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Shalersville, Richfield towers are links to 1949 cross-country marathon
Can DNA tests free ex-Akron captain?
Victim of beating in Kent last week is declared dead at Akron hospital
Green High senior goes extra mile for those who walk and jog the park trails
Community, school and military news roundup
Tragedy to hope: Family creates foundation for bereavement therapy
Visiting new Navy ship brings back memories for Doylestown man serves on USS New York in 1930s
Most Read Stories
Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Victim of beating in Kent last week is declared dead at Akron hospital
Dad accused of forcing son into field, killing him
Can DNA tests free ex-Akron captain?
Man found dead in North Akron home is identified
Browns' roster nearly devoid of consistent players
Coventry man killed in crash at I-77 ramp
Does it work? Test team returns to try out new products advertised on television
Blogs:
Pets:
Cat-loving chihuahua suckles seven abandoned kittens
The Heldenfiles:
Friday Night Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
Browns vs. Lions live …
Akron Zips:
Akron trounces Howard to reach .500
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Robiskie, Harrison inactive
Kent State Sports:
Kent State blown out in second half, loses to Temple 47-13
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Buckeye Blogging:
OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
Varsity Letters:
Four area football teams play tonight
All Da King's Men:
The Sunday Sanity Challenge
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Will Health Care Reform Pass?
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (69) The Brookings Institute Study on "Bending the Curve" – Four General Strategies
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Silverdome Potentially SOLD!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
George is looking for a Thanksgiving buffet in Akron.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
A Random Rant on Testing
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
6,256 at Team USA game is considered a record
By Bill Lilley
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Thursday, Jul 24, 2008
Racers General Manager Joey Arrietta finally got to realize her decade-long dream Tuesday night at Firestone Stadium.
There was a fanny in each of the 2,400 permanent seats. There were 1,600 more fans packed into the temporary bleachers behind the home-run fences.
And there was a sea of humanity, another 2,000 or so fans, sitting on blankets and lawn chairs on the hill stretching from left field to center field all the way up to South Main Street.
All for a softball game.
Sure, it was a special softball game. The Racers were hosting the USA National Team led by softball legend Jennie Finch.
Team USA prevailed 6-2.
But Team USA had been to Akron twice before, in 1996 and 2000, and the crowds weren't close to Tuesday night's throng that officially was listed as 6,256.
''It is truly a beautiful sight,'' Arrietta said. ''It's been tough at times over the past 10 years with the Racers, and I had to do a lot of begging for a long time to get the game moved to Akron, but this crowd makes it all worthwhile.
''There are no words to express how excited I am to see so many people at a softball game.''
The crowd is believed to represent the largest to witness a sporting event at venerable Firestone Stadium, which was built in 1925 by Harvey S. Firestone for the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company's industrial league baseball team.
Retired Firestone Tire Recreation and Industrial Relations Director Frank ''Whitey'' Wahl, who was a star pitcher on the Firestone softball team, said it definitely has to rank as the biggest crowd at Firestone Stadium.
''When Hank [Vaughn] and I pitched against each other in games between Goodyear and Firestone in the '50s, we'd pack the stadium,'' said Wahl, 87, who played high school baseball at Firestone Stadium for Garfield in 1939. ''But the stadium didn't have as many seats as it does now. So you'd probably figure there were around 3,000 for those Firestone-Goodyear games, which was a ton of people in those days.
''I'm thrilled that there is that kind of interest in fastpitch softball these days.''
The previous high for professional softball was the crowd of 3,824 that came to the Women's Professional Fastpitch League All-Star Game on July 14, 1998.
''We're showing thousands of people that Akron is big league,'' Arrietta said. ''And this is a great opportunity for our sport, for the NPF [National Professional Fastpitch league] and for the Racers.
''Our players have been great, and our staff, which numbered about 100 for this event, was super. We knew it was going to be a long day when people started lining up to get in and get a seat at 4 a.m. That's a great problem to have.''
Especially considering the attendance problems the Racers have had over the past few years. They have entertained two big crowds this season: 1,300 on July 5 on a fireworks night and 1,000 for the season's first Saturday game on June 14.
The other 18 home dates have averaged about 250 fans. Racers Vice President Gary Thomas said the season average is about 500.
Arrietta is hoping Tuesday night's event will help to boost the Racers' attendance over their final eight home games from July 29 through Aug. 5.
''The present has to get us to the future,'' Arrietta said. ''I've got to get more people behind us. I've always believed it could be done in Akron.
''This game shows me that it can be — especially when I see all the young kids having a great time.
''They aren't just here tonight to see the Olympic stars, they are here because they have a respect for the game. They'll be back.''
The Racers play at Rockford, Ill., this weekend, then the two teams come back to Akron for a series that begins Tuesday at Firestone Stadium. The Racers conclude their home schedule Aug. 2-5 with four games against the Chicago Bandits. All games will begin at 7:05 p.m. Thomas said there will be promotional events at every game.
Bill Lilley can be reached at 330-996-3811 or blilley@thebeaconjournal.com.
Racers General Manager Joey Arrietta finally got to realize her decade-long dream Tuesday night at Firestone Stadium.
Get the full article here.
