Soon enough, I arrive on campus, pick Kevin up and we’re off. We take the scenic route to the ballpark, traveling along famous Lake Drive. The view to our right:

Upon arrival at Miller Park, Kevin was quick to put on his “game face”:

So let’s have a quick review…

Ballhawk Kevin

• 1 career baseball
• Softball glove
• No Pirates gear

Challenges…

Ballhawk Shawn

• Nearly 800x more career baseballs than Kevin
• Wilson a500 outfielder’s glove
• Perfect faux Pittsburgher

This should be good. I’m a big superstition person, and when I see animals at the ballpark, I always have a great day. Needless to say, I was ecstatic when this furry friend scampered into view:

After a few autographs and conversations with players in the lot, Kevin and I got a table at Friday’s Front Row Grill. Brewers batting practice was rather bland. New bullpen coach Fred Dabney fired me baseball #1, while Rickie Weeks hit a moon shot in my direction, caught for baseball #2. Ballhawk Kevin, after I take the lead, 1-0:

After BBBP (Boring Brewers Batting Practice), I switched over to my Pirates gear and prepared for further domination. Upon arrival to the Left Field corner, I snapped this picture of a few bullpen pitchers playing catch. Do you see what I see?:

Moments after I took this picture, Paul Maholm tossed me baseball #3, and Jason Jaramillo underhanded me #4. Kevin and I relocated to Ballhawk’s heaven, or Section 101. It’s a private, clear section in the dead center of the RF power alley. Things would pick up out there. Upon arrival, we were greeted by long time Brewers fan and season ticket holder Don T. Don’s been a Brewer fan for longer than I’ve been alive and he’s got some awesome stories to share about baseball at County Stadium. His baseball IQ is as high as anybody’s. Kevin talks with Don:

Then began the Pittsburgh lefties. Not to brag, but I made it look easy. I barehanded a Ryan Doumit fly ball off the bounce leaning over the railing in the above picture. The very next ball I did my best outfielder impression. Doumit lifted another high fly ball, driven deep in my direction. For those of you who have been to Miller Park, you know what the Tundra Territory is… a suite located in the outfield. Long story short, Toyota wants to keep the “regular fans” out of the section, so they erected a 4 foot wall. Back pedaling, I feel for the wall with my throwing hand, leap at the perfect moment and catch myself baseball #6, home run robbery style. During BP, Keven even hawked his second and third career baseballs, one of which he was instructed to give to a family a few rows up the bleachers. His second is pictured below:

Delwyn Young went on to hit me #7 in 101, and Jack Taschner threw me a baseball lying on these steps in the bullpen:

Ryan Church landed number’s 9 and 10 in the pocket of my glove, and that was it for BP. The rest of the game went off without a hitch. Fans can now vote for the All Star game… This is the 2010 ballot, I’ve punched out players who have: Hit me a ball, Thrown me a ball or signed a ball for me (most of which are the first two):

Pirates Bullpen catcher and all around good guy Herbie Andrade hooked me up with Octavio Dotel’s warmup baseball in the 8th inning, and that was the last baseball I would snag tonight:

Final Tally:

Ballhawk Kevin- 4
Ballhawk Shawn-  11
(F)

I’m sorry, Kevin, but you’ve still got the “novice” tag. He’ll have another chance to prove himself on Wednesday afternoon, stay tuned!