The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
15TH HOME OPENER
Pomp, circumstance, baseball and a new video board at Classic Park
Captains general manager Neil Stein was one happy man as the team’s 2017 home opener got underway at Classic Park.
The temperature was a shade under 50 degrees, not warm but tropical compared to the temperatures at each of the previous nine home openers since Stein joined the team’s front office.
That much of the ballpark was still bathed in sunlight, which made it seem warmer.
The combination of comparatively good weather and the start of another baseball season in Eastlake produced one of the larger home opener crowds in recent years at Classic Park.
Many of those fans were wearing the Trapper Hats that were the night’s promotional souvenir.
Every general manager at
“There’s no turning back at this point. We’re super excited.” — Captains general manager Neil Stein
every level of professional baseball loves it when fans are in the stands.
“There’s no turning back at this point. We’re super excited,” Stein said, smiling and surveying the stands minutes before highly-rated prospect Brady Aiken fired the first pitch of the game for the home team.
The pomp and circumstance of pre-game ceremonies gave the 15th home opener in franchise history a special feel.
Players from the Captains and visiting Dayton Dragons were introduced and lined up along the first and third base lines. They were joined by their managers and coaches.
There were moments of silence for several Captains fans who passed away in the off season and a spirited performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by the choir from Thomas Edison Elementary School in Willoughby.
It was also extraordinarily satisfying to Stein that the new video array on the main scoreboard, the installation of which was completed just in time for the home opener, was working like a charm.
“As a front office, we are 100 percent pleased with this home opener,” Stein said.
Captains manager Larry Day made reference to the team’s fans, and especially those who buy season-ticket packages , when asked for his read on the excitement of a home opener.
“This gives us a chance to showcase our players to fans who care so much about this team that they turn out not just for home openers, but for games on weekdays in April and May,” Day said.
Two of those fans, Cheryl and Jim Gaidelis of Mentor, were in line at the concession stand before the game began. And, yes, they were wearing their newly obtained Trapper Hats.
“This is good baseball and a great ballpark, We love coming to games here,” Cheryl Gaidelis said.