A Field of Dreams

It is a perfect night for baseball.

It is a warm evening, a little bit muggy, but this is summertime on the Outer Banks. The wind is from the southwest, blowing toward left field, and in most ballparks that would mean something, but here at the Outer Banks Daredevils’ home field it just means there’s more time for the outfielders to wander under the ball before catching it.

The crowd is still drifting in, there’s a small line at the concession stand with groups of kids racing between the stands, concession areas and fence. The announcer calls out the starting lineup for the visiting team and, then in long, drawn out syllables, “And now the starting lineup for your hometown Outer Banks Daredevils . . .”

As he calls out each player’s name they, trot to their positions, followed by four or five kids who stand beside them as the Star Spangled Banner is sung.

This is the true field of dreams. Playing at the First Flight High School ballpark, the Outer Banks Daredevils are a part of the Coastal Plain League. This is where the best of the college ball players come to spend their summers, following a dream that has been a part of their lives since their first swing at a T-ball.

For most of the players on the roster, playing in the Coastal Plain League is the first step toward that hope. For one, two and sometimes three summers, college players from around the country give up the chance to earn money at a summer job or spend time with family and friends, spending the summer instead, learning how to hit or pitch with a wooden bat.

“I’ve always dreamed of playing professional ball,” Brock Piper says. Piper is a right handed pitcher going to school at Auburn.

The team has just played 16 games in 17 days--a grueling schedule that says as much about character and skill as the ability to hit an inside fastball or learn how to pitch inside to a wooden bat. “Man, that was a 16 game stretch,” manager Jeff Wicker says. “I wanted to go 10 and 6. We got there. It wasn’t pretty, but we got there.”

They got there with good hitting, good defense and what may be the strongest arms in the Coastal Plains League. “I haven’t seen pitching arms from other teams as good as ours,” Dylan Petrich says. Petrich, in his second year with the Daredevils is going into his senior year at Texas A&M. “This is the best pitching staff I’ve seen in our league.”

It’s the top of the third inning. The Edenton Steamers lead off the inning with a double, and with one out an RBI single brings the runner home. The Daredevils lead has been cut to 3-1. A weak ground ball comes to Tyler Stubblefield at third. He fires to second, over to first for a text book double play--in its own way, it is artistry, the essence of well played baseball.

A Daredevils game is as much about entertainment as it is baseball. The outfield fence is lined with banners of sponsors of the team. As crowds walk in, Rita’s Water Ice is handing out free samples. The line at the ticket table moves quickly--all tickets are $5.00 so there’s not much math to do.

Horace the Horse is the team mascot, suggesting the wild ponies of Corolla, perhaps--although the historic significance is not nearly as important as the hugs he gives any child who wants one.

Something different happens between every inning. Early in the game, T-shirts are shot into the crowd. Between the second and third inning, a lobster is thrown into the third and first base stands; catch it and you get a free dinner at Jimmy’s Seafood Buffet. There are flipper races--two kids race to Horace the Horse wearing flippers and the spinning bat race is a little different tonight.

It’s a simple idea--put your head on a bat, spin around 7-10 times and then race to the horse. Usually it’s done with kids, but tonight, two men have taken on the challenge. There’s a look of panic in the umpire’s eyes as a 220 pound man bears down on him with no idea where the finish line is.

The game has settled into a pitcher’s duel. After giving up three first inning runs, the Edenton pitcher is keeping the ball down, and nobody can get beyond second base. Backed by a solid defense, right handed pitcher Chris Boggs holds the Steamers in check.

After six strong innings and one run, Kramer Sneed comes in relief. A left handed pitcher from Barton College, he is where he feels he was meant to be. “I would rather be at the ballpark than working,” he says.

In its own way this is work--there is effort in learning how to be the best. “I’ve always been a closer,” Sneed says. “I’ve got a fastball, curve and split finger change. My (college) coach wanted me to be able to throw every pitch.”

He throws two strong innings of relief, and closer John Cornely walks one but picks up the save, striking out the last batter on high heat.

It’s late June. The Daredevils’ 12 wins and seven losses puts them firmly in first place in their division. There are still 37 games to play, so anything can happen--but it’s a good start. “It’s been a pleasant surprise to be on a winning team,” Sneed says. “To know that we can win every night.”

Outer Banks Daredevils Contact Information :

Phone: 252-441-0600
Fax: 252-441-0606
Email: info@obxdaredevils.com

Website: www.obxdaredevils.com

Harold Brantley Drafted in the 30th round, Harold is now in the Florida Marlins farm system.