Peach cobbler, 'Fat Bottomed Girls' and baseball
MURRAY — I've covered many baseball and softball games at Murray in my 15 years in Osceola and now Creston, including three playoff games this week alone.
The games themselves on Tuesday and Thursday were exciting — at least two out of three were — but if you really want to be entertained, spend a night in the press box.
Where else in southern Iowa can you hear music ranging from AC/DC to the Dixie Chicks to golden oldies, watch the school superintendent used and abused as the official foul ball retriever, one of the most respected coaches in the state threatened to be thrown out a window because he's a jinx and grown men act like little kids when treats enter the booth?
Let's start with the music.
Murray athletic director Jerry Shields is what I would call the ringmaster of the press box circus. He handles the announcing and selects the music before the games and in between innings. He may take a suggestion now and then, but for the most part, it's his choice.
There rarely seems to be any rhyme or reason for the songs selected.
The music Thursday night ranged from "Goodbye Earl" by the Dixie Chicks, "Dude looks like a lady" from Aerosmith, "the classic "Duke of Earl" by Gene Chandler and "Come on Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners.
Not your typical game night selections, I wouldn't imagine.
Long-time Murray softball coach Danny Jensen said "Sometimes we have a reason. Sometimes it's just random."
I imagine the latter is more often the case.
Songs by Queen are heard at sporting events all the time. It's usually "We will rock you" or "We are the champions." At Murray, they of course go with the obscure "Fat bottomed girls."
This was the song selected before Murray batted in the sixth inning Thursday night against Orient-Macksburg. Maybe it will inspire the boys, they reasoned. And of course, the Mustangs scored two runs that inning to make it a one-run game. Go figure.
Tuesday night in the district doubleheader, the guys in the press box were having a lot of fun with school superintendent Alan Miller, who doubles as the foul ball shagger.
One ball was hit into a collection of trees and bushes next to the school and Miller went over to retrieve it. After looking around for a while, Miller got several phone calls and texts from Shields, Jensen and basketball coach Darin Wookey. They were trying to help with directions, which were basically, "Go South." Miller finally found the ball to an ovation in the press box.
Later in the night, a home run went over the center field fence. Miller started jogging to track it down and Shields, not missing a beat, put The William Tell Overture over the loudspeaker. Watching the superintendent running to what is most famously known as the theme song to The Lone Ranger gave everyone up there a case of the giggles.
Two nights later, whenever a foul ball left the field of play, yells of "Miller!" or Ball boy!" usually weren't far behind. I give Mr. Miller credit. He's a good sport to take that ribbing. Not sure if the same would have been done to Dr. Dennis Bishop in previous years.
When Shields isn't flipping through the song catalogue, or tormenting the school superintendent, he is either cracking a joke or yelling at Jensen about how he just jinxed the Mustangs.
Apparently Jensen has been known as a jink for his 30-plus years at Murray. Any time he brings up how well someone in particular or the entire team is playing, or how quickly the game is moving, it is usually followed by groans from everyone else in the press box.
Near the end of Thursday night's district semifinal contest, Shields had finally had enough of "the jinx" and said, "Someone throw Jensen out the window." Fortunately for the softball program, no one went that far.
And now, for the peach cobbler.
Someone was kind enough to bring a couple bowls of cobbler — peach and maybe a cherry — with ice cream, up to the press box early in Thursday night's game. When she found out that more people up there would like some, she made a couple more. One was given to KSIB sports announcer Gary Bucklin. On the air, he announced, "That's why you like to come to Murray. They take care of you...when you beg."
I know what you're saying to yourself. "But I'm not a member of the press. I can't go up in the press box to see for myself just how fun it is."
I disagree. Just make up some delicious peach cobbler, climb up the ladder, wave the treat around and you'll be welcomed in with open arms.
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