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Wednesday, July 4, 2012 B2 The Smithville Herald SPORTS AMATEUR: Pair of Smithville golfers set to play next week u Continued from Page B1 The defending state champions from Class 4 (Rockhurst’s Jason Huska) and Class 3 (Dylan Beke- meier) are both scheduled to play, while six of the top 10 finishers in Class 4 are slated to be in competition — including the Liberty High School duo of Zac Dit- tmer and Eric Lester. Randy Bickel, the Director of Junior Golf for the Mis- souri Golf Association, said he was thrilled to be having the tournament back out at Paradise Pointe for the third time since 2008 and that two of the primary selling points are the two-course set-up and the quality of both courses. “Quite honestly, both golf courses are in phenomenal shape,” Bickel said. “… The first time, it was basically the reason that they were quite willing to have us, and after being there and seeing the quality of the course and the quality of the service, it’s a great place to have a champion- ship.” The com- petition will also have a local flavor, as well, since two Smithville High golfers will be compet- ing in the event. Tyler Tolo, a recent Smithville graduate who will play for William Jewell’s golf team next season, will take part in the Junior Amateur for the second year in a row. He carded a two-day total of 177 last year at Silo Ridge Golf Course in Bolivar, where he saw drastic improvement during his second round. Senior Marcus Burchett will also compete in the event after breaking into the var- sity team full-time this year. It marks the first time in the past few seasons that two Smithville players will both compete in the presti- gious, state-wide event. Playing on their home course should provide an inherent advantage for both players, who will play two full rounds in two days at the event. ALL-STAR: Longtime friends excited to make return journey u Continued from Page B1 so long ago I barely remem- ber it. They didn’t have quite as much pomp and circum- stance around the game. “But I’m looking forward to it.” As baseball fans go, they don’t come much bigger than Thrall. In fact, he recalls the days of the Kansas City A’s, before the team left for Oakland, only to be replaced by a new franchise in 1969. Much like the team it housed, Kauffman Stadium — known as Royals Stadium back then — was still in its youth when the All-Star Game first came to town. The stadium had only been host- ing games for two months before the event rolled in, though it was not the three- day spectacle it is today. Led by Bobby Bonds, the National League went on to a 7-1 victory, and the experience of attending the national event left more of an impression on Thrall than the game itself. “The game itself was pret- ty lousy. Other than I don’t remember that much about it,” said Thrall, who went with his brother, Bruce. “I remember thinking, ‘Wow, this was pretty neat to be here.’” Middleton left the game back in 1973 with similar memories. He couldn’t recall many specifics about the game, which didn’t feature any supplemental events like the Home Run Derby that have been woven into the fabric of the event over the years. But Middleton could still recall a few of the Royals’ all- stars from those days, such as Amos Otis and Cookie Rojas, and said that was one of fondest memories he has from his decades of attending games at Kauffman, where he also witnessed Game 2 of the 1985 World Series. “It seemed like back in those days, they were in their infancy, and we were just learning who the All- Stars were,” Middleton said. “It was just a cool experience.” Not that he took his first trip for granted, but Thrall said he thinks he will appre- ciate the trip all the more during his second time around. “At my age, I’m sure this is the last time I’ll get to go,” Thrall said. “It’s nice that I did get the chance, and I’m looking forward to it.” Neither of them was cer- tain they would be able to attend Kansas City’s sec- ond All-Star Game, though, considering how much of a demand there was for tick- ets, which can cost sev- eral hundred dollars at face value for a single ticket. But a college friend of Thrall’s had a couple extra passes for the game thanks to his regular-season tickets, and when given the chance, both Thrall and Middleton said there was no way they would turn down such an opportunity. Now, the two friends who fittingly met when coach- ing the same little league baseball team will have the chance to experience one of the greatest traditions in baseball when the national spotlight turns its atten- tion to Kansas City for three hot summer nights next week. “It’ll be cool because it’s almost a once in a lifetime thing,” Middleton said. “It’s just such a neat experi- ence to see your city on the map. It’ll be cool just to be there.” Workers excited for hectic event 2012 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ALL-STAR GAME Smithville residents anticipate jubilant atmosphere when game comes to town BY ANDY MEYER The last time the All- Star Game was in town, Brian Vacca was just barely a teenager. He remembers wishing he could have been at Roy- als Stadium, as it was called then, that day in the sum- mer of 1973 to watch the stars take the field. Near- ly four decades later, he’ll finally have his chance to do just that. Vacca is one of a handful of Smithville residents who will be working at Kauffman Stadium next week during the three days of festivities surrounding the 83rd All- Star Game, which includes the Futures Game, Home Run Derby and the star-stud- ded game itself. As an usher out toward the left-field seats in Section 151, Vacca will have a premium view of all the action, and he’s already counting the days until Tuesday, July 10, when the game takes place. “I’ve been looking forward to it since we’ve heard about it, and I think everyone else around the stadium is excit- ed too,” he said. For years, Vacca has fol- lowed the Royals through it all — from their success in the 1980s to the losing seasons that have plagued the team in recent years. But it was just last year that he decided to take on a differ- ent vantage point. He signed on to be an usher for the team during the 2011 season and returned for anoth- er go-round this year. Vacca enjoyed his time at Kauff- man so much that he takes on a similar role for Sporting Kansas City, the city’s profes- sional soccer team. Though he normally works from home, Vacca said he enjoys the contrast of usher- ing and is especially looking forward to the attention and excitement that will roll into town later this week. “I enjoy getting out and being involved in the event that goes on,” Vacca said. “It’s just exciting. I get to be at the game and enjoy talking with people and just helping people out. “It’s just kind of fun to be out there.” Of course, Brett Roberts will also be taking in his first All-Star contest in Kan- sas City, though his role will be even more behind-the- scenes than most. A 2010 Smithville gradu- ate, Roberts has worked for the Royals as a clubhouse attendant and ball boy for the past few years and has collected some special mem- ories during his time there. Of course, he doesn’t remember the franchise’s glory days of the 1980’s, con- sidering he wasn’t born yet. Still, he said he is thrilled for the national spotlight to fall on his hometown and thinks the event will provide a huge boost for the entire area. “This will be awesome for Kansas City just to be able to show the city off, and the revenue it’s going to produce for the city is outstanding,” Roberts said. As someone who sees some of the inner-workings of the team, Roberts has witnessed some of the ways the team has prepared for the All-Star Game that not many people get to see. The stadium renovations at Kauffman Stadium in 2009 were well-documented, including the Crown Vision scoreboard in center field, but Roberts said the team also has installed plenty of upgrades and new technology in the clubhouses in advance of the game, as well. Though the game is less than a week away, Roberts said he is still not entirely sure what his role will be during the three days of the event and that the team has hired on several more atten- dants for the event. Regardless, he plans on soaking in the atmosphere and hopes to make a few more special memories when the Mid-Summer Clas- sic comes to town. “It’s going to be crazy, but it’s going to be really fun,” Roberts said. “It’s going to be a once in a lifetime expe- rience for me just because all the people I’ll be able to meet and see. “It’s not all the time we get an All Star Game in Kan- sas City.” KYLE RIVAS/Special to The Smithville Herlad The 83rd Major League Baseball All-Star Game will take place in Kansas City on Tuesday, July 10, and will be the culmination of three days of activities, including the Home Run Derby and the Futures Game — a minor-league all-star contest. “Quite honestly, both golf courses are in phenomenal shape.” Randy Bickel, Missouri Golf Association KYLE RIVAS/Special to The Smithville Herlad Kauffman Stadium will host the MLB All-Star Game next week for the first time since 1973. “It’s going to be a once in a lifetime experience for me just because all the people I’ll be able to meet and see.” Brett Roberts, Royals clubhouse attendant
