BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) — The MLB Speedway Classic was meant to be a one-day event, but Mother Nature threw the Tri-Cities a curveball. In the end, the Atlanta Braves came out on top Sunday afternoon, defeating the Cincinnati Reds 4-2.
For most fans, there was no looking into the bullpen for options, as staying until Sunday was the only choice to see the game.
“I’m hoping they come back at full force, but you really never know,” Reds fan Max Wahoff said before the game started back up Sunday. “I know that the rain kind of messed up a lot of travel plans for people, but I hope that they come back at full force to make it another really big day for everyone.”
Day one of the historic game did not go without issues aside from the weather. Several concession stands ran out of food during the delay, fans reported.
However, some fans took the delay as an opportunity to get from the nosebleeds to the infield, like Reds fan Mario Arbino.
“We stuck it out, hoping the game would start up, and it didn’t,” Arbino said about their Saturday night experience.
“So when we came out, we stood at the exit of the infield and we asked people … ‘are you coming back?’ or ‘are you coming back?’ And someone finally said no. I was like, ‘can I buy your tickets?’ Bought the tickets, and now we’re in here with you guys.”
Will Little, a Science Hill graduate, was Sunday’s home plate umpire.
“I never saw this ever being a possibility,” Little said during a postgame press conference.
Little said in the postgame conference that emotions were high for him and his family when he was asked to be the home plate umpire at the Speedway Classic, since he lives just down the road.
Little’s personal connection to “Blue” brought his friend Andy Glenn to the “ballpark”.
“My reasons were personal to come back for him, but it was pretty cool to think you’re breaking history tonight,” Glenn said.
Fans traveled from all across the country to watch the Speedway Classic. Officials announced at the end of the game that more than 91,000 tickets were sold.
Some fans said, despite the weather delays and Saturday night’s challenges, they would do it again.
“We were going to drive back today,” Arbino said. “We’re going to come no matter what. But now [infield] tickets just put the icing on the cake, you know, made it 100 times better.”
Close to 50,000 fans attended Sunday’s game, officials said.
