LAKE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA  —  May 24, 2003

It’s already past 2 PM and I’m going to Lake Ellsinore some 95 miles away. Radio was quiet for the first hour. I called for Traffic Watch since I’m not familiar with the area and needed some help. As always, I got a prompt response and the helpful voice of Mel (Crest 41) came on the speaker. He checked my route and provided me with a shortcut from the 210 fwy to the 91 (last time, I got a bit lost and did it the long way around).

During the next hour and a half other Communications units where checking in on their way to the game. There was some concern that the game could be cancelled due to weather conditions. Weather was overcast in the San Fernando Valley when I left but as I approached Corona, the sky began to gradually clear. From my advanced position I complemented the weather and traffic information that Mel (and David, Crest 107) were providing the rest of units on their way to the game.

Soon after I got to The Storm Professional Baseball Team Stadium, the chatter of units checking in increased. Crest 51 was the first one to arrive there then 28, 41, 107, 44, 68, 85, 95… all of them with a big smile on their faces and ready to have a good time. 

This event was offered to CREST as a way to earn income for our treasury. The local high school students are hired part-time by the stadium to act a concession servers and attendants but since the park sells beer and they are underage, there is a need for beer servers. The baseball team decided to offer it to non-profit organizations and give the organization a donation. CREST took the challenge. This is our second year and we will be doing it again towards the end of the season.

Once we all were there (a total of 9 units) we were briefed on what our duties where to be for the day: serve beer, pizza, hot dogs, coffee and other beverages, and prepare nachos. No radios would be needed. This is very different to what our usual assignments usually are but hey, it looked like a lot of fun! We formed teams of three and each one headed towards their respective stand. We had just a few minutes to practice before the people began to come.

For the next three hours we rushed up and down the stands preparing, grabbing, and pouring whatever the stand attendants needed. 

Just before 9 p.m. the stand closed and it was time to rest, chat with the standattendants, and have some pizza.  Then we just sat outside to enjoy the end of the game. This was actually my first baseball game. Baseball is not popular in Spain where I hail from but at the end, I could see just the last 5 minutes of it. Radios began to work again as we checked on the other Communicationsers and we all left the stadium with a big smile and the satisfaction of having done a great job. 

At the end of the day we all where exhausted, but had a great time and willing to do it again at another occasion.

Juan S. Fernandez
CREST 87