Orioles Hold Tryouts For Ballboys and Ballgirls
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- It's an exclusive club with only a chosen few with the honor of hitting the field at Oriole Park at Camden Yards as a ballboy or ballgirl.
Marcus Washington reports people took a shot Saturday with hopes of landing one of the spots.
It's thought to be one of the best places on earth during baseball season.
"This is Oriole Park at Camden Yards. It's the greatest baseball park in America," said judge Greg Carpenter.
That moment of putting your best ball retrieving game to action in hopes of making the team.
"I really enjoyed it a lot. I hope I get selected. If I don't, it was cool enough to try out for it," said one.
No, I'm not talking about making the Orioles lineup but the team of ballboys and ballgirls.
Every year, the Orioles hold auditions to pick the chosen few who can handle a glove and field balls.
"We're looking for the one with the most enthusiasm and can also feel the ball," said judge Reagan Warfield.
It's a job that, of course, has its ups and downs.
"You can sit around for a while but when action happens it's lightning quick," said Carpenter. "If you don't have those skills and you're not prepared for it, you're going to be in trouble."
Saturday afternoon brought out boys and girls, all over the age of 18, wanting the job.
"I saw the ad that said I could come take grounders on the field and I said it would be silly of me not to take full advantage of that opportunity. It's the best place on earth and I get to come out and run around like a kid. It's a phenomenal opportunity," said ballboy contender Matthew Rodgers.
If chosen, the ballboys and ballgirls will take the field with the likes of Jones, Davis and Hardy.
"I want it to be me but if he gets selected and I don't---which I doubt it---but if he gets picked, I would come support him and I'll come to every single game," said one man.
"I just think it would be cool to be near the players and I really want to be picked," said Anna Bell Williams.
The chosen ballboys and ballgirls will hold their duties the entire 2016 season.