News release from the TinCaps:
National Media Covers Parkview Field’s “Geyser”
Hardly the Usual Play Makes TinCaps the Talk of the Day
(May 1, 2014) — What started out as an innocent foul ball has suddenly landed the TinCaps and Parkview Field in national headlines.
During Fort Wayne’s game against Great Lakes on Wednesday afternoon, the Loons’ Joey Curletta hit a pop foul down the first-base line. TinCaps first baseman Fernando Perez pursued the ball and inadvertently kicked open a water valve located near the railing. With the spigot uncovered, water began rushing out of the ground like a geyser.
“It was a one-in-a-million play,” TinCaps Groundskeeper Andrew Burnette said. “There’s nothing you can do to prevent something like that from happening. When a player steps on the one square inch of the entire field where that is even remotely possible, you just have to laugh.”
Video footage from XFINITY Channel 81’s broadcast of the bizarre play has been featured on ESPN’S SportsCenter, ABC’S Good Morning America, and NBC’s The Today Show. The viral story has also been picked up by Yahoo!, Deadspin, and USA Today. And that’s just a short list of national news outlets that have been talking about the TinCaps. The viral story has even received coverage overseas from the United Kingdom’s Daily Mail.
“Even if the circumstances in this case are a bit comical, it’s good to see people across the country, and even internationally, talking about the TinCaps and Parkview Field,” TinCaps President Mike Nutter said. “And hopefully it doesn’t go unnoticed that our grounds crew and maintenance staff did a phenomenal job in responding to such a unique situation.”
As for the guy who unintentionally caused all the commotion, Perez is only regretful he didn’t make what would have been a highlight-reel catch leaning into the front row. He said he had no idea the hose was there as he was went for the ball.
“I just think it’s funny,” Perez said of all the attention.
For the 6,318 fans in attendance on Wednesday, it was an example of the old adage, you never know what you’ll see when you come out to the ballpark.
Coverage of the TinCaps’ “Geyser Delay”
- ESPN: Sprinkler Day at the Ballpark
- ABC News: Foul Ball Triggers Geyser in Minor League Ballpark
- NBC News: Water Geyser Erupts at Parkview Field
- FOX Sports: Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains
- CBS Sports: Minor-league game delayed when players sets off “geyser”
- USA Today: Exploding sprinkler in minor league game causes totally awesome delay
- UK’s Daily Mail: Geyser stops play for 18 MINUTES after minor league baseball fielder steps on a sprinkler hose chasing a mishit
- Deadspin: Sprinkler-Turned-Geyser Delays Minor League Baseball Game
- Yahoo!: Exploding Sprinkler Delays Minor League Game
- Huffington Post: Broken Sprinkler Causes Fantastic Delay in Minor League Baseball Game
- Bleacher Report: Minor League Baseball Game Delayed by Geyser-Like Sprinkler Malfunction
- SB Nation: Minor Leaguer Accidentally Sets Off Geyser at Stadium
- NESN: Exploding Sprinkler Geyser Delays Minor League Baseball Game
Webmaster’s note: The Daily Mail is not a national newspaper, but rather located in the England. So, one could almost say the event had international coverage as well.
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