Event Report: Colorado Rockies vs Minnesota Twins – October 1, 2023

I had mentioned in a previous post from multiple years ago that I had intended on sitting in the Rockpile and attending a Game 162 at Coors Field. I will link that post below. Both of those items from my Coors Field Bucket List have been achieved as of October 1, 2023. Earlier that year, I had purchased tickets for my sister, a dear family friend, and myself to sit in the Rockpile to watch the Colorado Rockies take on the Minnesota Twins in the very last game of the 2023 Major League Baseball regular season as part of a ticket sale.

After meeting up at the apartment complex my sister and I shared, my party made the ride down to Coors Field. We listened to a playlist I had put together for the three of us. My outfit for the day was a light purple Rockies T-shirt with a dog on the back, a light blue UPF long-sleeve shirt, a black skort with the Rockies logo printed all over it, and black Vans high tops with animal print trim. Usually we would go into Gate E to enter, however, I decided that I wanted to go into a different gate. The reason being is that I wanted to say hi to an acquaintance from social media, Nolan. It was a fantastic and fun experience. Nolan is a wonderful person, at least from my perspective.

Despite the team’s record leaving far too much to be desired, I genuinely wanted to cry. I remember in 2016, I was inconsolably bawling on the last day of the Major League Baseball regular season. Reason being was because it was midterms time at college, I was super sick, and it was a fun season for me, having returned to Coors Field for the first time since I was in middle school. This time, however, I didn’t feel any tears coming, and I decided that I would not force myself to cry. Rather, I accepted that I was feeling mixed emotions.

James Zwoniarkiewicz takes the mound for the ceremonial first pitch

Since it was the 30th anniversary season, the game started with a 1990s themed snippet of the team throughout the years. I was beyond amused by it, as were my sister and our family friend. All three of us love 1990s music. Some of my favorite acts are Foo Fighters, Nirvana, and Lenny Kravitz. I will write a list of my top 10 favorite 1990s songs in the future.

Two key Rockies players included Sean Bouchard and Nolan Jones. Both young men hit solo home runs in the fourth and eighth innings, respectively. Overall, the game was quite fascinating. That is, until extra innings. I dislike extra innings quite a bit. For me, it’s too much suspense and too much stress. The sooner the game is finished, the better. I managed to maintain a healthy headspace by using a technique known as “calming candles.” This technique is when I put four fingers out in front of me, and I blow on them as if I am blowing out birthday candles. It really helped me manage feeling frustrated that the game was in extra innings and that both teams were taking quite a bit of time to score.

Then came the bottom of the 11th inning. The morale was high after Gavin Hollowell escaped a bases loaded jam, which is a situation where all three bases have runners on them and there are fewer than two outs. Brenton Doyle was on base, and Brendan Rogers was at bat. Little did I know that I was going to witness the most bizarre-yet-fantastic walk-off I could have ever imagined. Brenton was on second base, and a wild pitch had gone through the catcher’s pads. Consequently Brenton stole two bases in a single play. It happened in the flash of an eye, but Brenton successfully slid into first base, securing the win. Before I knew it, I was on my feet, screaming at the top of my lungs. To say that I am beyond grateful to have seen it in real live time is a massive understatement!

People in the Rockpile were living their best lives. I saw a group of people stacking up used cups. I applaud those people for wanting to make the best cup stack they could. I also briefly struck up a conversation with people behind me regarding Dippin’ Dots, a delicious ice cream dessert. I mentioned that after selling them in college at hockey games, I thought I would be tired of them, but I actually love them. That conversation was amazing because I saw it as an opportunity to welcome people into the baseball space and make them feel as if they were surrounded by people with positive personalities.

I loved getting to sit in the Rockpile, although we were in the blazing sun and we had to make do without cup holders. Making do without cup holders is easy, as long as one makes sure to be careful where they put their concessions to mitigate spilling. However, I recommend saving Rockpile seats for night games since it is in the path of the blazing warm sun.

All in all, I loved getting to cross two things off of my Coors Field Bucket List. I am looking forward to the day I get to go to another Rockies game!