Baseball - EMU vs NIU

I've been meaning to go to an Eastern Michigan baseball game for a while now. The weather and time finally cooperated with me, so I decided to head over to Oestrike Stadium. EMU's baseball team is pretty decent this year, as of the beginning of this game they were 30-15 and had an 11 game winning streak. But then again, EMU has always had a decent baseball team.
This is one of EMU's starting pitchers Robert Wendzicki getting ready to hurl a pitch towards the plate. He seems pretty decent enough.

Another shot of Wendzicki.

This is Northern Illinois' pitcher.

Tucker Rubino swinging at a pitch.

The third base coach having a chat with one of the Eastern players.

Ken Battison making a catch in the outfield.

Lee Longo getting the catch for the out at first.

Tucker Rubino getting hit by a pitch.

The Northern Illinois pitcher in the stretch.

Hurling the ball.

Another shot of the Eastern Pitcher.

The throw to first.

This was a pretty amazing catch. It was easily a base hit otherwise.

Nothern Illinois scoring their 4th run.

This is Dan O'Brien, he is a volunteer coach for the Eagles. He is also their first base coach. He had coaching stints at Concordia and Michigan. I love his helmet.

Kristian Calibuso, the reliever.

Another shot of Dan O'Brien.

Unfortunately, the Eagles would go on to lose 4-3. It's not like they didn't have chances to win though. Oh well.

Some Flowers

These were on a bush at work. I'm not sure what kind of flowers they are, but I do kind of like them.

Here Be Dragons....

As I said in my last post, Wednesdays usually involves boardgaming. There is another group that does Dungeons and Dragons. I kind of liked the look of these figures.....so of course.

Some Random Blossoms

On Wednesday, I usually go boardgaming at the local comic/gaming shop. Of course I had my camera with me and as I headed into the shop, I saw these blossoms in the parking lot. I have no idea what they are though.

I guess the appearance of flowers means that spring is finally here. Or something.

The Giant Arby's Sign

Another of the Washtenaw Icons...the giant Arby's sign.
This is one of the classic Arby signs. It's a shame that the building attached to it isn't the classic Conestoga wagon looking Arby's. I'm surprised the People's Republic of Ann Arbor allows this sign to stay up. Especially since so many fast food signs are going to the smaller less obstructive type signs.

It's still pretty cool though.

Under the Neon Signs

So as I was taking a picture of the Arborland sign, decided to take some others.
Not quite the iconic Starbucks logo but this will do....

Mmmmm.......That Steve Austin knows how to make ice cream.

Arborland Mall

Probably my first impression of Ann Arbor was a sign along US-23 with a large A. I don't think I was really paying attention to it at the time but I passed by this sign just before I was a freshman in high school. My dad and I were heading out to Pennsylvania and we decided to take US-23 to catch the Ohio and then Pennsylvania Turnpikes. Little did I know that roughly four years after that trip, I would be seeing this sign more often.
Arborland was originally opened as a strip mall in 1961. It was changed to an enclosed mall sometime after Briarwood Mall (on the south side of Ann Arbor) was opened in the 70's. It is now an open mall again.

My first trip to Arborland was when I was a freshman at Eastern Michigan. The main bus terminal was there and I think I was shopping for CD's or someting. This was before I discovered School Kids records and downtown Ann Arbor.

Now with the Borders and Circuit City stores close, I'm guessing that Arborland will undergo another transition.

Anyways, my original purpose for this was to tie it with another institution on Washtenaw that is going out of business...the Ypsi-Arbor Bowl but that sign wasn't lit, so I'll have to take a picture of it soon.