Loud Noises!

Game 80: Wilson Tobs 3, Florence RedWolves 1

Wilson Sloppiness: 7
Florence Sloppiness: 5
Most batters in one inning: 6
Hitter of the Game: Bobby Leeper, Wilson (rating: 26)
Pitcher of the Game: Barrett Kleinknect, Florence (rating: 91)
Time of Game: 3 hours
Mid-game temperature: 76 degrees
Attendance: 1,281 (Level III sporting event)

Way too often at stadiums these days it is very difficult to have a clear head from all the noise pollution. While this is a major problem at Big Time sporting events, it affects Small Time Sports as well. Capital City Stadium has had a history of being too loud, as the speakers are often way too loud and on-field promotions are often screamed in your face. This prevented its former tenant in the Bombers from creating a baseball fan-friendly atmosphere, and while the Blowfish have done better they still have room for improvement.

While Florence's American Legion Field has a more laid back small-town atmosphere, it suffers from th same problem as well. When they start selling foghorns at the stadium, often the noise pollution gets out of control. Often times the ones using these foghorns in Florence are kids who do not know how to use the horns properly. I sat in the same section last night as the Darlington 7-8 year old all-stars (yes, they actually have all-star teams for 7 and 8 year olds). While the coaches were teaching the kids to watch what the CPL players of their position were doing on the field, the kids mostly focused on how to use the foghorns. The kids were using them to harass each other, sometimes having five kids gang up with their foghorns to blow in the ear of one of their poor teammates. They also tried to see which one kid could blow into the foghorn the loudest.

I have no problem with foghorns in general. The RedWolves' heckler uses one as well. Yet I overheard him say about the kids, "There is a time and a place on when to use them". He also wondered if they were distracting the RedWolves' pitching. There are some extremists on this issue, such as the NCAA. The NCAA prohibits all artificial noise-makers. Yet there are many good fans who know how to use them, the RedWolves' heckler being one of them.

The problem is that you can't single out the kids and say they can't use them, as they are clearly enjoying themselves and some do know how to use it. Likewise some drunk adults would likely abuse them pretty bad as well. The RedWolves eventually last season stopped selling the foghorns, hopefully they will this season as well.

The RedWolves made an interesting choice at starting pitcher last night, going with Division II shortstop Barrett Kleinknect. Kleinknect has pitching experience before and did very well last night, not giving up a hit until the 4th and allowing only one run in eight innings pitched. Unfortunately he was not in the batting lineup. The RedWolves could have turned down the DH option, but instead Kleinknect only pitched leaving a hole in the RedWolves lineup. While Florence did have nine hits, they were all singles. Much of those were also infield singles. Both the Tobs and the RedWolves had plenty of infield singles, as a brief storm an hour before the game slowed the ground balls on the turf. The fielding wasn't sharp, but the Tobs limited damage by not giving up extra-base hits and always getting timely outs.

But the RedWolves weren't able to get these timely outs in the 9th. David Haselden, who pitched 17 innings at Clemson this year, couldn't match a Division II shortstop in his performance. Bobby Leeper of UNC Wilmington with one out would single and then steal 2nd. Matt Faiman would drive in Leeper on a two out single, and then would hustle home from 2nd on an infield single by Xavier Mackin of North Carolina A&T.

The RedWolves would load the bases with two out in the bottom of the 9th, but backup catcher David Masters would strikeout to end the game. While many Florence fans were upset with the umpiring, the Tobs just simply had the better lineup. Florence didn't have Kleinknect at the plate and didn't have someone ready to step in for Masters (a defensive/baserunning sub) in the 9th. Wilson pulled off the win, and we'll see them tonight at Columbia as they try to finish Monday's game.