Skip to content

Ol Abner

Prose for the Baseball Fan.

  • Who’s Abner?

Tag: illinois state redbirds

jeremy eierman

Learning words four letters at a time: a day at the ballpark

Posted by olabner on May 29, 2017May 30, 2017 in College, Missouri State

I wandered into the stadium at 10 a.m. on Sunday. After spending years volunteering with Lutherans I have plenty of prayer credit. Oh, the Lord’s name came up today. Missouri State played Illinois State once more, and though it appeared…

bears dugout

Observing a crisis in the ninth: Illinois State rallies vs. Missouri State

Posted by olabner on May 28, 2017 in College, Missouri State

The best closer in the conference, Bryan Young, enters the bottom of the 9th with a six-run lead for Missouri State. He already threw 48 pitches in the first game against Indiana State, retiring 8 hitters. This opponent, Illinois State,…

Nine walks over 2 innings: finding empathy for college pitchers (Illinois State edition)

Posted by olabner on May 27, 2017May 27, 2017 in College, Missouri State

Colton Johnson must have thought about pitching in the postseason. Just months ago he carried his laptop to a dorm room. Maybe he ate an ice cream cone in a dining hall. He found the practice field. He played long toss…

Missouri State falls to 8th seed Illinois State, and other travesties

Posted by olabner on May 25, 2017May 25, 2017 in College, Missouri State

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…

Head wound

Posted by olabner on May 23, 2016April 27, 2017 in College, Missouri State

Sean holds his aluminum bat level as the fastball reaches him and the ball dribbles down the chalk line the third baseman charges the plate until I can see triangles made of eye black dripping down his jaws. “Let it…

sitting behind home plate

Posted by olabner on May 20, 2016April 27, 2017 in College, Missouri State

I wipe dust off a green chair and sit down and expect someone to tell me to move where my ticket says I should go Someone might ask me if I’m scouting that hitter whose hands sting when he stands…

Categories

  • AL
  • Arkansas Travelers
  • Atlanta Braves
  • Boston Red Sox
  • Chicago Cubs
  • Chicago White Sox
  • College
  • Covid
  • Ethics
  • Fan
  • Grief
  • Interleague
  • Interviews
  • Minnesota Twins
  • Minors
  • Missouri State
  • Missouri Tigers
  • MLB
  • MVC
  • NL
  • Northwest Arkansas Naturals
  • Oakland A's
  • Photos
  • Playoffs
  • Research
  • Rules
  • Seattle Mariners
  • Spring
  • Springfield Cardinals
  • St. Louis Cardinals
  • Texas Rangers
  • Uncategorized
  • Videos
  • Wiffle
  • Wiffle Ball
  • World Series

Share

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmailby feather
Copyright © 2025 Ol Abner. All Rights Reserved.
Fashify Theme by FRT