Fourth of July fun at Hermon Brothers Field

With all the never-ending hype on the news circuits these days, it is refreshing to just relax and live it up in small town Alaska. And it all started right after I got off work at the Frontiersman last Friday afternoon.

For the most part, it was just some of the newsroom staff and me at work July 3, since the Frontiersman was closed for the holiday.

My job is keeping those green coin-operated machines up to speed (repairing, deploying and collecting from them) and various duties like the mail runs and other deliveries. My work complete, I knocked off early for the holiday weekend, which meant I had time to pop over to Palmer at noon for Friday Fling, Fourth of July style.

In Palmer, I ran into Denise Christopher and Ben Taylor head coach for the Mat-Su Miners not far from Fireside Books on my way to the Fling. We visited briefly before Denise asked if I was available Saturday evening to throw out the first pitch at the Miners game.

“You did great last year," she said.

I just stood there a moment stunned that she remembered I threw out the ball last year at the Frontiersman’s Military Appreciation Day. How could I refuse?

The game starts at 7 p.m., Denise said before smiling, shaking my hand and taking her leave.

Saturday was Independence Day Seattle style, in other words — cold and grey all around. Still I was thrilled to sit curbside near Wasilla City Hall watching the parade pass. Each float was towed by a pickup truck or tractor decked to the nines in ribbons and flags. Some of the vintage tractors even looked better than the floats they were towing. There were dancers and bands, veterans and Masons, horses and tiny ponies with carts, and lots and lots of kids.

The kids were waving U.S. flags, jumping up and down as they got candy from people in the parade. Nothing says life in small town America like a Fourth of July parade. To me it's like seeing a Norman Rockwell painting come to life. By the time the 65 floats had passed, my posterior was going numb from sitting on that curb. I must have taken close to a hundred pictures of everything and everyone in the parade. All too soon it was over and the crowd began to shift from the parade to picnic.

I had a bit of time to kill before I was due at the Miners field at 6:30 p.m. I planned to arrive early as I needed sometime to warm up my beat up body to throw out one good pitch. Hey, I take pride in doing my best to deliver.

The team was real good to me last year. I knew Pete and Denise would hook me up again.

At the ballpark I was greeted by the smells of hot dogs and hamburgers sizzling on the grill next to the concessions stand. I saw Denise at the beer stand behind the bleachers. She said to report to the team’s dugout in 15 minutes for “first pitch detail.”

Miners General Manager Pete Christopher found me a short time later by the dug out. He asked me about my time in the war (Iraq 2004-05). And then invited me over to meet the team.

"We will find you some body to warm up with," he said.

These guys do a lot on and off the field for the community, which makes me a big Miners fan. Many go on and play in the Major League Baseball. In no time I was tossing the ball with two players.

Then came time for both teams to be introduced to the fans in the stands and then the national anthem. I was honored to stand there on the same field with these young, proud players of my favorite sport and render honors to the flag of a country I love even more.

Then the announcer said "And now to throw the first pitch, Dan Grota. He is an Army veteran, Frontiersman columnist and a radio personality for KVRF- Big Cabbage Radio."

That was my cue. Stepping onto the mound, I tipped my cap to the crowd. Cupped in my left hand nervously, Iined up the pitch, brought the ball close to my chest and paused. Then came the wind up and the pitch! A perfect sinker that would have made a batter go for it and get a strike. Not bad for an old man.

The crowd cheered, the announcer crowed "great pitch!" The catcher ran up, shook my hand, and gave me the ball. Then as I was making my way to the dugout gate the entire team lined up to shake my hand and thank me for my service. It made me misty eyed. I thanked them in turn for putting up with me.

For myself, it was time to top it all off with a well earned Miner dog while I watched the Miners beat the Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks 9 to 1 under grey skies and blustery wind.

I was basking in the warmth of very full day munching on a savory dog, enjoying sights and sounds of baseball. Make that Alaskan baseball at its best. This old GI was proud to have a small part on a big American holiday. Thank you Mat-Su Miners!

Wasilla resident Daniel D. Grota retired from the U.S. Army after more than 21 years of service.