Day 12 in Dixie: Chattanooga and the last baseball game

Well, we did it.  Went to our last game of the trip:  the Chattanooga Lookouts against the Jacksonville Suns.  Most games of the trip have been pitching duels, and this was no different.  The Suns took it
3 - 1, so we ended up 2 and 5 on the trip.  Our record belies the fun we have had!

We started the day at Matt's house in Sevierville, and said good-bye to Bella and him in the morning.  We took a look around Knoxville and the University of Tennessee, but it was dead dead dead, and we weren't super-impressed by U of T's architecture (experts that we are).  We also failed to find a university district where we could have some lunch.  So, we were at loose ends and I was about to break a personal rule that I didn't even know I had made:  I will never eat a meal at Olive Garden.

Well, Texas came to the rescue, in the form of a Texas BBQ joint.  We debated long and hard about the virtues of BBQ now versus at a more local-sounding BBQ joint in Chattanooga for our last dose of the trip.  The conclusion:  a bird in hand...  The conclusion on the BBQ - not the best, but even bad BBQ tends to be OK as long as it's moist and falls off the bone.  We also watched some USA women's soccer and had a good time.

Back to the game:
We've had several days of on-and-off rain, and after threatening for the first few innings it started to dump on us pretty steadily.  Everybody soldiered on, though and nothing was stopped.  We didn't move a muscle from out seats right behind home plate, happily drinking beer and eating ice cream.  Maddy's overall assessment of ball park beer:  get Shock Top.  I tended to drink the trashier stuff.

We saw the Lookouts' starting pitcher, DJ Baxendale (Rogers AR), for the second time on the trip.  He had an OK game, but man the ump was squeezing him (we could tell, being right behind the plate).  Lookouts loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the first, but completely squandered it.  Chris Mazza for the Suns (Clayton CA) settled down after that and ended up striking out 7 in 5 innings.  No big blows in the game.  The guy I liked best was Dan Palka (Lyman SC), right fielder for the Lookouts.  Didn't have a great game at the dish (0-2 with two walks) but has a killer arm in right.  Looks like a ball player.

In the bottom of the first, the Lookouts' manager, Doug Mientkiewicz, got thrown out for arguing balls and strikes.  If that name sounds familiar to Red Sox fans, it is!  He's the guy who was with the Sox for like one month of the 2004 season, but then caught the last out of their World Series win that year, and would not give up the ball.  Not a big fan of him.

The rain stopped just as the game ended, the sun came out and a rainbow appeared.  Perfect ending to our baseball experience.

On Matt's deck.

Saying good-bye to Bella.

Happy Creek TN, between Sevierville and Knoxville.

Taking good advantage of Happy Creek for some advertising.

Around the corner from Happy Creek, the message is less happy.  If you can't read it, it says:

"Prayer will get you in HEAVEN!!!!
Trespassing will get you there QUICKER!!!!!"

It's OK, Maddy's between them and me.

Waffle House in Sevierville.  These places are EVERYWHERE in the South!  In fact, Maddy and I developed a punch game around it (first person to see one while driving gets to punch the other in the arm).  Despite taking a big early lead, I think Maddy might be behind a bit now*.  We'll see what tomorrow holds.

*JK - she's kicking my arm.

Texas Roadhouse in Knoxville TN.  Hook em Horns!

Going into AT&T Park in Chattanooga.

Before the game.

Jazzford United Methodist Church youth choir singing the National Anthem.

Louie, the Lookouts mascot.

Maddy with a wooden Louie.

Dealing with rain.

Some action.

The post-game rainbow.  In the words of Diana Hamer, "Don't you just LOVE baseball?"