Special scene: Fans cherish what could be Rider baseball's final game at Hoskins Field
They want to be part of the last Rider moments.
The baseball diehards were in abundance for Thursday’s regional quarterfinal series opener against Grapevine. But so was a rowdy student section down the third-base line and a smattering of Raider alums wanting to witness history.
They cheered when Champ Wall stuck out the side in the first inning and when Grey Johnson made a couple of diving catches in left field. When the fight song was played during the fifth inning and when the Raiders finally strung some hits together in the sixth.
Grapevine prevailed 3-1 at Hoskins Field thanks to a three-run fourth inning, but it was still a memorable night for the ROHO faithful.
“What could be more special than playing at your home park in the third round of the playoffs in front of a full Hoskins Field?” WFISD athletic director Grant Freeman asked. “They did a great job coming out supporting their team and seeing a great game.”
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Sitting in the first row keeping the official pitch count was Pat Tempelmeyer, who graduated from Rider 50 years ago and teaches physics at his alma mater.
Tempelmeyer has been watching Rider baseball since the days of Glen Tackitt, who graduated with his older sister and was chosen by the Montreal Expos in the third round of the 1971 MLB Draft.
Tempelmeyer was never good enough to make the final cut, but he’s always loved the sport and couldn’t even begin to guess how many games he’s witnessed in five decades at Hoskins.
“This is the best crowd I’ve ever seen at a Rider baseball game,” Tempelmeyer said afterward. “They have something to cheer for, and to be honest, some kids to cheer for. These are just some really good kids. It reminds me a lot of the 2011 (title) team. They have a lot of camaraderie, they support each other, they cheer for each other.”
Rider coach Jeremy Crouch wished the Raiders could have gotten the crowd more rowdy earlier in the game, but the Raiders didn’t muster a scoring threat until Chris Chavez’s RBI single followed Alex Wilburn’s double in the sixth inning.
“We thought we’d have a big crowd tonight and the kids were fired up about it,” Crouch said. “Everybody wants to be a part of that last moment, and we welcome them all.”
Crouch knows another boisterous showing would be possible if Rider forces a Game 3 against the favored Mustangs. He’d love nothing more than to coach in his Rider gear again Saturday at a diamond he loves.
“This place has always been awesome for us,” Crouch said. “I grew up in Holliday so when you came over to Hoskins to play, it’s always a big deal. I love the stands, the trees around the field, it’s pretty special.”
Speaking of Hoskins, with Legacy and Memorial High Schools building turf competition fields on campus, its future as the WFISD’s primary baseball stadium for varsity games could be nearing a close too.
Freeman isn’t sure how the situation is going to play out, but he mentioned there has been a push for having a home-field advantage on campus.
“This could possibly be retiring Hoskins for the last time for the home teams,” Freeman said. “That makes it even more special because think about the games this place has seen. If we’re retiring it, at least we’re retiring it on a good note.”
A lot of great WFISD players and teams have called Hoskins home through the decades. This Rider group is guaranteed to be the final team standing. They just don’t want the last ride to end.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Special scene at Hoskins Field for Rider vs. Grapevine baseball
