Organizers poke it out of the park

By Scott McNeish
Assistant Sports Editor

June 24, 2009 10:22 am

— Not every star wore caps and cleats. Efforts of others saturated the scene. But we don’t put their pictures on trading cards.
Businesses provided sponsorship funds in a harsh economic climate, ensuring the show would go on. Folks volunteered for stadiums jobs. Jam-packed hotels accommodated every guest. Restaurants supplied enough food. Fans dipped into their wallets to purchase tickets, food and programs. The Clinton LumberKings front office, don’t forget, worked tirelessly to lure the game here.
These are community All-Stars. No signing bonuses or endorsement deals. Just commitment, elbow grease.
They combined to give a Hall-of-Fame effort Tuesday night in making the 45th Midwest League All-Star Game at Alliant Energy Field a booming success.
“The support we’ve received has been incredible,” LumberKings general manager Ted Tornow said. “I wouldn’t want to list everyone that helped, because I’m afraid I’d leave somebody out. There’s so many of them. We would’ve struggled to get this done without their help.”
Fans flocked to the ballpark despite whipping winds, menacing clouds and drowning humidity.
Not exactly a picturesque backdrop for athletic theater. But they didn’t care.
“Not one bit,” said George Ellington, 53, of Clinton. “Look at all these people around. This is a big event, you know? We’re coming no matter what.”
The packed bleachers resembled a speckled canvas of purples, yellows and greens.
Folded programs served as homemade cooling devices. Camera phones clicked again and again. Scouts seated behind home plate pointed radar guns like a unit of highway patrolmen.
Across the street at the Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest, participants cheered, chuckled and screamed while playing games and zipping down inflatable slides. Others oohed and ahhed amid the echoing whacks of a log-chopping contest.
Shrills. Thrills. Cheers. The soundtrack of a county fair. The buzz of a newborn treasured moment in local lore.
“We won’t forget this,” said Clinton fan Becca Woodgate. “Maybe we won’t remember all the players and stuff, but the atmosphere, it’s really awesome. It’ll stick with you.”
This game has stopped in Clinton once per decade: 1976, 1988, 1998, 2009.
Recall society’s changes from 70s to the 80s, disco to hair bands. Or 1988 to 1998, “The Cosby Show” to “Friends.” If this rate continues, Clinton’s next All-Star Game will convey new haircuts, smaller cell phones and current kindergartners driving to homecoming dances.
In other words, Clinton had this decade’s chance to do this event right — and many years to ponder mistakes if it didn’t.
The community came through in the clutch.
Two down. Bottom of the ninth. Clinton hit one out of the park.
It showcased the support that has not only kept professional baseball in our backyard for half a century, but kept our factories churning, our economic pulse thumping, our schools molding the community’s next batch of local All-Stars.
Blue-collar fortitude — that’s what drives us here.
Fittingly, that’s what fueled the 2009 Midwest League All-Star Game.
“It’s a place that has it’s own identity,” Midwest League president George Spelius said of Clinton. “They do a great job.”
Star light, star bright.
Our community shined most this night.

Scott McNeish is the Herald assistant sports editor.
You may reach him at smcneish@clintonherald.com.