 | Close to the action is part of the fun, but one must pay attention! (Photo: Sean Parsons) |
We have been humbled and happy with the response to the return of baseball to Walla Walla. The fan support has been great, the Sweets are playing good baseball (in spite of a few tough losses), and the community has found a new place to gather for summer nights.
One of the aspects that has made the games so great is how cozy and close to the field of play historic Borleske Stadium is. Fans sit just feet from their heroes, and dozens of foul balls fly into the stands and create that special memory of catching one to take home. With this proximity to the field, however, we are seeing an increased chance of being injured by bats or balls leaving the field. I want to take a few minutes and remind fans of common decorum in stadiums – with the hope that it will keep everyone having a great time, while keeping them safe from harm. Here are a few things to note:
- Be attentive to foul balls and broken bats leaving the field – they make wonderful souvenirs, but if you aren’t paying attention, they can be very dangerous. Fans are advised on the back of every ticket, and with signs throughout the ballpark, but I want to remind you to please pay attention. It is especially important that you do not reach into the field of play to pick up bats or balls for any reason – they may be live and it can interfere with the play.
- Please stay off of fences and netting – Our stadium operations crew does an excellent job of creating and maintaining a safe environment, but cannot be everywhere at the same time. It is especially important to stay off of fences and netting, especially the netting behind home plate – balls can hit that hard and hurt people who are hanging or leaning on it.
- Authorized team personnel only are permitted on the field – please do not come on to the field for any reason unless you are specifically escorted by authorized team personnel. This will help reduce the risk of being struck by an errant ball or bat.
- Parents, please monitor your children – we want lots of children in the ballpark – it creates a phenomenal family-friendly environment and the memory of going to games and “exploring” the park is one of the cherished recollections of my youth (especially historic stadiums with lots of nooks and crannies). We ask, however, that you monitor your children and make sure that they are not interfering with the ability of those around them to enjoy the game. Additionally, by monitoring your children within the park, it reduces the likelihood of injury to them or to others.
We want everyone that comes to create memories that will last a lifetime. As our staff improves its approach to customer service, we ask you, the fan, to help our staff by adhering to these points of emphasis. I am confident that as we work together, we will enhance what is already the best fan experience in the West Coast League.
Thank you for all that you do –
Sincerely,
Zachary Fraser
General Manager - Walla Walla Sweets
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