This post is a sequel to last week's entry Midday Baseball.
This post involves a follow up visit to watch the Greensboro Grasshoppers for an evening game against the Greenville (SC) Drive. And since this was on a Saturday evening, a post game fireworks display.
Like the previous excursion, this was done on my employer's dime but this time I had to pay for food. My free baseball game cost me over $30.
Below is a shot of the downtown stadium with some beautiful cloud displays in the evening sky. Excellent artwork by the late great Bob Ross.
Unlike the day game, this time I was accompanied by my wife, Andrea.
You might wonder why I didn't post a photo of me looking happy.
Yeah, that is me looking happy. The other selfies I took looked like angry arrest photos.
The Greensboro Grasshoppers have two mascots. There's this strange bug like creature dressed like a pirate for some reason.
Our seats were up on the 2nd level in my employer's sky box. It provides a clear view of the field from just above the first base line.
It seems the "some reason" is the 'Hoppers are now the farm team for the Pittsburgh Pirates. I really do not know much about sports.
Here's the classic mascot for the team, Guilford the Grasshopper.
The 'Hoppers used to have a bat dog, a black lab named Babe who would retrieve bats. Sadly, Babe is no longer with us but is immortalized in a pair of statues outside the stadium.
And by whatever this nonsense is.
Our seats were up on the 2nd level in my employer's sky box. It provides a clear view of the field from just above the first base line.
Behind us on that elevated perch was some kind guy who had to comment on everything. He would admit he didn't know something and then elaborate for 10 minutes trying to fill the gap in his knowledge.
Despite the sun going down and the temperature descending into the mid 70's, the weather remained oppressively hot. The air was still and according to Andrea's weather app on her phone, humidity was at 86%. From being baked on Wednesday to being steamed on Saturday.
Our repast for the evening included hot dogs, chips and sodas followed by ice cream.
The ice cream was Dipping Dots which Andrea still enjoys but I quite frankly do not. I really do not understand what the fuss is about.
The Grasshoppers were in the lead going into the 9th and that guy behind us told his son to pay attention, the game was 3 outs from being over.
Yeah, about that.
The Greenville Drive had other plans and pulled the game into a tie. Bottom of the 9th, Greensboro could not pull ahead and we're into extra innings, folks.
It's gonna be awhile before we can get to those fireworks.
In the first half of the 11th inning, the Drive drive home 5 runs.
If the Grasshoppers truly love their fans, they will graciously accept defeat.
"Root! Root! Root for the visitors!
I can't take anymore!
'Cause it's ONE - TWO - THREE strikes you're out!
The home team
Can do
NO MORE!"
Bottom of the 11th and 'Hoppers strike out which was awfully nice of them and we finally got to the fireworks.
Here are a few photos from that. 
Andrea enjoyed the experience which was what was important to me.
Andrea enjoyed the experience which was what was important to me.
As for myself, I am a curmudgeonly ornery bastard and between
- the high price of food
- fighting the crowds and noise to get the food
- the chatterbox behind me
- the excessive humidity
The most positive thing I can say is I survived the experience.
And I am so glad my suffering amuses you.
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