This Spring, I am making more of an effort to attend Virginia Beach High School baseball games. Having lived here now for the better part of 3 years, I have familiarized myself with the location of many of the High School baseball fields here in VA Beach and also the Beach District teams representing my new hometown. To date, I have been to three games with many more to come. What am I doing going to a high school baseball game where I have no student or relative playing? Simply put, I am huge fan of amateur baseball leagues and relish the opportunity to potentially see a prospect or two, a great pitching performance, a towering home run, or some unique and special play to perhaps write about on this blog. And to date, I have found that unique and special play that I would like to share with you now.
Of the three baseball games I have attended this season, I have witnessed the same incredible play at all three games. How rare is that? See if you can guess the play. I, along with the players, coaches, and families associated with the high school baseball team, live in one of the most populated military areas in the United States, Hampton Roads. Many players, coaches, and families have loved ones, friends, maybe former teammates that are now or were once serving in the United States Military. Even as the first pitch flies out of the hand of the pitcher and hurls towards the leadoff batter, many thoughts are with those not attending the game. Those who are serving our country overseas or in some military capacity outside the purview of the baseball field. Is it a triple play? Is it a no-hitter? Is it a walk-off home run? Is it a diving catch over the outfield fence to rob a home run? No, it is a respectful gesture that pauses the play on the field and draws the attention of the entire field – players, umps, coaches, fans – to the American Flag. Here is the unique and special play as I have witnessed it unfold.
During any typical high school or college sporting events day, there could be multiple sports being played on campus at the same time. A baseball game may start at 4pm. A lacrosse game may start at 5. A soccer game may start at 430. A track meet may start at 3. If the fields are set up near each other, many fans and fan reactions from an adjacent field or stadium can be heard in other stadiums, or in this example – baseball fields. On these particular days/baseball games that I attended this Spring, Bayside High School, Cox High School, and Kempsville High School all had afternoon games starting around 4pm. At the beginning of the baseball games, the National Anthem was played, players and fans and coaches stood for the anthem and saluted the flag, then the game began. Fairly standard tradition, it happens everywhere baseball is played from Tee Ball to the Major Leagues. Also, for all three games, a separate field event on campus started after the baseball game, and in those fields and for those events, the national anthem was also played at the beginning of their match, meet, and/or game. So, what did the baseball players, coaches, and fans do when the National Anthem was heard from an adjacent stadium?
A special and unique play happened. The game halted, the players turned to the sound of the National Anthem and the field that was playing it, the coaches came out of their respective dugouts, the umpires removed their caps, the fans stood up, and as one – the entire baseball field paused the game at hand to stand as one to hear and respect the National Anthem. Not a single player moved, not a single coach had a bit of advice for the on deck batter, not a single fan chatted. We all stood and listened to the National Anthem in its entirety, then resumed our seats and chatter, the players re-donned their baseball caps, the umpires walked back to their base stations, the catcher squatted, the pitched toed the rubber, and the home plate umpire pointed to the pitcher and yelled “play ball.” The outcome of the game wasn’t determined by this patriotic interruption in the game. One team didn’t gain or lose any momentum. It was a 2 minute stoppage in play that for many on the field, in the dugouts, and in the stands was not only the right thing to do, but meant so much more than just a baseball game. Fathers, daughters, mothers, sons, friends, teammates are fighting in the United States Military every single minute of every single day so we can have the freedom to attend a baseball game. The least we can do, when the National Anthem is player, is stand and salute them. And that is exactly why this play was so special and unique and patriotic and amazing to not only witness but also be a part of.
Small footnote, and I want to mention that I only did a small amount of research on this. I looked through the official 2025-2026 Handbook for the Virginia High School League’s Sports website and online documents for any policy regarding the National Anthem being played before or during a game. And the expected or policy driven expectation of players, coaches, and fans when the National Anthem is played on an adjacent field. And from my small amount of research over the past few days, I could not find any such policy that the VHSL has adopted or is enforcing. This special and unique play may come directly from the coaches or school leadership or perhaps the leadership of one of the student athletes. Whoever came up with it, I congratulate you on an amazing display of patriotism and will most definitely support your special and unique play every single game I attend going forward.
God Bless America.
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