Orange clashed with red on Monday at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, not only in the team colors worn by fans in the stands, but on the field as the Washington Nationals shut out the Baltimore Orioles, 6-0.
The matchup, attended by 36,139 people, kicked off the first of a three-game series between the O’s and the Nats, an interleague rivalry known as “The Battle of the Beltways.”
But the Memorial Day game was remarkable for its patriotic tribute to the military and participation by Fort Meade service members representing various military branches.
The service members took part in several pregame events including the ceremonial first pitch. During the singing of the national anthem, service members stood alongside Orioles players.
“It’s great, a real privilege for us to be here,” Garrison Commander Col. Tom Rickard said. “The Orioles (are) a great organization. We love the O’s. I’m very grateful to be here today.”
The Orioles maintain a longstanding partnership with Fort Meade. Each year, the team donates complementary tickets for Sunday home games distributed by Leisure Travel Services. In addition, a group of current and former players conduct an annual youth baseball clinic on post.
As players from both teams warmed up before the start of the 1:05 p.m. game, nine service members dressed in Class B uniforms stood between both dugouts alongside Rickard and Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Brian S. Cullen.
“It’s pretty exciting,” said Marine Staff Sgt. Dwayne Smith of Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion. “You get an opportunity to honor veterans who came before us.
“It means a lot that we’re here and we have this opportunity. And who doesn’t love baseball?”
Air Force Tech Sgt. Alyson Scull of the 94th Intelligence Squadron relished the opportunity to participate.
“I was super-psyched,” said Scull, who grew up in Carroll County and served at Fort Meade from 2004-15. “I am a lifetime Orioles fan. My first game was at [the old] Memorial Stadium against the Yankees. My first baseball cards were Billy Ripken, Chris Hoiles, Brady Anderson. My nephew is named Palmer after [former Orioles pitcher and Hall-of-Famer ] Jim Palmer.
“I go all out when I go to games. I polish my toenails black and orange.”
The ceremonial first pitch was thrown by Spc. Angelo Camizzi of the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade, who stood at the pitcher’s mound a few feet from Rickard.
“It’s awesome,” Camizzi said of the tribute.
The crowd applauded as Camizzi was congratulated by Rickard, O’s catcher Andrew Susac and the Oriole Bird.
After the pitch, service members took to the field and stood beside Orioles players.
The O’s announcer then introduced the color guard from the 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaisance Wing as the group marched onto the outfield and posted the colors.
“We salute them and all of the military members in attendance today,” the announcer said. “We pause to remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our military.”
For a sixth year, Sgt. 1st Class Randy Wight stood at a microphone set up at home plate to sing the national anthem.
“It gets more fun every year,” he said.
Sgt. Joshua Day of the Defense Information Systems Agency stood alongside Orioles pitcher Alex Cobb.
“It was great,” Day said. “I’ve seen [Cobb] play for years. It was nice to meet him.”
Scull, who stood at home plate beside Susac, also met with Orioles manager Buck Showalter.
“I got to talk to Buck and that was amazing,” she said.
After the pregame activities, the service members rushed to their seats to watch the game.
“It was great — fast-paced — getting out there meeting the players,” Smith said after leaving the field. “It was pretty fun.”
The game reached a climax in the third inning when Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon hit a three-run home run, bringing Nats fans to their feet.
During the seventh-inning strech, Wight sang “God Bless America” as the Oriole Bird held the American flag. In a departure from previous years, Wight stood atop the Orioles dugout to face the fans while he sang.
“We want to get the audience to sing along with us, get them involved.” Wight said.
Afterward, fans cheered as notes of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” played.
Even as the hits continued and the crowd roared, the game stopped at 3 p.m. as players and fans stood in silence for the National Moment of Remembrance in honor of fallen service members.
“It’s always good to honor publicly the people who came before us,” Smith said.
