This past Sunday, Rachel and I decided to take a short road trip to Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Two major highways (64, 264) and a rural state highway (17), roughly 50 miles of farms and super tall trees, and tons of sunshine were all that stood between Virginia Beach and Elizabeth City. In about one hours time, we were parking on N Poindexter St. in beautiful downtown Elizabeth City. Really cool to be so close to North Carolina and all its incredible nature and coastal area. Our little day-cation getaway trip including a nice beverage at Seven Sounds Brewery, a walk along Mariner’s Wharf, shopping in a few local businesses for plants and vinyl records, and dinner at Tooley’s Tavern. It was hot and humid and tropical but we paced ourselves well and had a really fun afternoon exploring.

I should mention at this point that prior to leaving VA Beach, I mentioned to Rachel that a summer collegiate baseball league team played in Elizabeth City – the River City Skippers. Oh, and it just so happened that the Skippers would be playing a home game and, time permitting, I would love to check it out. You know, because we would be in the area. If not the game, at least check out the field. And we made it work into our schedule heading back to VA Beach. Did I mention that it was sunny and clear skies all day up until we got to the field? Okay…

The River City Skippers play in the Old North State League, a summer collegiate wood bat league with 4 divisions. The Skippers play in the Northeastern Division along with the New Bern Southpaws, the Edenton Steamers, Kinston Wingmen, and their opponent for Sunday night’s game the Tarboro River Bandits. Game time was scheduled for 6 pm. Rachel and I arrived around 5:45 or so and greeted two of the umpires in the parking lot. With the skies darkening and the winds picking up considerably, I asked the blue two if we were going to have baseball. “Not my call, not yet at least,” said one of them sort of jokingly and sort of foreshadowing his responsibility for safety. We parked, looked up at the sky which was now blackened by clouds and said, what the heck, we are here, let’s give a shot.

The two teams, the Skippers and the River Bandits, were mostly huddling around their dugouts. A few players hit the batting cages, some tossed a football around to stay loose, others just met up with fans or jogged along the foul lines. Fans were starting to take their seats around the backstop and in the bleachers behind home plate. Rachel spotted a merchandise tent and I got myself a spiffy new Skippers hat. Side note, the Skippers were my North Kingstown High School mascot. So, of course I had to try to catch a Skippers game and get myself some Skippers swag!

At or around 6pm, the wind was blowing some serious puffs around the field and the rain was starting to come down, just a few drops. The Skippers coaches ordered the team to put the home plate tarp on the field over home plate. Within 5 minutes of that, it started to absolutely pour and storm like crazy at the field. The fans folded up their chairs and headed for their vehicles. The vendors shut down their booth and packed up their stuff. It was officially a violent thunderstorm and we were standing next to metal bleachers under a giant tree. With a quick nod, Rachel and I headed for our car with an excited pace and headed home. Roughly 15 miles into our journey home, it was clear skies and sunshine. Go figure…

Our day-cation trip to Elizabeth City was a ton of fun. Seven Sounds Brewery has a great selection of beverages and an awesome view of the harbor and Pasquotank River scene. I scored 3 great vinyl records from Shut and Listen Record Store, including Bob Seger and Charlie Daniels Band classic records. The riverboat cruise looks fun and we are looking into dates and times for that. And we had an awesome meal at Tooley’s Tavern prior to game time. No game action, but we did get over to Holmes Field where there was a baseball game schedule. And I did get to pick out a new hat for my collection. And see the kind of thunderstorm that only tropical, 100 plus degree temperatures can produce.

When we departed around 6 or shortly thereafter, the tarps were on the mound and home plate area and I really believed the game would be called. I mean it was pouring buckets of rain, like several inches in just a short amount of time. Turns out, they delayed the game about an hour or so, with the Tarboro River Bandits taking it to the River City Skippers 9-0. Overall, it was an awesome Elizabeth City adventure and a satisfying Skippers experience, some 600 miles from my previous NKHS Skippers experience.

For more information on the Old North State League, visit their official website at www.oldnorthstateleague.com.