By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
On a picturesque late spring day, the Galion Graders opened their second season of baseball at home Friday night.
Part of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate Baseball League the Graders opened their season against the Lorain Ironmen. Jason McMullin along with son Matthew and Cheryl White came out to support the Graders. Jason explained what he enjoys about attending Graders games.
“For us we just love baseball,” McMullin said. “It just great talent out there, and it is fun to watch them. You can just stay right here at home, and you don’t have to go to Columbus or a big city and see a good game of baseball.”
White explained that the Graders hold a special meaning for them as they housed some of the team members last season.
“We housed a few of the players during last season,” White said. “We still keep in contact it has really been great.”
Heading into James D. Heddleson Field in Heise Park prior to the game Scott Payne was taking his wife Jennifer and son Cameron to the home opener. Scott Payne explained what brought them out to the Graders’ home opener.
“We just want to see some great baseball,” Payne said.
General Manager Mike O’Leary suited up for the game and took first base coaching duties along with his GM cap. O’Leary explained that the experience was exciting.
“It was very exciting, and overwhelming,” O’Leary said. “I wasn’t expecting to be in uniform, but that is how it shook out and there I was at first base. It was a very proud moment.”
The home opener between the Graders and Ironmen was a back and forth contest with a lot of offense however in the end the Graders slipped 12-8. Manager Taylor Baker explained some of the takeaways from the game.
“I saw a lot of good things. When you put up 8 runs you expect to win a baseball game,” Baker said. “Having a bunch of pitchers that you haven’t seen throw, you want to get a better idea of the type of arms, the type of roles the guys are going to play throughout the season, and it gives you a good idea of arm so you can rely on them in certain situations. So I would say that these first few games are going to be learning curves as a coaching staff of what we are working with.”
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