Last weekend, USC baseball took center stage in the 2015 Dodgertown Classic, a three game series at Dodgers’ Stadium between four of America’s top collegiate baseball teams. On Friday night, USC defeated #7 TCU in walk-off fashion, scoring the final run on a 12th-inning suicide-squeeze bunt. Saturday, the script sounded the same; USC defeated #1 Vanderbilt on a walk-off homerun in the bottom of the 9th inning. Riding two consecutive victories, USC faced off against #6 UCLA on Sunday, renewing the crosstown rivalry.
Always ready to root on the Trojans, my girlfriend Victoria and I suited up in cardinal and gold and headed to Chavez Ravine (home of Dodgers’ Stadium) Sunday afternoon. As we entered Dodgers’ Stadium, USC fans erupted with cheers; USC had just homered to start the top of the 2nd! Walking through the promenade, we exchanged “Fight On!’s” with USC fans and awkward glances with UCLA fans until we reached our seats in right field.
Following the homerun, the game went well for the Trojans, who scored in each of the first four innings to lead 5-3. At the start of the 5th inning, Victoria and I moved to seats right behind the Trojans’ dugout. Sitting next to us? The Trojan Marching Band! Every time USC scored a run, the band would break out in the fight song, greeting the baserunner as he entered the dugout. Between innings, the marching band would outplay the UCLA band, situated across the field behind the third-base dugout.
Sunday’s game contained much less 9th inning drama, and USC doubled up the Bruins 8-4 for the victory. At game’s end, the band saluted the baseball team one last time with the fight song. Victoria and I stood singing along to congratulate the team on a great weekend of baseball.
This past weekend represents why I love USC and Los Angeles. During the week, I work hard, whether in engineering courses or Rocket Lab. But come the weekend, I have uncountable opportunities: USC athletics, Disneyland, good restaurants, the beach, hiking, and so much more. As an avid baseball fan, I loved seeing my favorite collegiate team play at a baseball icon like Dodgers’ Stadium. I cannot wait for the 2016 Dodgertown Classic!
