Local schools visit Smokies Park

The Tennessee Smokies provided area students a special chance to catch some Minor League Baseball action this week, holding D.A.R.E days Tuesday and Thursday for two games of a four game series with the Birmingham Barons. The first of the two D.A.R.E days drew a Tuesday afternoon crowd of 5,766, consisting mostly of school-age children, to watch the Smokies edge the Birmingham Barons 3-2. The 5,766 in attendance made up the largest D.A.R.E day crowd to ever see a Smokies game. Schools across East Tennessee schedule field trips to the park every season to be a part of the special promotional days designed to help steer youngsters away from the dangers of drugs. The usual game-night promotions and mascot mayhem remain, but the souvenir and Dip-N-Dot stand receive considerably more attention than usual. Sitting in some of the best seats in the house—along the first base line by the Smokies dugout—was Wendy Trundle’s fourth grade class at Inskip Elementary. Trundle said the students have been looking forward to the field trip since it was planned months ago. “It’s just a great opportunity,” said Trundle. “A lot of my kids are really excited about seeing a professional baseball game, and for a lot of them, it’s their first chance to attend something like this.” The teacher’s mom, Kathy Trundle, also made the trip to provide an extra set of eyes on the rambunctious 10-year olds. “This is the first time I’ve been to the stadium and that’s why my daughter asked me to come,” Kathy Trundle said from her seat 15-feet away from manager Mark DeJohn and the Smokies’ dugout. “She always knew that I wanted to come to a Smokies game.” The kids were thrilled to be there as well. The ones in the first couple of roles were too distracted by the pro baseball players walking in front of them to closely watch the game. But for that day, the Southern League standings and early playoff position was not as important as an autograph baseball signed by a future home run king. “This is my first baseball game,” said 10-year old Darrian Fuller, who was fortunate enough to snag a third inning foul ball. “I’m excited to be here because I want to see number four (Shaun Boyd) hit a home run. I like the way he hits and he runs fast.” Boyd didn’t provide the young fan with his wish for a home run, but he might have made the biggest contribution to Smokies baseball that he’s made all season by helping to sell the first season tickets for 2024.