Coastal Plain League baseball returned to Greenville after a decades-long gap, and it didn’t take long for Joe Siervo to try his best at capturing the attention and adoration from fans.
Is it possible to have a favorite baseball player on Day 1?
The Greenville Yard Gnomes center fielder built a case and tested that theory on Friday. Playing in the home opener for the newest CPL team at Guy Smith Stadium, Siervo hit a home run and a double while making two diving catches in the outfield.
“Just kind of seeing the reaction of the fans and the cheers that he’d get coming up to bat after those diving plays are just some of the things that really stood out to me this weekend,” Yard Gnomes general manager Michael Villafana said. “Anytime you have a fan-favorite right off the bat, it’s good for an organization. So I think just for the fans to have something to cheer about and make those memories is something that definitely stood out to me.”
The Yard Gnomes won, 5-4, against the Tri-City Chili Peppers to claim a victory in the home opener. The Gnomes traveled to Wilmington for a game on Saturday, then returned home on Sunday to host the Peninsula Pilots.
The Gnomes lost 11-1 on Sunday and finished their first four games with a 1-3 record. Monday’s game against the Wilson Tobs wrapped up the opening holiday weekend.
Temperatures soared into the high-80s and a good-sized crowd peppered the grandstand. Others gathered down the right-field line in an area called the tap trailer, which is essentially a beer garden and a place to mingle.
There, fans hung their arms over the fence and watched the game while others used the game on the field as a backdrop for family outings.
Joshua Masters, a pilot who returned home from work after a busy holiday weekend, said that it was a no-brainer to take his family out to the park. With two kids in tow, Masters said he would be back throughout the summer.
“The stadium looks great and it’s been a pretty fun time hanging out here,” Masters, 36, said on Sunday. “We usually have a lot going on this weekend, but it’s typically the same things like grilling or making our way to the beach. With baseball in our backyard this year, we decided to check it out. This is a nice shakeup.”
The renovations to the ballpark didn’t go unnoticed, even while the action on the field drew the attention of many. There was plenty to watch and see between innings as fans competed in various events and the marketing crew tossed out giveaways.
“When fans come through the first base entrance, they walk into a brand new space that never existed before,” Villafana said. “So if you were born and raised in Greenville, or lived in Greenville for a while, you’ve probably been to Guy Smith Stadium at one point, so for those fans to walk in and see something new for them to experience I think put some excitement in the air.”
The Yard Gnomes have 28 home games remaining, so there will be many opportunities for fans to experience the new squad. Also, the team is looking forward to having the fan experience more streamlined and ironed out as the season continues.
“We didn’t really know what to expect going into it,” Villafana said. “Obviously when you’re a new team, you’re kind of building your fanbase. You don’t really have that returning core, but the fans really showed out this weekend. We are happy with the attendance, and the fans were so into the games. The fans were cheering for players, they were cheering on good plays, and I think that’s a testament to how much Greenville is a baseball town.”
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