Can you think of anything that tastes better at the ballpark than hot dog?!

How about a hot dog off the grill of a Wabash parent!!!

After a four-hour rain delay and two baseball games Saturday night in Springfield, Ohio we were right back at it Sunday afternoon. The Little Giants picked up an 11-7 victory, scoring four runs in the top of the seventh inning to take their first North Coast Athletic Conference victory under head coach Cory Stevens.

I decided it was time to check out the concessions stand before I got ready to broadcast game number two between the Little Giants and Tigers at Carleton Davidson Stadium. On the way I ran into trainer Mark Colston with a couple of hot dogs of his own. But these were no concession stand hot dogs.

It seems Tom Siple '85 and his wife, Deedee, had brought their camper to Springfield for the weekend to watch the games. There they were with the rest of the Wabash baseball parents, grilling away in the parking lot. When I reached the camper, there were hot dogs, cookies, sports drinks, and potato chips for all of the players, coaches, and support staff. I grabbed two dogs and some cookies after chatting with several of the other parents there during the weekend.

This was not a special event, however. Wabash parents, regardless of the sport, have always been a special part of the program. And not just because of the food they provide (although I'll never turn down another bit of salsa at the Rico's after a game in Arizona!! Or the cookies and cupcakes I enjoyed last week during the Kerry Seward Memorial Tennis Tournament!!!).

I had a wonderful conversation Sunday with Penni Rush, the mother of freshman left fielder Kyle Rush about the web site. Ron and Lisa Metz and traded dog stories and photos in Arizona.

I could go on and on about all the wonderful support every Wabash athlete receives from their parents. At the various sports banquets I attend the coaches ask the parents to stand for a nice moment of recognition from their sons and the other fans of the program. But it's a small token of the appreciation we all have for the sacrifices those families have made to allow their sons to attend Wabash, and the sacrifices they continue to make to follow their sons' careers.

Truly they are Some Little Giant Parents!

Photo - Raul Rico (I know, just call me 'Rico'!) works the grill in his backyard while some of the baseball parents gather around for more of the wonderful food Rico and his wife, Mary, provided the baseball team during their trip to Arizona this spring.