Tri-Lakes area shows up big at Vibes baseball game

This article was originally written by Doug Fitzgerald for The Tribune, to read the original article, please visit: https://gazette.com/thetribune/tri-lakes-area-shows-up-big-at-vibes-baseball-game-from-the-editor/article_26a47e48-51cc-11ef-b336-d327db3955bb.html

Last week, I was able to get together with friends to enjoy Americana at its finest. A lot of friends.

It was Tri-Lakes Community Day at the Rocky Mountain Vibes game on Aug. 4. I attended with my wife, Renee, two of my sons who both live in Monument and three grandchildren. I also attended with a fair number of Tri-Lakes area baseball fans.

What could be more American than baseball? It's an absolute meritocracy. If you're good enough, you succeed. If you're not, it's time to find another vocation.

Minor league baseball exemplifies young people in pursuit of excellence. They're provided an opportunity to chase their dream — with an equal chance of achieving it. Nationality, ethnicity, religion and ideology don't matter. If you achieve, you advance.

There aren't many among us who can say that.

Before the Colorado Rockies became our hometown team, there were the minor league Denver Bears.

While other kids were admiring Tom Seaver, Willie Mays and Brooks Robinson, the baseball idols of my youth were guys like Richie Scheinblum, Roger Freed and Randy Bass.

These guys all starred for the Bears. Each went on to play in the major leagues, but none were anything more than journeymen on that level.

But in Denver? Wow.

Scheinblum hit .388 with 108 RBIs in 1971. Freed hit 42 home runs in 1976. Bass hit .333 with 37 home runs and 143 RBIs in 1980.

When I came to southern Colorado, I became a fan of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. I got to see guys like Vinny Castilla, Todd Helton, Garrett Atkins and Brad Hawpe when they were on their way up.

I've also been to minor League games in Tacoma, Wash., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Lake Elsinore, Calif., Louisville, Ky., and Dayton, Ohio.

It was in Rancho Cucamonga that I caught two foul balls in the same game. I've also caught two hit by Colorado Rockies mainstay Charlie Blackmon — one when he was on his way up and another a few years later when he was back in Colorado Springs on an injury rehab assignment.

The Rocky Mountain Vibes aren't a conventional minor league team. They play in the independent Pioneer League, which is comprised of players who were overlooked or are looking for one more chance to make it big.

Independent or minor league, the baseball is the same. The ballpark experience is the same. And a glance at the Pioneer League website shows that several players have recently been signed by major league organizations, so the dream is still there.

And it's a great way to spend a little time with your friends.