Yesterday, Nicki, Christina, and I went to the conclusion of Saturday's Savannah Sand Gnats game versus the Capital City Bombers. Not only did we get to watch the end of that game but all those coming to this game were able to stay for the double header.

Christina spent Saturday night rooting Capital City (the New York Mets low Class A team). It's all about New York with her. She spent most of the time rooting for a one Andres Rodriguez until play was suspended. When we returned yesterday, again, we sat in the bleacher such that he knew we were there. He didn't really make any glances our way.

During the second game, the Gnats' Marco Yepez played first base. In the first game, he played shortstop, so he could see we had been there all day. He kept looking at our little party, seeing Nicki and I root for the Gnats and Christina rooting for the Bombers. Yepez would make hand gestures and looks at them. I think he figured I was the mild one of the bunch.

After the last out (Gnats swept Bombers), Christina and Nicki walked to the Gnats' dugout. Yepez has a ball. I thought he was going to give it to a little kid. Nope. He slipped the ball under the fence to Christina and told her to meet him over at the third base concourse since that's where the autograph session will be held. It was Family Fun night where after the game, you could get autographs.

We made our way over there and Yepez saw our party. He smiled, ready for us to come over to him. We did and got his autograph. Christina on one the ball he gave her. (In the first game, Christina had grabbed a foul ball that landed near us.) I got his autograph on my program book. All these little kids ran over to Yepez and he had Christina's Sharpie (She never leaves home without one!) signing for the little boys.

I spent this time they hung out with Yepez to get the other players' autographs on my program. This really amounted to me smiling, handing the program, and saying thank you. I'll never be as boisterous as Christina and Nicki. I feel as if I'm flirting if I make eye contact with a guy that's any bit as good looking. I got at least half the team to sign the book. Plus, Christina got me a few signatures that night before.

After I finished my autograph deal, I go back to Nicki, Christina, and Yepez. He asked us for our names, starting with my name. Before I could say it, someone with the team, starts talking to him. So we waited and then he returned to us. I told him my name, Nicki spoke hers, and then Christina told her name. Yepez gets all excited thinking she's Latina. No, Christina's Greek. He was OK with that and smiled when he found out she was a New Yorker. She apparently gave him her cell phone number.

Before we leave, Yepez hugs us all and kisses Nicki and me one the cheek. Actually, my kiss was more near my ear. I didn't see him kiss Christina but Nicki said he wanted her to kiss him on the mouth.

Then, we wait for Capital City (Oh, I feel like I'm a Springfield resident saying Capital City!) to finish showering and board their bus. Christina was hoping to get Andres Rodriguez's autograph on her foul ball. While waiting for him to come out, Christina got some other Bombers to sign this ball.

I did get one Bomber's autograph. Ryan Harvey was out there signing autographs and I got him to sign the back of the program book. Part me was trying to grab him so Christina could get his autograph, too. Then there's the shallow part of me that was getting his autograph merely because there was a handsome ball player there and let me walk away with something from that game.

Finally, Andres Rodriguez (not to be confused with fellow Bomber Edgar Rodriguez) came out of the stadium and started smiling. He recognized our little party. He came over and shook each our hands. Christina got his autograph on the Bomber ball. Christina was making passes in English to him. And while he didn't say anything to them, you knew he knew what was being said.

After he got on the bus, Christina scrambled to a bit of paper to write her phone number on. She grabbed some Bomber and slipped him the number with the instruction to give the number to the first baseman.

The ride home consisted of Nicki and Christine remarking and the good looks of the Bombers and they would like to go to another Bombers game before Christina leaves on the 27^th. Only thing really stopping them is moola. Well, it's stopping me, too.

This weekend was fun, really, and I needed to get out of the house. I'm really such a homebody and this weekend's minor league adventure was just the thing to do it. However, I don't think I could ever be the type of person that parties every weekend. It's just not me. But, I am looking forward to school again.

[Listening to: "Villa Lobotomies " by Bruce Gaitsch]

Posted by Shawn at July 21, 2003 10:35 AM in General.