From the moment the teens entered the suite, there was a sense that this was a special event. Whether it was deciding on indoor barstools or outdoor stadium seats, our youth quickly made themselves comfortable. They enjoyed catered ballpark favorites of hot dogs, soda and popcorn as well as other tasty items like chicken wings, sliders, a veggie tray and cookies.

The suite was packed with Mentoring Matches. Some of the Matches in our first and second cohorts are still meeting for the first time and it was great to see the groups mingling. The private space made it easy for teens to engage with one another as well as with their mentors and our founders.

Watching a live baseball game was a new experience for many who attended. They also enjoyed three fun surprises. The first was a visit from Kevin and his family. Upon introduction, one of the teens asked, “is he a lawyer for bikers?” Later, another shared that he was nervous talking with a “celebrity.” If you know Kevin, these statement makes a lot of sense. His visit provided a great opportunity for our teens to have casual conversations with our event sponsor and it likely removed stereotypes and boundaries as they saw a positive adult role model, who may not have been exactly what they expected. The Mascot Dinger also made an in-room visit and Matches enjoyed taking pictures with him.

The biggest surprise came when River Cats jerseys arrived for each of the teens. This special gift was received with great excitement. For some of the teens, however, the jerseys were too big and they were invited to go to the River Cats store for an exchange. Nearly half of the group went to the concourse for what became a fun shopping spree where the teens asserted independence and showcased more of their personalities.

The Sacramento River Cats played a close game that ran extra-long but the Reno Aces won in nine innings and over four hours of play! Throughout the night, Matches slowly trickled out but a few stayed late in hopes of catching the post-game firework show. Since the game ended so late, it was decided to watch the fireworks from the parking lot. As the remaining group watched, one of the male teens pointed out how cool the reflection looked on the downtown buildings.

This meetUP was a win for all. Thank you again, Hughey Phillips, for the major league fun!