As many of you know, my brother has joined the Navy. He left for boot camp back in December and is now at his A-School training in Pensacola, FL. He is scheduled to be done with A-School sometime in the next 30-90 days, then he heads to Jacksonville for a little bit before officially shipping out to somewhere in the Middle East.
We're all thankful that he is doing well and is excited for the opportunities in front of him. Being an aircraft mechanic, he will travel with an actual squadron around the world. Considering where the action is, a navy base in the Middle East, like Bahrain or Qatar, will probably be his assignment.
As much as I like to gloat about how awesome my brother is, there is a parallel to baseball here. This past weekend, my brother called me from Pensacola and told me all about the new Southern League club going in called the Blue Wahoos. They are building a brand-new ballpark right on the Pensacola Bay for the team that is, most likely, going to be the jewel of the Southern League.
Affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds, the Blue Wahoos are filling a baseball void in Pensacola when their independent league team left. From what I have read on blogs and ballpark websites, the excitement going into the opening of this new park and the arrival of high-quality professional baseball has the entire baseball world abuzz. After talking with my brother, I'm swept up in the buzz, even though I am here in Oregon.
My brother informed me that he is going to try and go to their opening game on April 5th and check out the new team and ballpark. Apparently it is a short-drive away from his barracks, so he might hit up a few games that opening weekend.
I have to admit, I am very jealous of him. Seeing the opening of a much-hyped ballpark has got to be an exciting event. I wasn't here when PK Park opened, so I have never gotten to see for myself the pomp and circumstance into a new venue. I have been to clubs that are in their first year at a new park, but nothing close to the opening day.
Less than three weeks until the Rocky Mountain trip, so I may come back on here and write a few more entries before I go.
Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)
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