Corey played another great season of baseball this year. He’s been playing since he was four years old. He loved it, and he’s good at it. For us, it’s another miracle; the child with half a heart can play a legitimate sport.

After one of his games this year he came home with a contest entry form. It was for the Chick-Fil-A Honorary Bat Kids Sweeptstakes. I barely looked at the form. How many sweepstakes have I entered in my life and won? Zero. Actually that’s not true – I won free lunch for the office once from a radio station maybe 15 years ago. Anyway, I just thought, “He’s never going to win.” But Corey was insistent, so I offered him a pen, an envelope and a stamp, and I told him that if he wanted to enter, he’d have to handle it himself. He did.

And he won. Corey was not surprised by the win. Me, I was shocked. I spoke to a Baltimore Oriole’s representative, and he gave me the contest details as well as the basics of the prize, which were as follows:

“This summer Chick-fil-A and the Baltimore Orioles have teamed up to present the Bat Kids Sweepstakes. Children ages 6-14 can enter to win the title Honorary Bat Kid at an Oriole’s game this summer.

Winners will be given:

• Early on-field Access before general public admission
• One-on-one interaction with players
• Autographs
• Pre-game Ceremony featured on the jumbotron with the Oriole Bird and Chick-fil-A Cow
• Co-branded Orioles and Chick-fil-A t-shirt
• Four game tickets
• Chick-fil-A Prize Pack filled with coupons and free prizes
• Congratulatory Certificate
• Memorable photo of the on-field ceremony

Winners will also be able to watch Batting Practice from in front of the Orioles Dugout for one hour during Orioles Batting Practice.”

Wow! First we scheduled a game to attend, which was Thursday, June 12th against the Toronto Blue Jays at Camden Yards. We were given four free tickets, meaning our family was able to attend together. Next, I spoke with the Chick-Fil-A rep, and he asked us to come to the local store to pick up our prize, which was touted as “Free Chick-Fil-A for a year!” – it’s actually 52 chicken sandwiches. Still awesome, don’t get me wrong. We picked up the prize and had our picture taken with the cow. Photos of that are in the June 10th Chick-Fil-A facebook feed.

The night of the Camden Yards Oriole’s game arrived, and it was pouring down rain. Buckets. Cats and dogs. Pick a cliche. I was pretty sure the game was going to be rained out and Noah’s Ark was going to make an appearance. However, we were mostly concerned that Corey wouldn’t get to experience the pre-game activities. The game was scheduled to start at 7:05, but we were asked to arrive by 4:30 for Corey’s activities. At 4:30, we met the Oriole’s rep, Brian, at Home Plate Plaza, he handed Corey a t-shirt, hat, and professional ball and asked him to put on the shirt & hat. Corey changed quickly in the nearby restroom, and then he headed off with Brian.

Corey was supposed to watch batting practice, but the ball players weren’t batting. They were practicing their kayaking skills. However, Corey did get to spend time with the players in the dugout. Not too shabby. He got his ball signed by 7 current players. He was also given a tour of the locker room and the press box. Corey chatted the players up and returned to us grinning like a fool. He also got 3 signatures from former players who just happened to be at Camden Yards offering to sign fan paraphernalia.

Not long after, Corey was allowed on the field for a certificate ceremony with another little girl. We had to stay behind, but we were able to get close to the field to watch. During this ceremony, Corey and the other girl appeared on the jumbotron with the Chick-Fil-A cow and the Oriole’s mascot. Brian asked Corey to wave to his family. Corey interpreted “wave to your family” to mean “act like a maniac.” Corey was such a ham that the other people on the field laughed and clapped for him. That child is no shrinking violet.

We grabbed some food for dinner and found our seats. Miraculously, the rain stopped, the tarps were rolled back, and the ball game started on time! We stayed for a few innings, and the boys loved it. It was late, though, and a school night, so we left before the game was even half over. As I tucked Corey into bed that night, he asked me to let him know, first thing in the morning, if the Oriole’s won. (They did.)

It’s a night he’ll remember for the rest of his life.