season.
So Corey asked Matzek to sign and it went like this-
"Tyler,do you have time to sign some?"
"Sure".
"How many will you sign?"
"About five or six"
"How about 15?"
"Gulp"
Corey then played the Maryland card and got Matzek to sign them all in a great piece of work.

McCormick Field had not changed much since my last visit,still a older,but well kept park and the game was nothing special,but Corey made a new friend-his name was Andrew and Andrew was the entertainment for the evening.
Andrew was about 11 and with the middle forties "cool dad" that allowed him to act like an ass as long he did not interrupt dad and his buddies.
Andrew's routine included loud screams,pounding on the kids with him and my personal favorite,walking from the bleachers top to bottom row and then back on top of the rail,just asking for a fall.
Which eventually happened-straight down onto his "parts" in what certainly was the funniest part of the evening,if not the best!

As the game ended,we attempted to get Gary Sanchez to see if his word was good.
He was the last player out and I tried to talk to him a bit,the reply was "no speak English".
Well,that ended that-either he was going to sign or not.
He signed all that Corey and I had,so no complaints at all.
After a short time,getting a few of the Asheville players after the game,we started the drive back.
Now this was awesome to watch-a thunderstorm was taking place on the Tennessee side of the mountains.
The mountains blocked all but the flash at first and as we climbed the mountains,we saw more and more as as a part of it until finally the spectacular lightning and bolts crashing against the backdrop of the mountains.
Breathtaking would be my word for it.

All and all,a terrific and productive day with one more to go before returning home....