New Smyrna Beach Gnarlies: The In Game Experience

Against a backdrop of planes taking off from the New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport, the newly formed New Smyrna Beach Gnarlies celebrated Opening Day, June 3, by welcoming the Cocoa Tailgators to the New Smyrna Beach Sports Complex.

The planes flew skyward from left field toward center field as the Gnarlies were moving from idea to reality.

Opening Day was delayed twice for NSB as their first two games were rained out. Nevertheless, the Gnarlies were greeted by an enthusiastic crowd seemingly composed of the players' family, friends and those who came to see just what exactly a collegiate wood-bat summer league is.

In short, it is fun.

The lead-up to the game featured lively music that was only topped by Jack Snyder’s Jimi Hendrix like rendition of the National Anthem.

Though the live stream had issues, the game on the field did not. The players from both squads combined a blood and guts one hundred percent effort with a lot of dugout chatter geared towards encouraging and supporting their teammates,

The Gnarlies had a mid-game lead of 5-3 that evaporated into a 10-5 loss to a Cocoa Tailgators team that emphasized their speed.

The next evening, NSB lost its second game of the season, 16-11, to the Palm Coast Big Bouys.

The Gnarlies have a one-game road trip to St. Augustine for a 5 P.M. tilt against the Sardines at St. Josephs Field on Sunday. They return for a three-game homestand June 8 through the 10th, welcoming Palm Coast on the 8th and 10th, with Cocoa playing the middle game of the home stand on June 9.

I highly recommend any evening at the ballpark, especially a Gnarlies game, which features the aforementioned all-out player enthusiasm, a crowd to match and a pleasant Gnarlies staff.

The home plate view at the New Smyrna Beach Sports Complex. Home of the Orange State League NSB Gnarlies.

A Gnarlie at the bat against the Cocoa Tailgators on Opening Day, June 3

Charles I. Guarria is an author, reporter and host based in the state of Florida, USA, covering any topic, anywhere in the world. His career began in 2009. Mr. Guarria is a three-time winner of Emerald Group Publishing’s Highly Commended Award and host of The Opinion Guy Fun Friendly Informative. He is available for hire to write, research, or beta-read. 

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