Spring training is a must-see for fans

By Caroline Boron
STAFF WRITER

Even though the weather may not be getting any warmer yet, baseball season is just around the corner. Most major league teams have already begun their annual spring training sessions and I had the privilege to check it all out down in sunny Florida.

From now until Thursday, March 27, the New York Yankees will be hosting teams from all around the American League at their southern home, Legends Field, in Tampa, Fla. The Yankees will be playing many exhibition games in order to get in shape for the upcoming 2008 regular season. A few weeks ago, I attended a Yankees Spring Training Camp session with my family. Along with about one hundred other Yankees fans, we filed into Legends Field right along the third-base line in the first row, eager to watch our favorite players practice.

It was unbelievable to sit in the stands and gush over my favorite players, who were practicing on the field right in front of me. The players were spread out between two fields. Fans had to travel back and forth between them to see all of the players. Early in the practice, the players warmed up, stretched and did drills. They then broke off and participated in multiple drills — the infielders fielded grounders as the outfielders caught pop flies. All drills were directed by multiple coaches.

As the day continued, I went with my dad to the opposite field, where big names, including Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada and Jason Giambi were practicing. It was incredible to walk up to the field, and have only a few feet and a metal backstop between myself and one of the greatest home-run hitters in the American League.

When I walked up to the backstop, I couldn’t believe my eyes. A-Rod was standing only a few feet from me, accompanied by Jorge Posada and upcoming-star Shelly Duncan.

I could have stayed there in my glory all day, but we had to get back to the other field. We ventured back just as the majority of the crowd was exiting. Many of the big-name players’ practice time had finished up.

However, some veteran players were still participating in batting practice and this is where one of my favorite parts of the day comes in.

In the cage my favorite Yankee, Robinson Cano, was batting and hit a liner down the left field line, where Yankees personnel were shagging balls. My sister told me I should go get it, but I was too shy.

We figured that was basically the end of the practice, so we started to leave. Unbeknownst to me, Cano wasn’t finished. He hit another shot in almost the same exact spot and again, my sister told me to go for it. I ran down to the corner of the stands where the fielder was standing, and started to shout, “Here! Here!” After the man threw it up to me, I couldn’t wait to show my family.

This was the first baseball I had ever received from an actual stadium. To make things better, it came off the bat of my favorite player. It was one of the best times I’ve ever had. I encourage any baseball fan to attend spring training camp if you ever get the chance.