MSU Summer Baseball Diaries, Part Two
7/24/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
July 24, 2006
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Hello, this is Chris Cullen dropping in from Bethesda, Maryland. I am currently playing for the Bethesda Big Train in Southern Maryland and love every minute of it. Between the atmosphere at the games and the chemistry our team has built, I look forward to going to the yard more and more everyday.
The city of Bethesda isn't the biggest of cities, but the people there love supporting our team. We draw 600 to 900 people to a game on any given night. I think people enjoy coming out to the ballpark because it is such a great opportunity for young kids to come hang out, watch a baseball game, interact with the players and get as many autographs as they can. After every game kids will line up outside of our dugout and wait for us to sign autographs. The experience makes you feel pretty big-league. The jumbotron at the town's mall always has our game times posted and Ledo's Pizza, a great restaurant around the corner, makes sure that we are fed pasta before every game. The community support has been a huge reason that this summer has been so enjoyable.
My host family, the O'Brien's, have been absolutely unbelievable. Jim and Kay, my host parents, have made me feel at home every since I stepped in the door. Their daughters Jackie and Laura, have been amazing to be around with their constant generosity and politeness. I feel as though I could not have had better accommodations anywhere else. From the day I walked into the O'Brien's home I have felt completely comfortable and extremely welcomed. Jim has built a beautiful home and I am extremely gracious for letting me be apart of it. My host parents have also opened their doors to my parents, other players on the team and didn't hesitate to say yes when I asked if my best friend from home could spend a weekend. They are amazing people. I feel that your relationship with your host family is a huge part in determining how much you enjoy your summer. The O'Brien's have truly been more than I could ask for.
The Big Train is one of seven teams that compete in the Cal Ripken Sr. League. We are enjoying success right now and are two games ahead, sitting in first place in the standings. Our home field is one of the best to play at and no other team in the league comes close to getting the fan support we do. The farthest drive to an away game is just over an hour, which makes travel relatively easy. The temperature has been very hot the past few weeks and the thermometer on the scoreboard has shown 105 a couple of times within the last week, something I can say I'm not accustomed to. My teammates here are great and I've been able to meet other ball players from across the country. There are other student-athletes from Texas, Southern Mississippi, Jacksonville State and San Francisco, just to name a few. It's been neat to talk those guys about playing in regionals - a place I know MSU will be at the end of this year.
This summer has been one that will never be forgotten and I will hold on to some great memories. I have experienced team and personal success on the diamond, a great host family and memories that will last a lifetime. I must admit though, I look forward to coming back to Michigan State and meeting the new players and reuniting with the old ones. You can continue to check out the progress of the Bethesda Big Train throughout the summer at www.bigtrain.org. Thanks for taking the time to read about my summer experience!
