I had no idea what to expect, but am very relieved to report no wardrobe malfunctions occurred! Part of the Dream Foundation package was field passes and watching the game from the Presidents Club, which in itself is pretty darn awesome. While on the field, we had our photo taken with second baseman, Danny Espinosa (who I complimented, but fear jinxed since he didn’t hit too well that game). Then we wined and dined and made it to our seats for the start of the game. I only had one glass to try to help how nervous I was getting. I didn’t want to run to the wrong base or something with more. I also had learned my run would be timed and even if I didn’t make it in the allotted 30 seconds, I’d still get to keep the base, of course.

Wait! 30 seconds?! Have you seen how far it is from the center field wall to 2nd base?! I thought ok, maybe I can do it since I’ll be empty handed on my sprint out.

Wrong! I was escorted through the “bowels” of Nats Park past the bullpen (which had a garage-style door rolled up and I could see into) “Ooh, can I stop and snap a photo?!” (no, no time) to the holding pen where the racing presidents enter the field in the middle of the 4th. I spotted a shiny clean base on the floor up against the wall. Uh oh, what’s that for? All the better to run with, my dear! As I would learn later.

Let me tell you, you cannot see a thing from behind the outfield wall. I had no idea what inning it was, how many outs there were — nothing! You can’t even see the jumbotron. Once I gathered it was the top of the 3rd, every time the crowd cheered, I guessed another out was made (although, even that is hard to gauge given how many visiting fans come to Nats Park). Entertainment director Tom Davis joined us and confirmed each out and I was relieved to hear they upped the time to 45 seconds. The PA guy asked via walkie-talkie, “What if she doesn’t make it in 45 seconds? What do I say?” and Tom replied, “she’ll make it.” showing more confidence than I was feeling in myself as a very sporadic and admittedly lazy runner (but former — very former triathlete).

“One more out, get ready!” Davis announced. He, two Nat Pack girls and I huddled behind the hidden door in the outfield wall and I mentally entered “the zone”, tuning out almost everything else except my single focus on when I was told to “go” and the base oh so far away in front of me and the heavier-than-it-looks awkward clean one in my arms (I’ve been told they weigh just over 14 pounds, plus have a pole sticking out the bottom). I heard the PA announcer, but didn’t really pay attention to what he was saying. Once I was told to go, I tried to take off like a shot (and ever so gracefully nearly tripped) and then my focus was entirely singular, except for one thing…

YOU NATSTOWN!! I heard you! The cheers penetrated my “zone” and fueled me on. I wondered if the players are unable to tune out the cheering as well and if we cheered more as a whole, would the team fare better? Well that thought flitted through my mind briefly with what little thought I was able to have, anyway. Oh, this distance is pretty far…. Almost there… Wonder how much time is left? Glad I pulled those hanger straps off my shirt so they don’t flop out… Turn around… 17 seconds left. I can make it… Whoa, those cameras sure can do a close-up (as I peeked at the jumbotron)! Thank goodness holding this base covers my belly….

I admit, I slowed up as I neared the finish line since I could clearly see how much time was left on the scoreboard and knew I’d make it. Whew! Was I faster than a speeding Coffey? That was my main goal!

So thank you NatsTown for the energetic cheering and support! Loved it! Also, apparently I was a guinea pig and the organization would like to do more of these. So stay tuned on how you too may possibly be able to run on the field during a game without getting tackled or tazed by security. For now, I have the glowing feeling of being the first non-employee to ever run on the field at Nats Park during a game with permission. Kinda cool.

On the way back, I did get that shot of the bullpen from the tunnel, and bullpen coach Jim Lett gave me a thumbs up and said, “nice running, Cathy!” Awesome sauce.

Many thanks to the Dream Foundation and especially Vera, who coordinated this for us, Danny Espinosa for being so nice, and my husband who I know really wanted to be the one who ran on the field but let me do it instead. And hey, the game was the first of a 3-game winning streak for the Nats. Coincidence? I think not!

Stealing 2nd: Wait? I have to run out with a base too?!

Stealing 2nd: Can’t see a thing waiting for 3rd out

Stealing 2nd: Waving to the crowd (Courtesy of Cheryl Nichols)

Stealing 2nd: Here we go! (Courtesy of Cheryl Nichols)

Stealing 2nd: Faster than a speeding Coffey (but getting pooped)

Stealing 2nd: Smiling! No security tackle so far!

Stealing 2nd: Waving to the crowd before I begin

Stealing 2nd: (Courtesy of Cheryl Nichols)

Stealing 2nd: Dropping new base about to pull up used base

Stealing 2nd: (Courtesy of Cheryl Nichols)

Stealing 2nd: Here we go part 2!

Stealing 2nd: (Courtesy of Cheryl Nichols)

Stealing 2nd:

Stealing 2nd: (Courtesy of Cheryl Nichols)

Stealing 2nd: (Courtesy of Cheryl Nichols)

Stealing 2nd: (Courtesy of Cheryl Nichols)

Stealing 2nd: (Courtesy of Cheryl Nichols)

Stealing 2nd: I heard you NatsTown! Your cheering was awesome! (Courtesy of Cheryl Nichols)

Stealing 2nd: Success!

Stealing 2nd: Passing bullpen on return to seats, coach Jim Lett gives me a thumbs up

 

May I say, I have a pretty good pitching arm! My hitting, however, not so much. Pat Corrales chided me for imitating Michael Morse’s pre-batting leg kick since I completely whiffed my bat over the ball after doing it. “Do your own thing that you’re comfortable with.” My next one, sans the batting-stance-girl imitation, was a solid line drive.

I’ve heard they’re showing a highlight video of the event on the scoreboard occasionally between innings. Well, ok, I’ve heard they showed it once. I sure hope they show it again since I wasn’t at that game!

Nats U 2011: Mimosas and breakfast before taking the field

Nats U 2011: Heading down to the field after breakfast

Nats U 2011: Partial group photo (thankfully taken before we get all sweaty!)

Nats U 2011: Partial group photo (thankfully taken before we get all sweaty!)

Nats U 2011: Partial group photo (thankfully taken before we get all sweaty!)

Nats U 2011: Coaches introduced

Nats U 2011: Coaches introduced

Nats U 2011: Coaches introduced (pitching coach Steve McCatty)

Nats U 2011: Coaches introduced (bullpen coach Lett)

Nats U 2011: Coaches introduced (3B coach Bo Porter)

Nats U 2011: Coaches introduced (bench coach Pat Corrales)

Nats U 2011: Trainer Mike McGowan comes on field to warm up the ladies

Nats U 2011: Warming up

Nats U 2011: For Jenn

Nats U 2011: McCatty gives instruction in the bullpen – first station we hit

Nats U 2011: In the bullpen

Nats U 2011: Fielding and throwing drills on the field

Nats U 2011: Batting practice

Nats U 2011: Batting practice

Nats U 2011: Batting practice

Nats U 2011: Batting practice

Nats U 2011: Amanda eyes the shortness of the tee

Nats U 2011: Pat Corrales gives Amanda personal instruction

Nats U 2011: Batting practice

Nats U 2011: Batting practice

Nats U 2011: Batting practice

Nats U 2011: This gets me every time – painted on tunnel to dugout’s wall

Nats U 2011:

Nats U 2011: Speaker panel after field – Adam Cromie

Nats U 2011: Speaker panel after field – Bo Porter with Joanna from Eastern Women’s Baseball Conference

 

Thursday night, Ryan Zimmerman held his ziMS Foundation’s second annual “Night At The Park” at Nationals Park. The event is held to raise money for multiple sclerosis treatment and research, among other programs designed to benefit those afflicted and affected by the disease. As you probably know, Ryan’s mother has MS and it has long been a fact in their family. Through family members and volunteers, Zimmerman’s ziMS Foundation really seems to be taking off toward its mission, which obviously is ongoing until a cure is found.

Many of those helping put on Thursday night’s program have a personal connection to MS as well, such as the “Batting Stance Guy” who emceed the program and country singer Rodney Atkins, performing a concert in front of the Presidents Club following the live auction. Many players were in attendance showing support for Zim’s cause and even bid on silent and live auction items, but there was no sprinting to the stage by Coffey to claim his prize.

The reason Little Chat had the privilege of apprenticeship? We attended last year’s inaugural Night At The Park and won a live auction for a child to spend a day with him and Ryan Zimmerman. As luck would have it, we worked a little magic to match up Blaine and the apprenticeship during the 2nd annual event. I couldn’t have been prouder of my boy, and I’m sure it was an experience to remember for a lifetime. Hopefully our donation helped add a little spark to someone’s life affected by MS as well. That’s what the event was all about, after all.

ziMS Night At The Park: Little Chatter poses with a cute girl (I think this is Zim’s girlfriend?)

ziMS Night At The Park: Little Chatter served as David Blaine’s apprentice all evening for the ziMS benefit. Too cool.

ziMS Night At The Park: Ryan Zimmerman welcomes country singer Rodney Atkins

ziMS Night At The Park: Batting Stance Guy demonstrates Michael Morse’s batter’s box prep kick. Morse witnessed it. Good stuff!

ziMS Night At The Park: A crowd surrounded Blaine and Little Chat everywhere they went

ziMS Night At The Park: Other players (Drew Storen here) mingled with guests and a large array of silent auction items were available

ziMS Night At The Park: Other players mingled with guests and a large array of silent auction items were available

ziMS Night At The Park: Ryan Zimmerman talks to guests

ziMS Night At The Park: Michael Morse getting some iPhone photos or video of David Blaine in the throng

ziMS Night At The Park: Little Chat has no idea those are Nationals players standing behind him (Burnett, Zimmermann, Morse)

ziMS Night At The Park: Jayson Werth shows his support for ziMS and seems to be having a good time in the crowd surrounding Blaine

ziMS Night At The Park: Jayson Werth shows his support for ziMS and seems to be having a good time in the crowd surrounding Blaine (that’s Little Chat’s head)

ziMS Night At The Park: Zimmerman appears bemused by Blaine’s latest trick

ziMS Night At The Park: Little Chat’s lessons continue in the President’s Club. He’s examining a bent quarter

ziMS Night At The Park: LIttle Chat gets to practice his newly learned magic skills on Ryan Zimmerman’s dad Keith.

ziMS Night At The Park: Ice sculpture

ziMS Night At The Park: Little Chat practicing on more people

ziMS Night At The Park: Little Chat is quite proud of himself!

 

I thought I’d make it an hour before first pitch to take in the opening day ceremonies, but traffic had other plans for me and I was going to be lucky to get in half an hour early. I headed to my usual parking area to find a gaggle of day-glo vested police officers on Segways already on the hunt and gleefully ticketing cars en masse before the first pitch had even been thrown. Oh boy! So of course I couldn’t find an open spot and my usual backup plan of the $15 lot under the Douglass Bridge was mysteriously closed. I found a 2-hour meter several blocks away and decided to take my chances since I was running out of time and didn’t want to miss the flyover during the pregame. I lost on that chance, of course, as I discovered the ticket on my windshield when I returned before getting stuck in yet more traffic.

To soothe all these frustrations, the Nats won their opening day game, right? Wrong! I may have to take up yoga or something if I continue doing this. First, there was no flyover as I sat in anticipation waiting and waiting for the rumble of approaching jets (presumably due to weather). And of course, it’s not exactly about the wins, particularly on the first day of the season (On pace to go 0-162! Panic!), though a win would have been nice. Fans did get their first glimpses of the “new guys”. They also got to puzzle over why Livo was pulled while way under 100 pitches and had seemed to find his groove. I guess it was the lefty-lefty matchup where Doug Slaten came in to face one batter and walked him (that batter being phenom Jason Heyward who had homered to right leading off the 2nd inning). [Disclaimer: I have not yet read the game stories, so maybe that was explained in post-game interviews/conference] I also wondered if Livo forgot how to bat. As a pitcher who typically has no problem “helping himself” at the plate, he looked completely – well, like a pitcher at the plate.

Did Ian Desmond have “OMG I’m the leadoff guy!” jitters as he went 0-4 with two strikeouts (one flavor of each) and grounded out to third twice? Not that many had much luck with Braves pitcher Derek Lowe. When Danny Espinosa doubled in the 7th, a fan behind me said, “there’s the leadoff guy,” presumably meaning he would rather see Espinosa lead off. I have a pretty high opinion of Espinosa, so tend to somewhat agree. It’ll be interesting to see how the lineup shakes out over the next couple months.

One bright spot – I recently raved about Sean Burnett in a podcast The DC Sports Page invited me to participate in. No, I didn’t expect to start gushing over Burnett’s pitching either, but it just kind of fell out there. But he certainly lived up to my “scouting” in his one inning of relief. Sure, he allowed a single, but promptly erased it with a double play he began. Give the podcast a listen if you want to hear more of me sounding like I know what I’m talking about (not entire sure on that one).

In the end, the Nats fell 2-0 to the Braves in a game where all the offense occurred in the first two innings before many even made it to their seats. The game wasn’t quite as dreary as the weather and traffic, however, as new first baseman LaRoche made a couple good defensive moves (I refuse to compare him to Dunn, though). Jayson Werth also caught a couple in right in dramatic fashion. Defense defense defense! Now bring me some offense offense offense!

PREGAME:

PREGAME:

PREGAME:

PREGAME:

PREGAME: Ryan Zimmerman receives his Silver Slugger award

PREGAME: Nats GM Mike Rizzo addresses fans briefly

PREGAME: Players chase ceremonial wild first pitches

1ST: Livo’s first pitch – a called strike to Martin Prado

1ST: With 2 outs, Chipper Jones doubles on a grounder to right

1ST: Chipper scores the Braves first run on a single to center by Brian McCann

1ST: MLB Opening Week graphic as Livo comes off the field

1ST: Werth singles on a grounder up the middle (see where it bounced in front of plate?) in his first official AB as a Nat

1ST: Zimmerman drives Werth to 3rd on a single. Werth claps. Bo Porter claps on his knees.

2ND: Heyward homers right into an awaiting Braves’ fan’s hands in RF to put the Braves up 2-0 (final score as well)

3RD: Werth reacts to a called strike

3RD: Zimm reacts to being called out on strikes

4TH: Home plate ump gets really into calling strikeouts looking (this time on Heyward).

4TH: After a walk, Ankiel is caught stealing by a mile to end the inning

6TH: Zimmerman exhibits some range to get a grounder by Chipper Jones and throw him out

6TH: Zimmerman exhibits some range to get a grounder by Chipper Jones and throw him out

7TH: After a fielder’s choice for one out (and a runner left on first), Livo is removed after only 77 pitches in the 7th inning

7TH: Doug Slaten walks the only batter he’s brought in to face – J. Heyward

9TH: Sean Burnett pitches a 1-2-3 9th with the aid of a double play he started

9TH: Sean Burnett pitches a 1-2-3 9th with the aid of a double play he started

9TH: Sean Burnett pitches a 1-2-3 9th with the aid of a double play he started

9TH: Ankiel ends the game down 2 with 2 outs by striking out looking