One of Edenton’s most cherished institutions, historic Hicks Field in Edenton, opened for another season of collegiate summer baseball on Friday, May 31. The Edenton Steamers faced off against the Greenbrier Knights of the Tidewater Summer League.
Hicks Field, one of only a handful of pre-World War II baseball fields with a wooden grandstand left in the United States, was decked out in American flags, and ticket sellers were dressed in red, white, and blue attire. The aroma of hot dogs, popcorn, and peanuts filled the air, and fans sitting on the ball park’s pine benches could almost feel the sensation of a time-warp back to the 1940s and ‘50s.
Well, almost. A sign urged fans to order concessions by cell phone using a QR code posted for the purpose. Time does not stand still, even at Hicks Field.
A game at the historic stadium has an air of timeless values and tradition. Fans stood with their hands over their hearts for the national anthem. Veterans stood at attention, rendering a hand salute without the slighted twinge of self-consciousness.
A pair of Steamers mascots dressed in white with giant clam heads wandered through the crowd, posing for selfies with the fans while keeping one eye on the action on the field. Volunteers were grilling hot dogs and hamburgers at the concession stands for the fans, who snapped them up as fast as they were cooked.
Nate Gardner, his fiancée, Alexis Oliver, and Jessica Oliver sat at a picnic table watching the action on the field. Nate was a Steamers player in college but lives in Creswell now. He said he likes coming to watch his old team, especially on opening day.
“Opening day for baseball, for me, means just the enjoyment of being back in the park, hearing the ball crack against the bat or slap into a glove,” he said. “Everybody’s got their gear on. It’s just a different feeling.”
Gardner said one thing he likes about Steamers games is the team’s use of old-fashioned wooden bats, which deliver a satisfying crack instead of a musical ping when a player connects with the ball using an aluminum bat.
Alexis Oliver said the tradition appealed to her, as well.
“It feels good. It’s a local tradition, and it signifies the start of the summer and getting things going in the town,” she said. “You know, baseball and sports in general just kind of run Edenton. Opening day is the beginning of summer.”
Jessica Oliver said she always comes to Steamers games.
“My husband works for Regulator Marine,” she said. “They always go on opening day. It’s always good for family and friends to get together and let the children run around. Summertime is coming, and that also means good food, for sure.”
And oh yeah, the home team won 9-2.
After playing on the road Saturday against the Kinston Wingmen, the Steamers will play a non-league game at home Sunday against the New Bern Southpaws of the Northeastern League at 5 p.m.
The Steamers also have home games against the Chesapeake Mothmen on Monday at 7 p.m., and the Virginia Beach Valor on Tuesday at 7 p.m. before playing on the road against New Bern on Thursday. The Steamers return home on Friday to play the Tarboro River Bandits at 7 p.m. and then play on the road Saturday, June 15, against Tarboro.
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