Best Game Ever

Friday was easily the best baseball game I've ever been to. Daddy's colleague Maria offered us tickets to see the Sox battle the A's. we got there early to get autographs. Our seats were right near the path the Sox take from the dugout to the locker room. Pretty soon, one of the Sox showed up---Kevin Youkilis---I knew him from many games of balloon baseball with Daddy. He's quite big. He signed my ball (with a nice black Shrpie Daddy thought to bring along). I asked him plaintively,

Could I please get a ball? I really want one.

Youkilis searched his pockets, but no luck. "Maybe later kid." he said.

We got a bunch more autographs and then the game began. It was a great game. The A's pounded starter Tim Wakefield. When Frank Thomas hit a homer and jumped up and down quite happily. I then gave Daddy a big, long hug. The cameraman spotted it and put me on Diamondvision---soon the whole stadium got to see Daddy and me. Later, when the 7th inning came around, I sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" with my usual aplomb. The cameraman liked this too and I got on Diamondvision again. Hooray---two times!

Still, at the end of the game, I was a little sad.

I still haven't gotten a ball, Daddy.

I said. Daddy suggested I wait as the Sox filed into the clubhouse. Sometimes they give balls to fans. No luck. The Sox were pretty steamed about their loss an zoomed into the clubhouse. But one person was more leisurely. The home plate umpire, Tim Tscheda, strolled slowly toward the clubhouse. He came up to me and grabbed a ball from his little pouch of balls. He said,

Here you go kid. Nice game.

And it was. A nice game. The best game ever.