My first ball game is a Cumberland affair!

I went to my first ball game yesterday…I went to see the Sea Dogs, Portland’s minor league team (but importantly they are a feeder team for the Boston Red Sox, a major league team).  It was a Cumberland affair firstly because our neighbour, Will, was juggling on the pitch before the game and between innings. He’s 14 and won the juggling championships in Illinois earlier this year. He spends absolutely ages practicing out in the street and is pretty amazing to watch!

Secondly, my house mate Sarah was conducting her Greely High School singing group who were in charge of singing the National Anthem before the game. The poor kids had to wear tuxedos in the stifling heat but they looked very smart and did a great job!

Then the fun began. Here’s a run down of the game from my rookie perspective (The guy behind answered lots of my questions and so did Sarah when she returned):

·         There are 9 players on each team

·         There are 9 innings each (Yes, 9!!!)

·         Thankfully, these innings can be short as an innings only lasts until 3 people are out. You can be caught out (the most common), run out or struck out (3 strikes and you’re out! This means if the ball is pitched just right and you swing and miss/ don’t bother to try 3 times, you’re out)

·         A home run is where the batter hits the ball over the boundary of the ball park and basically can make it all the way round the bases back to home before the ball is returned.

The Sea Dogs didn’t play very well…they lost…but sitting in the sun, soaking up the atmosphere was great. You can be thrown out of a game for uttering profanities...can you just imagine that at a football match? Ha! Half the ground would be ordered to leave. Just like in the UK, spectators didn’t stop eating. My word, what a load of junk was consumed. I was out of place with my apple!!! What was also amusing was how, between innings, various sponsors took to the pitch and stands to hold competitions for various bits of their merchandise. We saw kids throwing newspapers, families throwing balls into a giant shopping trolley and kids playing musical chairs in ginormous inflatable arm chairs. Then there was the ‘at the ball game’ 7 ½ innings stretch and sing…what a day!

Also on the agenda this weekend was having a go at baking. I made raspberry and lemon muffins for breakfast and a pavlova to share for Sunday night dinner. All done whilst wearing my Union Jack apron, the only thing vaguely patriotic I brought with me and that was only thanks to Carly!

Pavlova for dessert...it quickly turned into Eton mess.

Sarah, Stuart and Sophie sampling