Spring Training’s Youngest Fans: Braves vs. Tigers
shelby jones
ORLANDO-- Spring training may not always be on the agenda, but sometimes you find your way there like Hayden Bertrand,12, did.
Hayden and his family came for a Disney vacation, but he and his dad, Kip Bertrand, snuck away to go watch some baseball. They left Animal Kingdom to catch the last half of the Braves and Tigers game at Champion Stadium in the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World.
Every year they take a Disney vacation and every year they wish they would be there for spring training, but them seem to always miss it by a week. This year they got their wish, just in time to see the Braves play their last season at Disney.
“We come to Disney all the time but we never get to be here during spring training,” Kip said. “So we are happy we got to make it this year.”
He may wish he had a better seat, but for coming on short notice and not arriving until the fifth inning he said he couldn’t complain. They sat in the grassy area along the third base side, with sun hitting their faces. Not the closest, but definitely relaxing.
“I like it over here,” Hayden said. “I don’t know if anything could be better.”
He has always been a big baseball fan, rooting for the Astros, so when he found out they were going to be able to come Hayden was excited. He and his dad are usually out voted by the girls (his mom and two sisters) so they don’t get to do this very often, but by the looks on their faces, this has been a pleasant experience for both Hayden and his dad.
Hayden first said his favorite part of the game was hanging out with his Dad. Then after the centerfielder caught a ball sliding on the turf, Hayden decided that was his favorite part.
“Just watching the game has been awesome, nice, I like the Astros, but I like the Braves too,” said Hayden
He was given an official 2019 MLB Spring Training baseball as he was walking out of the stadium and that turned out to be his favorite part of spring training. An experience he never expected to have.
Hayden and his family came for a Disney vacation, but he and his dad, Kip Bertrand, snuck away to go watch some baseball. They left Animal Kingdom to catch the last half of the Braves and Tigers game at Champion Stadium in the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World.
Every year they take a Disney vacation and every year they wish they would be there for spring training, but them seem to always miss it by a week. This year they got their wish, just in time to see the Braves play their last season at Disney.
“We come to Disney all the time but we never get to be here during spring training,” Kip said. “So we are happy we got to make it this year.”
He may wish he had a better seat, but for coming on short notice and not arriving until the fifth inning he said he couldn’t complain. They sat in the grassy area along the third base side, with sun hitting their faces. Not the closest, but definitely relaxing.
“I like it over here,” Hayden said. “I don’t know if anything could be better.”
He has always been a big baseball fan, rooting for the Astros, so when he found out they were going to be able to come Hayden was excited. He and his dad are usually out voted by the girls (his mom and two sisters) so they don’t get to do this very often, but by the looks on their faces, this has been a pleasant experience for both Hayden and his dad.
Hayden first said his favorite part of the game was hanging out with his Dad. Then after the centerfielder caught a ball sliding on the turf, Hayden decided that was his favorite part.
“Just watching the game has been awesome, nice, I like the Astros, but I like the Braves too,” said Hayden
He was given an official 2019 MLB Spring Training baseball as he was walking out of the stadium and that turned out to be his favorite part of spring training. An experience he never expected to have.
