Section 113 is full of devotion

Jul 03, 2010

By: The Morning Journal

Their group includes a man who was ready to buy tickets before the Lake Erie Crushers even had a sales staff and a woman who didn’t even like baseball.

It wasn’t forced but rather grew organically.

They are the Super Fans of section 113.

And the embodiment of a dream that Crushers general manager Ryan Gates had before the team was formed.

“It is about more than baseball. It is about community. It is about the social aspect and the relationships that you make,” Gates said.

“It is about being out here with your family, co-workers, business associates, church group, Boy Scout group, Girl Scout group, it is so many things to so many people out here. I am just so glad what I preached a year and half ago has truly happened at All Pro Freight Stadium.”

The season ticket holders of 113 have become a part of the Crushers family.

“They really have,” Gates said. “The fact we are designating one section says it right there. They stand alone. They are Super Fans. I think every ballpark has them. They are unique no matter where they go but it is that group that is putting together their own t-shirts. They know the guys on the team, and the guys on the team know them. That is an important aspect of it as well. There is that personal connection that goes both ways.”

The Super Fans were part of a group that travelled to Missouri for the fifth and deciding game of the Frontier League Championship last year.

“We filled a bus with 75 people to take a 10-hour bus ride to St. Louis for a championship game,” Gates said. “That in itself is amazing, but even more amazing is they did so in 24 hours. It wasn’t that we had a week to plan. We were down 2-0 came back and won two at home and all these people who work and have jobs dropped what they were doing for two days to come cheer the Crushers on to a championship. That says something special right there.”

None of the Super Fans ever imagined at the start of last season they would get on a bus to follow the team.

The group so bonded together over the Crushers that they met four times in the off-season just to keep that special feeling alive.

“We actually had four different parties in the off-season just to keep in touch,” Mike Chapman said.

Many members of the group were drawn to the Crushers because of a frustration with major league sports.

“I worked five years for the Indians, but they are plain boring now,” Howard Baker said. “This is just plain more fun because these players aren’t playing for cash. They are playing because they love the game.”

At All Pro Freight Stadium nearly every seat is within 50 feet of the field, and the players aren’t
millionaires the common fan can’t relate to; they are young players out playing for the love of the game.

Also, it doesn’t hurt that the food and beer prices are a fraction of what they cost at Progressive Field.

“The best part about coming here is it is affordable,” Eric Baker said. “These guys are killing themselves for the game. The players for the most part are really friendly guys. You get to know them and they almost become a part of your extended family. It was heart-breaking to see some of the guys go and some of the new guys are kind of fun to talk to and hang out with.”

Bob French was on board as soon as the Crushers were announced.

“I like college ball and everything else,” French said. “Professional ball doesn’t seem to relate to the fans like they do here. They will talk to anybody. They will sign anything you have. They are just a great bunch of kids.”

French however had to convince his wife, Jane, who wasn’t a baseball fan. He wasn’t sure how often Jane would come with him.

“I was surprised she only missed four games last year,” Bob French said.

Jane French fell in love with the team almost instantly.

“All these young kids are so exciting,” she said. “They are a pleasure to watch. They are so friendly and loving. I feel like I am a grandma to all of them.”

The players return the affection.

“It is almost our adopted families for the summer,” said second baseman Drew Saylor. “They are always with us – win, lose or draw; whether you win 4-0 or lose 0-4. They are tremendous caring people and I’ll do anything for them.”

Jerry Oliver was the one calling for tickets before the Crushers were ready to sell them. He said he doesn’t go to the Indians games but he was sure the Crushers would be fun. He wasn’t disappointed.

“It is a beautiful park,” Oliver said. “The people who work here are great, friendly. It is just family orientated. You don’t run into trouble. There is no trouble here whatsoever.”

Attendance was slow at the start of last year’s inaugural season. Winning helped, but Gates knew that the atmosphere would win people over.

“I always say what we can control happens in foul territory and that’s the promotions, that’s the giveaways, that is the atmosphere. We are trying to create every fan as a super fan,” Gates said. “The Super Fans in 113 is truly a special group. My whole goal is to have people come out here and experience it once because I am confident they will want to come back a second time and hopefully from there it continues to build.”

This entry was posted on Saturday, July 3rd, 2010 at 9:22 pm and is filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.