AROUND TOWN

Mud Hens Opening Day was a winner

Toledo Mud Hens and Indianapolis Indians players bow their heads during the National Anthem at Fifth Third Field.

THE BLADE/BARBARA HENDEL
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Toledo Mud Hens and Indianapolis Indians players bow their heads during the National Anthem at Fifth Third Field.

Upstairs, downstairs, and all around Fifth Third Field, fans and partygoers were everywhere on Toledo Mud Hens' opening day Friday.

Tailgaters started as early as 10 a.m. Some had reserved parking spaces for their annual gathering that began in 2002 when Fifth Third Field opened. Adrienne Readel, Beth and Kevin Dickrede, Rob Miller, Tony Longeway, and Ron Monhollen were there bright and early for their annual get-together.

A lot of fans went to the Mud Hens and Tigers exhibition game Wednesday of last week, the Tigers opening day in Detroit the following Thursday, and the Mud Hens' opener Friday. That was true for Jim and Pat Appold, who have a suite at Fifth Third Field and one at Comerica Park in Detroit. Of course Mike Miller, president and chairman of the Toledo Mud Hens Baseball Club, Inc., was also at all three games.

A group of GM Power Train workers, who also were celebrating their 11th year as Hens tailgaters, were in another parking lot. Tom Marckel and his brother Ron Marckel said it was a triple header week because they were at all three games.

PHOTO GALLERY: Mud Hens Opening Day

Midland Title, Waterford Bank, Martin and Wood Appraisal Group, and MT Business Technologies hosted their annual tailgate party.

Susan and Allan Block enjoy the view from The Blade suite at the ballpark.

Among the revelers were Chuck Mira, Tom Schlachter, Kim Sidwell, Jeannie Hylant, Marcia Rubini, John Mangas, Kathy Kuyoth, Brad and Julie Rubini, Jeff Huskisson. Mark and Laura Hummer,Cheryl Hardy, Bob and Molly Mack, Larry Boyer, and Bill and Shannon Sanford.

Lathrop hosted its annual party in the Roost. Greeting everyone were Tom and Jane Manahan and Steve and Peggy Klepper.

The Society of Young Professionals had a party in the picnic area near the foul pole.

The suites area was not as crowded as in past years, but this was a holiday weekend, so many were out of town. But for those who were there, it was great and many even watched the game while eating hot dogs, chicken, popcorn, peanuts, and more including sinful concoctions from the dessert cart.

Greeting everyone in the Fifth Third suite were Bob LaClair, Karen Fraker, John Szuch, and many others. Seen were Brent Lochbihler, Dirk Van Heyst, Bob Meeker, Suzanne and JB Rorick, Julie Warren, Carla Nowak, Chris Nance, Maureen and Steve Brown, Jon Ahlberg, and Ryan Smith.

Robin and Scott Libbe greeted guests in the Rudolph Libbe suite, including Mayor Mike Bell and Karen Jarosz.

In The Blade suite were Alexis Smith and her sister Amanda Truman with their dad John Smith, birthday boy David DiPaolo, with his wife Pat, who are celebrating their first wedding anniversary May 2, Jim and Kelley Grzywinski, Jackie and Greg Oehlers, and many others.

Many folks enjoyed watching the game from the press area known as the Bird Cage where there was live music by a few members of Skoobie Snaks band. Cruising by were Keith Burwell, Ann and Tim O'Brien, Rhonda Sewell, Kathryn Fell, Mo Devany and Mark Goodremont, Barb Gessel, Pat Nowak, Dan Kory and Elaine Canning, Jack and Cyndi Sculfort, and Rick Martin.

When the game was over revelers continued the fun at nearby eateries.