A Day in Lake Fenton Sports History

Today is a day I cherish every year.

It’s not my birthday or my anniversary, and it may sound a little silly and maybe a little pathetic.

But every year, I put in the DVD, watch it a handful of times and smile.

For it was on this day, 11 long years ago, that I felt one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever had.

Every time I watch it — heck, every time I think about it — I get a little bit of that feeling back. If I’m down, the video comes on, and I feel a little bit better.

I had the chance to live the dream of many, albeit a very small dream, but it’s a dream nearly every little boy holding a bat and a ball is his backyard has.

I’ve loved baseball as long as I can remember. I played it nonstop as a kid, even by myself. I’d throw the ball up and hit it, I’d hit off a tee, I’d slide in the wet grass, I’d toss the ball in the air and go catch it.

I never went pro, didn’t play in college and didn’t earn all-state honors. I did earn all-league, played on varsity as a sophomore and hit a handful of home runs for , but what I remember most about my baseball career is April 19, 2000.

We were a good team, 12-2, at the time, but we were having a bad day. We were down 4-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning, but then we got a hit, a walk, an error, a hit and a run. Another walk, and it was 4-1 with the bases loaded.

At the plate, you got it, Fenton Patch editor and then-Blue Devils third basemen .

Pitch one, strike outside corner, 0-1. Pitch two, ball in the dirt 1 -1.

Pitch three, tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing!

The bat and the ball collide. The ball sails well over 350 feet beyond the left centerfield fence.

Grand slam. Game over. Lake Fenton wins 5-4.

Oh, that was 11 years ago?

Still feels like yesterday.

Oh, that was 11 years ago.