TERRE HAUTE —
If baseball players are superstitious, then the Terre Haute Rex couldn’t ask for a better omen than the rainbow spread across 1,300 fans at their inaugural game.
“It’s pretty impressive,” Terre Haute mom Dana Hancock said beside the bleachers full of people wearing blue, black and white, the colors of the home team. The Terre Haute Rex were up to bat in the opening game of their opening season, facing the Springfield Sliders, and her 6-year-old son Tyler was ready to go. “He was excited to come out to the game. He loves the logo,” she said, noting as she brushed away raindrops what everyone in the stands already knew, that the “weather is a little goofy.”
Driving rain around 6:30 p.m. threatened Terre Haute baseball’s big night as fans crowded about the Clabber Girl concession stand, holding whatever they could find above their heads.
But by 7 p.m. the sky was blue and sunny, albeit dotted with puffy clouds bearing sporadic rain. The rainy sunshine produced a rainbow crossing Terre Haute’s north side, and from various vantage points, it appeared to land in Bob Warn Field.
Concession stand prices seemed a good mix of family-friendly fare, from $1 boxes of Cracker Jack to $7 pulled pork sandwiches with cole slaw, 16-ounce beers for $5 and “Rex Rally dogs” for $2. The Terre Haute’s Prospect League team’s first game also brought out a tent full of clothing, jerseys, hats and shirts, all bearing the Terre Haute Rex name and logo.
Kids scampered through the stands and across the facility’s playground, and Rex staff said the opening night was a big success.
General Manager Roland Shelton said he hopes the packed stands continue. “I’m excited that the community came out to support this Rex baseball team,” he said, adding that the team launch has been a community-wide effort with “great teamwork.”
Amy Huntsinger, Rex marketing director, said those efforts paid off at the ticket booth. “Over 1,300,” she said, noting the number of people who stayed despite the ongoing threat of rain. “We’re packed. We’re very, very pleased.”
Chad Lilguss, a fan in the stands, said the first game was looking pretty good around the third inning. “Thought I’d come and check it out,” he said, echoing comments from others about attendance. “This is more people than I’ve ever seen come out to an ISU game.”
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
Top Story 2
Related Photos
-
Soggy start: Phillip Roberts and his son Dakota arrived early enough for the Rex opener to get soaked by the pre-game rain showers. The Roberts family was there celebrating Dakotas' 7th birthday.
-
Good omen: After rain showers delayed the start of the opener for the Terre Haute Rex baseball team a rainbow appeared over the north side of Terre Haute.
-
Play ball: The first pitch in Rex history sails to the plate Thursday night.
-
First pitch: The first first pitch was throw by ISU alumnus Dave Campbell.
-
Crowd participation: Two members of the crowd provide entertainment between at-bats during the Terre Haute Rex first home game Thursday evening.
Discussion
Downpour doesn’t dampen fans’ enthusiasm for Rex debut
- Top Story 2
-
-
Clay City woman injured in I-70 accident
A Tuesday afternoon crash on Interstate 70 near the Brazil exit sent a Clay City woman to the hospital and blocked east- and westbound traffic for more than an hour.
-
UPDATE: Suspect arrested in Dugger shootings
Indiana State Police have arrested the alleged shooter in the early Sunday shootings of Patrick D. Ruff and LeighAnn Lovelace at Dugger.
-
Monkees singer Davy Jones dies in Florida at 66
Davy Jones, the lead singer of the 1960s group The Monkees, died of a massive heart attack today in Florida, his spokeswoman said. He was 66.
-
FULL STORY: ISU administrator faces charge of soliciting sex
Brian Hasler, special assistant to Indiana State University’s president, was arrested Wednesday in Indianapolis for allegedly offering to pay an undercover police officer for sex acts, according to Marion County court documents.
-
BREAKING: John Gregg makes campaign for Governor official
John Gregg, who this past May formed an exploratory committee to run for governor of Indiana, filed paperwork with the state today to change his committee to an official statewide campaign for governor, states today’s Gregg for Indiana email release.
-
VIDEO: Storm takes out power in Vigo County, downs trees in Collett Park area
Power remained out this morning to 9,343 customers of Duke Energy in Vigo County following Wednesday night’s powerful storms that swept through west central Indiana.
-
Fundraisers hope to make strides against cystic fibrosis (See VIDEO)
A rain shower may have dampened their clothes, but it couldn’t diminish the enthusiasm of this year’s participants in the Wabash Valley Great Strides Walk, which had its best turnout ever.
-
NEW: Potential foe Daniels greets Obama on Indiana arrival
President Barack Obama has arrived in Indianapolis, where Gov. Mitch Daniels was among those meeting him at the airport.
-
UPDATE: Bin Laden’s death brings joy, reflection
After nearly a decade of anger and fear, America rejoiced Monday at the demise of Osama bin Laden, the terror mastermind behind the horrific 9/11 attacks.
-
Americans gather joyfully to mark Osama bin Laden's death
Joyous at the release of a decade’s frustration, Americans streamed to the site of the World Trade Center, the gates of the White House and smaller but no less jubilant gatherings across the nation to celebrate the death of Osama bin Laden — cheering, waving flags and belting the national anthem.
-
Trio caught on video robbing convenience store
Police are seeking three suspects in an early Tuesday armed robbery at the Express Mini Mart in the 1800 block of North Third Street at Maiden Lane.
-
PHOTO UPDATE: Contractor arrested for home improvement fraud
A contractor who received more than $80,000 in grant money to do home repairs for seven clients affected by the June 2008 flooding in the Wabash Valley has been arrested for home improvement fraud.
-
Sullivan teams compete to 'Lighten Up'
Icy roads might not seem conducive to exercise, but Sullivan County organizers plan to put the heat on couch potatoes this spring. “We started advertising last week,” Carly LeDune, director of the Sullivan County Community Hospital Fitness Center, said Thursday afternoon.
-
Vigo's 3-level warning system debuts in storm
Vigo County motorists for the first time were introduced to emergency weather travel warnings during this week’s ice storm.
-
After crushing loss, MSU coach praises Miles’ Sycamores
Missouri State football coach Terry Allen was crestfallen.
-
State parks use marketing campaign to combat bug
State parks officials looking for creative ways to counter budget cuts have partnered with a national marketing campaign to replace trees lost to a tiny but destructive insect.
-
Hundreds turn out to support new ISU coach
Greg Lansing has been on Indiana State’s men’s basketball staff for nine years over two stints and has waited three years for the opportunity to be the head coach of the program after he was a finalist for the same position in 2007.
-
For ‘family reasons’: Indiana State made effort to keep coach, but McKenna decided to leave
When Kevin McKenna was mulling a decision to leave the head coach position at Indiana State to take an assistant coach position at the University of Oregon late last week, ISU Director of Athletics Ron Prettyman was at ... the University of Oregon.
-
52 slicked-up rides journey to Sullivan for the 2nd annual Southern Indiana Vintage Camper Rally
The stereo was playing Jimmy Buffett on a smoldering Sunday afternoon, with pink flamingos in the grass and Glen Houser rocking the 1976 Fairstream Argosy.
-
American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter unveils Hero’s Tree mural
A yellow ribbon tied around an old oak tree marks the focal point of a new Hero’s Tree mural honoring military veterans and family members on a wall at the American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter.
-
81st Vigo County Fair to feature truck and tractor pull, game shows
The action is heating up already at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds, as planning is under way for the 81st annual fair.
-
Historic Collett Park Pathway on schedule for end of the year
Completion of the Historic Collett Park Pathway is on schedule for the end of this year, with design of a concrete path around a 17-acre lake under way, and is expected to be bid out for construction by the end of July, Terre Haute officials said Wednesday.
-
TH tops Quincy: Tale of tape doesn’t tell winning story for Rex
The Terre Haute Rex game-winning hit on Tuesday against the Quincy Gems might have been the first tale of the tape where there was more tape inside the tape measure than there was on the field itself.
-
Vigo man killed in accident
A Vigo County man was killed late Monday afternoon in a traffic accident on Indiana 46 near the eastside Walmart store
-
Downtown marketplace packed for opening day of Farmers Market
Summer’s bounty had parking lots overflowing Saturday morning, as the Farmers Market opened to a roaring start.
-
Rex bats come alive for franchise’s first victory
After the Terre Haute Rex struggled at the plate in their inaugural game against Springfield on Thursday, many of the Rex players said they were having trouble adjusting to wooden bats after using aluminum during their collegiate seasons.
-
Downpour doesn’t dampen fans’ enthusiasm for Rex debut
If baseball players are superstitious, then the Terre Haute Rex couldn’t ask for a better omen than the rainbow spread across 1,300 fans at their inaugural game.
-
Brazil police chief resigns, returns to patrol ranks
The police chief for the Brazil Police Department has abruptly stepped down to rejoin the regular patrol ranks of the department.
-
Gone but not forgotten: When it comes to rural cemeteries, families and trustees who care seem to make all the difference
Keith Childress dipped his handbrush into a bucket of water, scrubbing Kyle’s headstone clean.
“I have to clean some stuff up before I can do anything else,” he said just before noon Sunday. Inside the Durham Cemetery on Indiana 63, U.S. flags lined the markers of veterans along a well-groomed lawn. -
Senior class president: It’s an ‘honor and a privilege’ to graduate from Rose
It was standing-room only in the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s Sports and Recreation Center, as the largest class in school history marched into alumni status before family and friends.
- More Top Story 2 Headlines
-
Raw Video: Toddler Trapped in Washing Machine
Raw Video: Fire on Nuke-powered Sub in Maine
NYPD: Person Implicated in Etan Patz Death
Astrologers Predict Outcome of Presidential Race
Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles
Illegal Burn Suspected in Nevada Fire
Obama: 'We've Got More Work to Do'
FAMU Bandmates: Victim Volunteered to Be Hazed
1 Dead After Crop-Dusters Collide in Midair
Castro's Daughter Takes on U.S.-Cuban Relations
Romney: "I'd Like Every Parent to Have a Choice"
Raw Video: Tornado Appears During Wedding
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
Clinton Touts Rights Advances, Assails Assad
Search Intensifies for Missing Louisiana Woman
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Raw Video: School Bus Hits House
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
Raw Video: Passed Out Man Robbed
Inquiry Hears Wider Secret Service Misbehavior
Fight erupts in Ukrainian parliament over language bill.
Racy ad encourages safe sex for senior citizens
New Video of The Dark Knight Rises Released by Warner Brothers
Coach dismissed after going to prom with student
Jennifer Lopez's Rock Hard Abs
Plane Passenger Records Engine Hatch Blowing Off
What Katy Perry Thinks Makes Her Hot
Toddlers Mistake Laundry Detergent TidePods for Candy, Get Poisoned
Anderson Kicks Guest Off Show
Lolo Jones Admits Trouble Keeping Boyfriends
Behind 'Breaking Bad's' Big Bang
Big Bang Theory Star Comes Out
Laundromat video: It was the babysitter and her friend
"The Choking Game" - Deadly Trend for Youth
Sanchez Eager to Start Her Career after 'Idol'
K.Stew's Topless Confession at Cannes
American Idol Crowns a Champ
