This past week, Rachel and I traveled due Northeast, back home to Rhode Island for a week of family visits. We try to get up north as often as we can to visit family members, friends, familiar places, and immerse ourselves back into the Rhode Island way of life. It was a successful trip on an emotional level. It was a successful week on a travel level, with the car and planes and hotel all aligning rather nicely. Plus the weather cooperated, being seasonably warm for April in Lil Rhody. And we got to see everyone we wanted to and every place we wanted to get to, and then some. Plus, I got to check in on some baseball experiences, watch my nephews play for Narragansett High School, and take my youngest son to a Woo Sox game. So, as I stated earlier, it was a very successful week.

Here are a few highlights from the trip:

The sign on the door, the sign that rises high in their parking lot say it all – “Professional Instruction.” The Rhode Island Baseball Institute has been providing Rhode Island baseball families that incredible professional baseball instruction since 1992. Go inside and you will see the players, the families, the baseball communities they have developed over their 3 decade run as the place to be in Rhode Island indoor baseball instruction and development. A Rhode Island baseball iconic experience, heck a Rhode Island success story in business!

It is pretty cool when you catch a game featuring a family member. But two family members in the same game is even sweeter. And if both family members are in the starting lineup, well that is even more awesome. And if one of those family members is the starting Pitcher and the other family member is the leadoff batter, well we are going into the stratosphere of excitement. And if your family member throws a 1 hit, 7 inning shutout to win the game and your other family member plays incredible defense at 3rd base, we are clearly heading out to outer space of enjoyment. All of those things happened to me on Monday night – my nephew Finley Hohl, a Sophomore at Narragansett High School, threw a gem of a game, pitching a dominant one hit shutout for the W. And my other nephew, Jackson Hohl of NHS, played solid 3rd base, went 1-3 at the plate, and got to celebrate a team and family W with his little brother. Hollywood, you have a script idea for your next baseball film!!!

After a great lunch with my Dad, my youngest son Harrison joined me on the 45 minute trek west out to Worcester’s Polar Park. This was my third time visiting the home of the Worcester Red Sox, the AAA Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. It was Harrison’s first, so I played tour guide and Dad for the night, a dual role I was born to play. Harry and I got general admission tickets and set off inside Polar Park to check out the facility, and make the obvious comparisons to our former favorite minor league stadium, McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket.

After an inning or two behind home plate, and after a tasty cheeseburger, Harry and I ventured out into the outfield stands of Polar Park. Polar Park has so many cool places to watch the game. The lawn in the left field brought back family memories of visits to McCoy Stadium, where the lawn was where you sat if you had little kids. The lower level seats in center field are just so neat to experience a really unique view of the game. Sit in a red Adirondack chair, sit at a T-Top, sit on the grass, grab a seat on the deck in right field – I challenge you to find a bad seat at Polar Park.

Plus, it was a really exciting game. Woo Sox are loaded with minor league talent that are ready to make that next jump onto the Boston Red Sox roster. Two of those talented players – Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer – had great games on Tuesday night. I can say without question that both will be in the Major Leagues this season, and I hope that they are both on the Red Sox roster and not traded to another team for a Pitcher or player to be named later.

Harry and I had a blast at the game, charting pitches, chatting about all things baseball. We chatted it up with the park’s attendants and just had a really special night. On our way out of the park, we stopped into the Woo Sox pro shop and grabbed a few souvenirs. And I stopped for a moment to pay my respects to the Worcester’s 6 plaque, which is the last thing you see as you exit the main lobby of Polar Park. Nice tribute there and deservedly so.

It was a peaceful week in Rhode Island visiting family, friends, and familiar places. Family issues and being separated for long periods of time can cause some drama, I’ll admit it. But being back there, in person, sorting things out in person, makes things a lot easier to manage and smooth out any rough edges. The reality is I miss my family, my friends, and Rhode Island tremendously and this trip really brought out the emotions of all that – from the time I landed on Sunday until the time I took off on Thursday. And I can’t wait to see everyone again, whenever that opportunity arises.

I finished off my trip with a walk around Apponaug Cal Ripken and Babe Ruth League complex in Warwick. I was feeling kinda sad about being back in Rhode Island and seeing everyone, so I went to a place of safety and comfort – a youth baseball park. Walking around the field, see the green grass growing, the infield raked, the dugouts repainted and cleaned out, and the business of baseball happening brought a huge smile to my face. Then, I met up briefly with Harrison for coffee before his work shift. And then it was off to one last family dinner at Rachel’s Dad’s place.

It was a memorable Rhode Island baseball trip this week, and an emotionally satisfying week of family time. Sprinkled in with baseball and family, I got to spend some time with my childhood friend, Larson Sutton over in Jamestown. Family wise, I had a full plate of Moms, Dads, Sister, In-Laws, Kids, and Nephews and it was great to visit with everyone. It was great seeing my nephews crush it on the baseball field and equally as great seeing the Woo Sox crush it at Polar Park with Harrison by my side. Rhode Island will always have a special place in my life. Overall, it was a extraordinarily emotionally successful baseball and family experience in the Biggest Little State in the Union…Rhode Island, Rhode Island (if you know the song, you won’t question the double Rhode Island!)