Week #1 (Monday February 9- Sunday February 15)
In this week, all the interns had our orientation and overview of the company. Day 1 (2/9/2015) This day was the easiest out of the nine weeks I was there. It was also a shortened day because the HR Manager from Maryland could not make the trip down to meet us all and get us accustomed to the other aspects of the business. Day 2 (2/10/2015) I was in the food and beverage and involved moving around the kitchen and getting it ready for for the opening weekend which at this time was only three days away. Kitchen work is not hard, but it was very tedious because we had to make sure that everything was just right for the inspectors to pass us. I had Wednesday off. Day 3 (2/12/2015) Thursday worked in the Administration office. It was raining on this day, so we stayed inside for the most of it, even though it was warm and there was still a lot to do to get ready for the tournament. Day 4 (2/13/2015) Then on Friday I was also working Administration. On this day, another intern and I started on the advertisements for the outfield walls. We went around taking off all of the old and ragged looking signs. A lot of the signs and even some of the walls were damaged, but would be repaired within the next week or two with the delivery of new signs. Day 5 (2/14/2015) On Saturday, another intern and I worked the afternoon shift in Operations. What we had to do was make sure that everyone had everything they needed to start the games i.e. baseballs, water, heaters, etc. Day 6 (2/15/2015) The last day of my first week was on Grounds Crew. It was nothing that I could not handle, but it was definitely something new for me. The hardest part was getting used to lining the fields and repairing the mound and batters boxes. Week #2 (Monday February 16- Sunday February 22) This week was a lot lighter than the first week after the end of the tournament. My schedule featured two days off (Tuesday and Wednesday) and after a schedule change there was not much baseball to be played. Day 7 (2/16/2015) This was the day that the other interns and I learned how to call games and play the advertisements with walk up music. This may not sound hard, but the timing it requires is crucial for the flow of the game. If you have it playing for too long then the game can get slowed and mess the pace of the entire day. We also had to keep score on the score boards with innings, strikes, balls, and runs. This was not too hard but doing it all by yourself gets very difficult considering it is not all in one place. The amp is behind you, the computer is on top of the amp, and the scorekeeper is in front of you. You can put the mic wherever you want it, but at the same time you have to keep track of when to play which advertisement and try to read the name of the next kid without offending his parents and saying it wrong. Needless to say, I was very stressed and it was a lot for me to handle all at once. Day 8 (2/19/2015) I also worked Administration this week, and continued to work on the wall banners and advertisements. The games were just now getting underway, and the busy season for spring tournaments and spring training were not far away. Day 9 (2/20/2015) Today consisted of calling games, keeping books, and being a tournament official which I was finally getting better at. Day 10 (2/21/2015) Today I worked as a tournament official. These days are getting easier and better because I am Gaining more and more knowledge about what I'm supposed to do. My timing is also getting to where it needs to be. Day 11 (2/22/2015) Another day of tournament officiating today. It rained all day, yet we still had our games. The teams were all high school teams, but they all have a lot of skill that I wish I was blessed with. Week #3 (Monday February 23- Sunday March 1) In this week, I only had to work four days, so it was another light week for me. Day 12 (2/24/2015 .On Tuesday I had more grounds crew to do, so this was another day of training for the fast paced days that would come up later on in March, when we will have to flip fields in about ten minutes so the next game can get started on time. Day 13 (2/25/2015) I also had grounds crew on Wednesday. On this day, we did not work on the fields that were in use, however. Today we were fixing the youth fields that had over saturated mounds. This was a major issue because it could mess up the entire mound, or even worse, the multi-million dollar turf surrounding it. We had to dig out part of the mound that was sloppy and wet with soaked clay, clean it, and refill it with more clay in hopes that it would dry out and not repeat if the tarps were on for more than one day. We had to do this on three fields and it was not easy work. After a while, the clay gets heavy and can put a strain on your back. Day 14 (2/26/2015) On Thursday I worked in Administration again, doing the same thing and taking down and putting up new signs. We also put coupons into the press boxes so that when customers would return foul balls, they would get a coupon to one of our many sponsors. Day 15 (2//27/2015) The last day of the week was Friday, which was filled with a lot of field flipping and getting the nets prepped to be hung up in the batting cages. Week #4 (Monday March 2-Sunday March 8) This was a very busy week for me, seeing as I only had one day off and it was right in the middle of the week. Day 16- Day 17 (3/2-3/3/2015) Monday and Tuesday were filled with announcing games and keeping the schedule on track so that we could get in and out of the complex at a decent time. At this point, I was getting better at my timing of the walk up music and being able to read my announcements and play the others in time so that they could get played between innings. At this time, there were a few colleges there for their spring training, trying to get warmed up before their seasons started and potentially getting a leg up on their competition. On Wednesday, I had the day off. Day 18 (3/5/2015) From Thursday to Sunday, all the interns and myself were working on tearing down and setting up batting cages. We replaced half of the nets on the front batting cages because the nets were getting old and had holes in them. This was a safety issue as well as a quality issue. The Ripken Experience prides themselves on their world class facility, and this requires them to make sure everything is always up to par and the best there is to offer. They definitely have the best equipment and fields from a turf point of view that I have ever seen. Day 19 (3/5/2015) Today it rained/ iced, and the complex is a mess. We are out here with ice falling on our heads from the top of the net. It is cold yet rewarding work. I never thought I would be out here living out my dream. Day 20 (3/6/2015) The rain and the ice has subsided, but today is just as cold as yesterday. The blisters on my fingers busted open today from yesterday, but it will all be worth it when we get all the nets up and ready for players, they already look so much better. Day 21 (3/7/2015) We got the rest of the nets up today that were going to be doing for now. It has been hard work, but everyone here is taking notice of how hard we actually work compared to the other intern groups. I take pride in my work and I can see everyone else does as well. Week #5 (Monday March 9- Sunday March 15) This week was my first of predominantly tournament officiating. Day 22 (3/9/2015) On Monday I was on grounds crew, and by this time, I was comfortable with what I was doing and could flip a field by myself if I absolutely had to. Day 23 (3/10/2015) After being a tournament official on Tuesday, which was a light day I had Wednesday off so that I would be prepared to have a full schedule of TO from Thursday to Sunday. Day 24- Day28 (3/12-3/15/2015) My days and nights these days were long because some of the games were behind schedule. It is a big concern here to make sure that all the games get started on time, because you never know if the games will go over or how long, if they do. When you schedule six games on one field, it is vital for the games to get started on time. I had a couple days where I had to call three games. These days were long and tedious and at times had me on edge. It is not something you can prepare yourself for because you never know if you will have a fast game or a game that takes three hours. Also, when you have back to back, or back to back to back games, you have no time to take a break and get some food unless your game ends early. So you can go for quite some time without food or a drink, that's really bad when you have to use the bathroom. Week #6 (Monday March 16- Sunday March 22) This week was strictly Tournament Officiating for me with one day off on Monday. Day 29 (3/17/2015) On Tuesday ay I had a couple of morning games. I feel like I am getting very good at announcing the games and doing all the other things that come with announcing. Day 30 (3/18/2015) Wednesday was a completely new experience. I had to go to the Pelicans Stadium, a local minor league team, and start our games out there. I went there making sure that we had our umpires out there and we had enough balls to play both games through without running out. Both games that day were on track, until in my second game when the team came back from down 9-1 to tie it up in the 7th inning. This, in turn, sent it to extra innings which proved to become problematic for the umpires, who had to be back at Ripken for a 4 PM game that day. That game finally went final and the umpires barely made it back in time to keep the schedule on time. Day 31 (3/19/2015) I did more Tournament Officiating today and it has now come to the point I could do it in my sleep. Day 32 (3/20/2015) We got new packets today for our announcing of games. We now have to read questions during the games and have people in the crowd that will come and answer them for coupons. Day 33 (3/21/2015) On Saturday, however I had my first late night. I was there until 12:45 AM because of a schedule conflict and an added scrimmage that went over on time because of poor scheduling. Day 34 (3/22/2015) Sunday was an early morning for me but I was glad because when i got off i was able to rest and get back in line with the sleep that i had missed the night before from the late game. Week #7 (Monday March 23- Sunday March 29) This is a note we received from a coach that was with us during my time: "Hi Matt, Maggie, and Kim, I just wanted to say thank you for another great experience this year in Myrtle Beach. It was our second year with Ripken, and we have had nothing but great experiences!! Even thou, I know you have 100's of teams and coaches to accommodate over the months, you guys always find a way to make us feel like were the only team down there, and also have always met every need and request we've made. It also doesn't go unnoticed how happy everyone is to be doing their jobs, all the way down to the interns taking our lineups, and working the scoreboards. Also, the benefits of being connected with Ripken doesn't just end at the ball field, as we now have the tradition of taking the team to Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse every year, which is only possible for a bunch of college kids, because of the discount The Ripken Experience has been able to get us. As long as I'm the coach with IVCC we will only be using The Ripken Experience as our Spring Trip destination. You 3 especially have been great, and relieve any stress of traveling with 20 plus teenagers across the country, because I know everything is going to go perfect. Thanks for everything!! Jason" It is sentimental letters like this that make us in the sports industry feel good about what we do and how we go about what we do. This was forwarded to us by Allen, our intern supervisor, because he wanted to show us how good of a job we were doing and that more people than just those around us noticed. This week was another one filled with Tournament Officiating. Just like last week, it went by smoothly with no issues. It is cool meeting teams and players from around the country that come here just to get the experience and some playing time through the winter. Day 33 (3/23/2015) The tournament officiating I did on today was filled with teams from Ohio. It was very cool meeting with them and getting to know more about their coaches and players. Day 34 (3/25/2015) Today was also filled with Ohio high school teams. The coaches are very friendly and their players are constantly talking to me and asking me questions about my internship, Tiffin University, and how I like working in sports. It makes it all worth while when i get to do these things. Day 35 (3/27/2015) This week on Friday I had to deal with my first injury as well. They tell us to stay in our boxes and radio them when we have an injury which does not happen very often, but it does happen. When you call in an injury, you have to say where it is located on the body, and what side of the field it is on. Then they come out and assess the injury. After this happens they decide where to go from there and usually let us know so we can answer questions if any of the parents or coaches ask. Day 36 (3/282015) Saturday went by like nothing. The tournament officiating is getting a little redundant at this point and I wish that I was given more responsibility to do more and different around the complex. It is still very fun and enjoyable to work here. Day 37 (3/29/2015) Sunday was a day in which I only worked a few games and got out early. I still wish I was given more to do than just working games, but I cannot complain, I love this place. Week #8 (Monday March 30-Sunday April 5) Day 38 (3/30/2015) This is my last full week at The Ripken Experience and it is again filled with Tournament Officiating. This week there are a lot of teams down here from Ohio and it is pretty cool talking to them and for them to actually know where I am from and my College. Day 39 (3/31/2015) There are quite a few softball teams down here with their baseball teams. I had to do one softball game today and I thought it was interesting how much faster the games go than their baseball counterparts. It's like they're trying to get done as fast as possible. There are also a lot of run rules. Day 40 (4/1/2015) The traffic around the complex has definitely fallen off from the tournaments and training that was here just two weeks ago. Seeing the complex dead like this gives me a sense of relaxation because before there was not even time to think. Now I can just take in all that I have done and accomplished in my time here so far. Day 41 (4/2/2015) So far this experience for me has been phenomenal and I have learned so much about the sports industry, game day operations, and how to run a large complex, which was exactly what I had hoped for when I came down here. Day 42 (4/3/2015) today was a pretty big day in terms of learning. I have met many people while I have been down here, and today was my best encounter yet. I met a lady that had lost her jacket, and when I found it for her she was so grateful. She went to my supervisors when I would not take the money she tried to offer me and told them about what I did. It is just awesome how powerful a compliment can be. Day 43 (4/4/2015) Week #9 (April 6- April 12) Day 44 (4/6/2015) Though this is another week full of officiating the games and operations, this is my last week here and I truly do not want it to end. there have been so many cool encounters and experiences I have had and I wouldn't have it any other way. Day 45 (4/7/2015) I only had one game today, and it was one of the shortest in the time i have been here. It is Easter week and the teams are filing out left and right in order to get home to their families. Day 46 (4/8/2015) My softball game I called today got a run rule in the SECOND inning. it was the fastest game that I have had while being down here and is crazy to watch. It is also exciting to see that many runs in that little amount of time. It's kind of like watching college football. Day 47 (4/9/2015) This is my last day of more than one game and it just hit me how fast it actually went. I cannot believe that in less than a week I will be home with my family and no longer see these friends that I met down here. I am truly blessed to have been in this position to begin with and cannot wait to start my career in the sports field. Day 48 (4/10/2015) This experience for me has been something I will never forget and I am grateful for the opportunity to have been able to do it. It is a very light week this week because for a while after it there will be major down time until the summer tournaments begin. I was a tournament official all five days that I worked this week but only had two games on those days. The games I had, the coaches wanted to get their games done early because of the long drives they had to take home, so they decided to have only 5 inning games and scrimmages so they didn't end up with a three hour extra inning game. |
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