College World Series, Continued

A call came in, actually it was a text, yesterday afternoon. The message? Hey, extra ticket to the championship game tonight, want to come? Um, of course! I finished my work day in anticipation, and raced home to change.

Now, any other year, going to this game wouldn't be as big of a deal. I mean, sure, it's the championship game, best out of 3, of the college world series. But this year, this day, was a BIG deal. Turns out, Rosenblatt Stadium, the stadium that hosts the series, is being torn down after this years' championship. With the Henry Doorley zoo right next to the stadium, it made sense to tear down the stadium and turn it into a parking lot for the zoo. Sad? Yes! Afterall, the CWS has been played at Rosenblatt for over 60 years! A lot of history has taken place on that pitchers' mound, in those seats, and on that field!

As I sat in my seat, watching the game, I couldn't help but think about the history of the field, and in turn, my own history. About how, instead of my grandparents and my parents regaling stories of 'the way things used to be', I will be the one telling future children about how 'this parking lot used to be a fantastic baseball field, and every year for over 60 years, the college world series was played here, and I took part in history by attending the championship game at the last series ever played!' I felt a sadness for a field that, in all honesty, I have no history with. I didn't sit in the bleachers as a kid with my dad, clenching my mit in the hopes a foul ball would come my way. I didn't grow up in Omaha, with this stadium as a main feature on the skyline. And yet, I mourned the last few games played on this historic field.

The stadium was filled to capacity. And more than just a regular game, there was a somber and real mood in the stadium. We all knew what was in store for this stadium, but that night, at that game, we pretended that all was right in the world. The batters batted, the fielders fielded, and for one more night at Rosenblatt, baseball was played.