Bring the Boys Home/Fans Go Cup Crazy

The Greensboro Grasshoppers stranded 14 base runners on Wednesday night at First Horizon en route to an 8-3 loss to the Greenville, SC Drive. The Hoppers starting pitcher Mark LaMacchia gave up 6 runs in the 2nd inning and the Drive had enough to finish off the Hoppers. The Hoppers have continued to suffer from the Big inning all season long and didn’t help that the Drive connected for 3 homeruns and now have five total for the two game set. The GBGH have yet to connect for a homer in this series and the boys need some help in a hurry. You take away those 6 runs in the 2nd and the Hoppers win this game 3-2.(Ouch)

All was not lost at FHP on Wednesday when the Stanley Cup, the trophy belonging to the NHL Champs made it’s way to Natty’s Hill out above the left field berm at the stadium. A long line formed before the Cup arrived at FHP and there must have been 2,500-3,000 fans in line to see the Cup and to have pictures made with the most famous trophy in all of Sports(based upon what my sources have been telling me). This turned out to be a good mid-week promotion for the Grasshoppers and everyone seemed to be happy to have the chance to be around the historic hardware. The Cup had been on display in DURHAM earlier in the day and it was a little late arriving at FHP due to the large crowds in DURHAM.

Long-time Hurricanes fan Bruce Bullington was there for the festivities and arriving at the Park with the Bull was his new found soul-mate from Whitsett. I didn’t get the opportunity to recognize any other locals but the line was long and it was full of fans hoping to get up and see the Cup. I joined Pete Weber the Voice of the Nashville Predators for his weekly radio show, “This Week in the Minor Leagues”,(a baseball show) and gave Pete the lowdown on all the Cup Talk and how the fans were reacting to the event that took place at First Horizon Park. I told Pete the story how that Bruce Bullington was probably the Hurricanes all-time biggest and best fan and that the BB had actually finished 2nd or 3rd in a contest that determined the Canes #1 Fan. I mentioned to PW that the contest winner had paid off the judges because Bruce had never missed a Canes game while they were in Greensboro and Raleigh. I also told Pete that BB was seen overcome by excitement and shed tears of joy when he got his chance to get next to the Cup. Making the Rounds on “This Week in the Minor Leagues”.

The Hoppers will continue their series tonight with the Greenville Drive at FHP and Ryan Tucker (2-8) will try to help the Hops turn it around against the Drive and their starter John Barnes(0-2). The Drive have been running on OverDrive and have stayed in the Driver’s Seat all week and we hope the Hoppers can get it in gear and headed toward W’ville this evening.

It was great to see pitcher Aaron Thompson’s dad(Johnny) and shortstop Paul Witt’s mon and dad(Randy and Sherry) at the ballpark for last night’s game. Aaron’s little sister was also at FHP and she said one day she hopes to earn a softball scholarship and go on to play pro sports too like her big brother Aaron. The Thompsons are from Texas and the Witts came in from Arkansas.