We start at 11:03 p.m., like it’s June in Alaska and we can play under the midnight sun.
Jake Burger taps the freshly painted plate, a half-hour after receiving the player of the year award.
He walks.
Illinois State is the only team to beat Missouri State in the conference this year, and it was less than a week ago. It’s still in the 50s, and the kids have finished school but haven’t adjusted to summer schedules yet.
A drunk guy tells every Illinois player he sucks. He sounds British but I can’t tell if he’s faking. I consider tossing him in the English Channel either way.
It’s midnight and I want to watch baseball in peace.
Justin Paulsen takes strike three. He calls it five inches outside.
But no one else can connect the bat to ball, anyway.
Illinois State can’t quite knock a run across either.
The bottom of the fifth starts when a blonde player in a black hoodie and maroon shirt tells me, about Bears batter Jack Duffy: “He’s catching a barrel right here, I promise.”
I smile at him and chew on a Clif Bar.
Duffy hits a sinking liner to right center. It doesn’t fall.
The fan reminds each Redbird hitter that “You suck,” and I wonder if it’s wise.
Some people get motivated by –
yes –
Derek Parola doubles in a run with two out to make it 1-0 Illinois State in the 6th.
But in the 7th the Bears load the bases –
no –
the 1 a.m. train whistles, and Hunter Steinmetz strikes out.
Forty minutes later, I shake the water off my shoes and trudge up the steps.
An Illinois State fan waves a white flag marred by a blue “W” like it’s Wrigley.
It’s probably better to walk away
and try again tomorrow.
by 