Patsy and I took in a baseball game today at brand new Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA. Alex Box Stadium, affectionately known as "The Box", is the Home of the LSU Fighting Tigers. They took on the Illini from the University of Illinois in the third game of a series that was tied at one game each. It was a very colorful game. Not only is The Box brightly colored and just magnificent but the Tigers and Illini both wear very bright and colorful uniforms. The Illini took the game, 6-2, and the series, 2-1.
A tip of the cap to Illinois on a great win. Their pitcher, Ben Reeser, pitched a fantastic game. He had the Tigers off balance and looking like chumps all day. They also took advantage of LSU mistakes in the field and on the base paths. This was a good licking for the Tigers. They have a young team and didn't fare well against the cagey senior pitcher. They'll have to learn how to adjust to off-speed pitching quickly. I expect them to see a lot of it until they do.
I'm a little disappointed they had no programs for today's game and I'm also disappointed they ran out of souvenir cups. I got two but I would have liked two more. It's a spectacular facility. If you're in the area, take in a game. Lots of pictures below the jump.
Right fielder Chad Jones ... and the banners
Entrance
Nice touch on the fence. Look at the shadow on the ground if you don't recognize the shape in the middle
LSU (Purple) v Illinois (Orange)
LSU bullpen warming up
DJ LeMahieu hits a soft fly to right that was caught 20 feet from us
A familiar sight - Illini baserunner
Unfamiliar sight - Tiger baserunner
Winning Illini pitcher Ben Reeser - Had the Tigers off balance all day.
Between innings
Alex Box Stadium - March 8, 2009
Alex Box Stadium - March 8, 2009
Scoreboard
The play area as we arrived
The play area as we were leaving
Tiger Stadium - March 8, 2009 - Thrown in for good measure (Just across the street from Alex Box Stadium)
My focus was on the quality of your photos!!!
What a great eye and a great camera.
Count me in next time.
Thanks. It was a lot of fun. Patsy is probably done for the year but she might go if you do and we do something else, too. We had quite a few foul balls hit our way. That worried her more than the hot sun. She loves that sunscreen she got last night.
Great stadium and pics of it, Rob. I love that they have a play area, what a great idea. So what's the deal with the "between innings" pic. Is the ump getting some phone numbers? Signing some autographs? Trading recipes?
The ball girls bring the umpire whatever he needs between innings. This one needed water. If anything else was offered, it didn't help the Tigers any. :)