I was surfing the net and came across this web site
(click on the logo to go to the site)
which included a terrific story on Hayley and Brett at a Sea Dogs game during August
Friday 10th September
2004
A note to Pam
Hi.
We are the parents of Brett Roneberg, the Sea Dogs player mentioned
in your story.
Which was a fabulous read!!! - thank you for your comments!!!
We have our own web site, which at the moment has over 21,000
photos in it and a part of this Family Site is about Brett and
the Sea Dogs.
I would like your permission to use your text and photos on my
site - it is a very nice story.
If you reply to this email, I will send again and include the
details, along with the web address and lots of links that you
might like to look at.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Geoff.
***** I am not sure how this "Xanga" email works, but
here is one link.
-------------------Brett
after winning the Silver Medal
Bye, bye.
......and Pam's reply
Hello.
I was so very excited to see that you had found my site and enjoyed
my little story.
You absolutely may use my picture and story.
I can't tell you how much the simple act of Brett asking to have
his picture taken with my daughter excited her.
It will be a moment that she will always remember I am sure -
I know I will.
The look on her face was priceless.
I am sure you have many moments that you remember of your children.
You have a wonderful site of your own.
I had a chance to visit and there are so many pictures!!!!!
You have put in an enormous amount of work.
I would be honored to be included on your site.
Brett can show you for himself when he gets home, but my daughter
insisted on sending him a "thank you" via Kate.
He has 2 pictures of the photo that we printed for him.
I am, however, attaching the photo for you to use.
This is my work address, but my home address is - phuntress@adelphia.net
- if you have any further stories or questions for me.
Again, I am just thrilled that you contacted me.
Sincerely,
Pam Huntress.
And here is Pam's story
It was posted on her site on Sunday 15th August and refers to
the game the Sea Dogs played against the Trenton Thunder on Monday
9th August
This summer we have gone to several AA Baseball games.
In Maine we do not have the Red Sox or the Yankees, but we do
have the Portland Sea Dogs!
They are a minor team for the Red Sox though.
The great thing about AA ball is that it is small, that is part
of it's charm.
In the general admission section an adult ticket cost $6 and a
child ticket is $3.
For under $10 Mickey, Hayley & I can enjoy a night at the
ball park.
You can't even park near Fenway for that.
We have the added advantage that one of the offices in my company
is across the street and I can use my employee parking to park
very near the ball park for free.
I am loving that Hayley has gotten to the age where she enjoys
going to the games and she knows enough about baseball that it
holds her attention throughout the game.
As a matter of fact a few of the games we have wanted to leave
before the end of the game and she begs us not to leave early.
She loves Slugger, the mascot.
He certainly helps to keep her attention.
That Dog is always doing silly things and he gives LOTS of stuff
away during the game.
Hayley is wishing that her birthday was in the summer so she could
have a birthday party at one of the games.
You see, like all sports fans (especially the
little ones.....or the young at heart) she has her favorite player.
His name is Brett Roneberg.
He plays right field and is from Australia.
Hayley picked him out at her first game as her favorite player.
He just happens to be dating the daughter of a woman that I work
with.
I talked to her and asked if she could talk to her daughter about
Hayley getting to meet him!!
Kate said that if we came to the game as soon as the gates opened
she would meet us at the autograph area and she'd make sure Hayley
got to meet Brett.
The game started at 7:00, but we got to the stadium at 5:15; at
5:30 they opened that gates and we went straight to the area where
Kate was to meet us and we waited.
Hayley still was not sure what we were doing there other than
maybe get an autograph like the other people.
I almost had to go a little nutty on a couple of people...I was
getting really PISSED OFF!
And that takes a lot for me.
Hayley and I were about the 7th & 8th people there.
We waited for about 45 minutes before we got to see the players.
Thank God for Kate or I would have had to scratch some eyeballs
out.
Like I said, we were one of the first people there, but as the
time went on more & more people came and they kept pushing
their way forward.
There was one couple who must have been in their late 60's pushing
my baby back further & further.
By the time Brett came out the poor thing was half way back in
the pack.
I was appalled, here she is 9 years old holding her sharpie in
one hand and her glove in the other waiting patiently and these
gray haired people were trying to push her away....how childish
of them!!
Luckily, we had an in with Kate on our side.
When Brett came in he signed a few autographs then Kate went over
to him and whispered in his ear.
They then walked over to us and Kate says "Brett, meet my
special friend Hayley. Hayley this is Brett".
Well you could have knocked Hayley over with a feather!
He asked her about how she liked baseball and if she played softball.
Then he asked if she wanted something signed.
As he was signing her hat I was about to snap a picture and he
says "Hayley, turn around so your Mum can take a good picture,
I'd like to take my picture with you."
Hayley was just ecstatic about that!
I thought that she was going to levitate she was so happy!!!
As he finished she said "Brett, good luck in the Olympics!!!!
I will be watching for you!!!"
He seemed impressed that she knew he was leaving in the morning
for Athens to play for the Australian Baseball Team.
About Brett Roneberg
- from the Sea Dogs web site
signed by the Marlins as a 16-year-old non-drafted free agent
in 1996
played for parts of 7 seasons in Florida farm chain, including
49 games with Portland in 2001, before being traded to Montreal
in June 2002
signed by Red Sox after playing 2003 for Altoona in Pittsburgh
system
hit .281/10/61 with 29 doubles and 12 SB in 125 G with Curve last
season
played in only 81 games in 2002 after fracturing hamate bone in
spring training
finest pro year in 2001 - career high 142 hits, 31 doubles, 4
triples, 16 home runs, 82 RBI between A-Brevard County and AA-Portland
2nd Australian to play for Portland (Glenn Reeves, 1997-99)
played for Australian National Team during 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney
18-game hit streak (4/27-5/15) longest by Dog since Victor Rodriguez
21-game streak in 1998
Normally Hayley will cheer during the game
but never getting too overly loud or excited, but when Brett got
up to bat the first time he got a hit and an RBI!
Well Hayley jumped up, with her arms in the air and screamed....
"WAY TO GOOO BRETTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!---WOOOOOOOOO".
It was so darn cute!
Then every time he was up to bat it was "Mom, can you pass
me my glove? I have to be ready in case Brett hits a foul ball
to me".
I had more fun watching her get excited than I did watching the
game.
BTW....if you ask Hayley she absolutely positively, does NOT have
a crush on Brett....yeah, right!!!!
She denies it, but Mom knows better!!!!
Then why when I suggested we go out to see Princess Diaries II
Friday night did we have to stay home and watch the opening ceremonies
to the Olympics???
Here is another note
Pam added to her web site on Thursday 26th August
Hello!
I am going to TRY to get to my whole 'SIR' list tonight!
I have really missed this place and you.
I feel so bad for not being around.
Work is crazy, summer has been crazy, life in general has been
CRAZY.
I want to give a BIG YEAH!!!! To Brett!!!!
Can my girl pick 'em already or what?????
Congratulations to Brett and the entire Australian baseball team
for their SILVER medal!!!!
And he was one of the top players as well.
He was tied for homerun leader!
He was, I think, 4th in batting average!
I could look it up, but I am not going to.
If I start searching I won't be doing my 'SIR' list now will I????
LOL!!
Have a great weekend.