Nashville Sounds face Edmonton Trappers

on Vanderbilt Family Night at Greer Stadium

by Kiezha Smith

Step up to the plate! Or is that clean your plate? The Nashville Sounds go up against the Edmonton Trappers on Thursday, July 30, at Greer Stadium, and Vanderbilt University and Medical Center faculty and staff are invited for Vanderbilt Family Night at the Ballpark.

Family Night is an entire evening of entertainment, which in addition to the game includes an all-you-can-eat picnic, a VU staffer daring to be a human bowling ball and special appearances by the Blues Brothers and Jake the Diamond Dog. In what's becoming a Vanderbilt tradition, Vice Chancellor Bill Jenkins will toss out the ceremonial first pitch.

With attendance at last year's inaugural Family Night having topped 1,000, Vanderbilt Human Resource Services is again sponsoring the evening, cutting the overall price in half, making the picnic and game only $9 per person (game tickets only are $4). Children under 2 are free for both the game and meal, and the first 1,000 will receive a Sounds wrist watch. Parking, normally $2 at the stadium, will be free when you mention Vanderbilt at the gate.

"We were thrilled with the attendance at the Vanderbilt Family Night Out with the Sounds last year and because of its successful turnout and interest from the Vanderbilt community, this year we expanded it to include the all-you-can-eat picnic," said Darlene Lewis, associate vice chancellor of human resource services. "The event is a great family activity. We hope it continues to grow so we can negotiate even better savings for our constituency."

The picnic, to be held in a large tent on the grounds of Greer Stadium, will include hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, potato salad, soft drinks or tea, chips and ice cream.

One talented Vanderbilt employee will get to sing the national anthem before the game. Last year's auditions drew 37 contestants. This year's contest will be held on Friday, July 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Sarratt Cinema and is open to individual or group participants. There will be judges present, and prizes will be awarded to the top contestants.

For those whose talents run in other directions, there is the human bowling ball: an intrepid faculty or staff member will be selected for the comical challenge of rolling in a spherical contraption down a hill to knock over pins. Children will be chosen as "bat kids," for the duration of the game, responsible for handing out bats to hitters. Jake the Diamond Dog, a golden retriever, will amuse audiences with his repertoire of tricks.

To join in the fun, you must mail your order to the Sounds ticket office by Friday, July 17. The picnic ticket price will be subsidized to reduce the cost to $5 for the first 1,500 employees that attend, so it's important to get your order in early. Departments who wish to have group seating should submit their orders together on one form. For more information about the singing contest, contact the Human Resource Services office at 322-8322. More information regarding Family Night is also available on the Human Resource Services web page at www.vanderbilt.edu/HRS/events/sounds.html.

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