Day Six Hundred and Seventy-Five

The 2013 Southern League All-Star Game (and Luncheon)

It was a gorgeous day for baseball.

It was a gorgeous hotel for hungry baseball players.

Yesterday's festivities kicked off with a (scrumptious steak) luncheon. Each player was formally announced, given an All-Star recognition plaque, and had their photo taken in front of the hometown team backdrop. Ours :) 

It was a bit formal. The guys at our table had a small conversation about proper etiquette. Which fork? Which knife? Could we eat dessert first? We decided to stick with farthest to the left first. Dessert second. I think we got it right. Hey what do you expect of a bunch of burly baseball men (and their ladies)?! Where's the paper plates and plastic silverware?!

Hi.

You're not used to seeing us like this...

But sometimes, we like to play dress up.

And yes, I'm that crazy embarrassing wife: I matched us. Subtly. But definitely. Last year, for the All-Star game with Greensboro, Adam and I wore green. This year: yellow! And what's so wrong with matching anyways!? :)

Lefty, righty, righty, lefty.

Just a few Southern League pitching All-Stars (and their plaques)!

Then...6:00 rolled around and it got real. 

The home run derby!

(Each selected hitter was given 7 outs to hit as many home runs as possible)

Ok Grama. This is for you.

Since pitchers don't hit in the home run derby (only really good hitters do), Adam didn't compete in it. Instead, he got to sit on the field and watch his teammates hit home runs up close :)

And since these two boys are roommates and best friends, I took a picture of them sitting together.

Adam is saying to himself right now, "Ah c'mon guys. Let me try. I'll hit ten bombs."

Ok, maybe not ten. 

Because the winner of the home run derby didn't even hit five. Only three.

But, that hitter's in the South Division...and the Suns are in the South Division...so...we won!

And while I was snapping away at their celebrations...

Another photographer was on the field capturing our captures.

And somehow, my mom found this on The Florida Times Union.

(Credit to them...this is not my picture)

Then, 904 Happy Hour found us!

(Obviously not my photo either)

Aaaaaand, back on the field...

"Baseball's never been hotter with the Jacksonville Suns!"

(Our theme song)

A pitcher knows just what a pitcher needs.

Pre-game massages, baby.

The game's about to start!

Getting ready for announcements.

Jacksonville Suns left-handed starting pitcher: Adam Conley!!

(And the crowd goes wild....wooooohooooooo!!)

Adam said the other day, "Baseball is so America. Every day, we sing the National Anthem."

He's got that right.

Ok...so here's another little explanation:

This year, there were 24 All-Star pitchers total. Both teams combined. Because there's only 9 innings in a game (which means 18 different pitchers if each pitcher threw just one inning), each pitcher only throws one inning maximun. That way, they can get as many pitchers into the game as possible.

Adam got the whole fourth inning.

And boy does he look real good up there :)

He faced the minimum three hitters in his one inning last night.

No walks. One pop-up. One groundout. One punchout.

That's my man!

I could get used to this one-inning business....!

(Another note: Grama...some pitchers only ever throw one inning. They're called closers. They come in at the very end of the game and pitch just one inning if our team is winning - to try to save the game and make sure we get the win. Usually, they throw really hard and really accurate...kinda like Adam. And they normally get to throw more than just once every five days.)

Tim TeBull dances with the players.

One thing I do love about minor league baseball: the in-between innings silliness.

The crowd loves this stuff...and I do too!

The South won the home run derby...

And the South won the All-Star game too!!

6-0!

Good pitching. Good hitting. Amen! That's two All-Star wins in a row for this Conley family!

Post-game fireworks.

It was like being in a dream.

And then I think to myself...this life is a dream. 

My heart is full. And my God is BIG.

I love you Adam.

Praise the Lord for this game. For your talent. And for the platform we have because of it. We're so very grateful.

This year's All-Star break was such a joy.
There's a lot of talent in this league, and we feel honored to be apart of it.
_______________

Oh, and I mustn't forget...
Immediately following the game, the entire Suns team packed onto the bus and traveled 9 hours North to Tennessee to begin a 10-day road trip. They left at midnight last night...and got into the hotel at 9:30 AM. That my friends, is life in the minor leagues.