 We were brought onto the field about an hour before the game started and allowed to walk around, take pictures, etc. while the Baltimore Orioles players took batting practice. About 15 minutes before the start of the game, Sarah and Julie Wheeler were recognized during the pregame ceremonies -- the team announced over the PA system: "Julie Wheeler of Old Rochester Regional High School in Mattapoisett is being honored tonight as a Most Valuable Teacher, and she is accompanied by 15-year old Sarah Walsh, a sophomore at Old Rochester Regional who wrote the essay nominating Ms. Wheeler." They also put it up on the Jumbotron. As you can see from the pictures, they received a nice, fuzzy embrace from Wally, the Red Sox mascot! The Sox also gave each of them an 8x10 glossy of their Wally-hug, and in the background you can see the message on the Jumbotron.
Of course, the night only got better, as we witnessed rookie pitcher Clay Buchholz pitch a no-hitter. The noise from the Fenway crowd was deafening in the 9th inning! It was pretty exciting stuff.
Before the game started, Sarah gave a softball to the Red Sox community relations woman and asked her to give it to Jason Varitek. Sarah wrote on the ball: "To Jason, good luck the rest of the season" and signed it "Sarah Walsh, catcher, ORRHS Softball." I told her that maybe her gift to Jason Varitek was a bonafide good luck charm!
We all had a really great time. Let's hope the winning continues right on through to a World Series championship! |
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