Take Me Out to the Ballgame

The first item on our list of things to do was to see the Tennessee Smokies take on the Chattanooga Lookouts.  The Smokies are the AA affiliate for the Chicago Cubs and the Lookouts are the AA affiliate for the Dodgers.  The Endris family has always been die hard Cubs fans even though the Cubs have caused consistent disappointment and great heart ache throughout the years.  But we were pleased to see the W flag flying high on the Cubs flagpole! 

It was a cool, beautiful day in Sevierville with mostly sunny skies and a few passing showers.  The stadium was virtually empty because of the  mid-afternoon game.  Our seats were directly behind the Smokies dugout so Claire and Levi both caught a ball thrown to them by the catchers.

Levi's ball was given to him by catcher Michael Brenly.

Claire's ball was given to her by catcher Juan Apodaca, who has already been promoted to AAA Iowa Cubs.

Everybody loves a good mascot photo...right?

2B Elliot Soto looks hard at a ball low and away. You can see the ball just below his right knee. Good call ump!

RF Jae-Hoon Ha looked really good at the plate that day going 2 for 3 with a monster double off the wall that nearly got out. I think this guy will play in the big leagues one day. He is very fast with a lively arm and lots of quick power at the plate. He is awfully young to be starting at AA at only 21 years old. Look for him in Chicago by 2014.

1B Justin Bour is much of a man at 6'4" 250 and was Levi's favorite player.

We loved the DH's name: Rebel Ridling. Jana kept saying, "His parents didn't really name him that, did they?" He wasn't exactly a little fella either at 6'4" 230.

The game was enjoyable even though the Smokies lost to the Lookouts, 7-5.

We left the ballpark singing, "Go,Cubs, Go; Go, Cubs, Go"