For every baseball fan that’s ever walked into a minor league ballpark and has said, “yeah, but it will never happen” in regards to a promotional contest, take notice of Wednesday night, May 13 at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf.
Southern Maryland Physical Therapy & Chiropractic sponsors the “Back-To-Back Jacks” promotion at the home of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, and in the fifth inning of the game against the Long Island Ducks, they got plenty of promotional “bang for their buck,”…literally.
If the Blue Crabs hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning at home at Regency Furniture Stadium, a lucky fan chosen at random before the game wins $5,000. J.T. Hindle, a Blue Crabs 22-game plan holder, happened to have his number called last Wednesday evening.
A scoreless game at the beginning of the inning, Blue Crabs centerfielder Jeremy Owens slugged a two-run home run to left field to give Southern Maryland their first lead. Catcher Lance Burkhart then also homered to left on the very first pitch of the next at bat, to make Hindle $5,000 richer. Hindle was recognized on the field as the winner with a big check presentation. Southern Maryland went on to score seven runs in the inning, en-route to a 13-0 win.
Even Hindle had his doubts before winning. “I always pay special attention in the fifth inning every night I’m at the game, but I always said ‘fat chance’ it would actually happen, laughed Hindle. “Even when I had a chance to win, I said ‘fat chance.’ But I was just so excited. I love going to the games, the Blue Crabs are the best thing to ever happen to Charles County. I owe those two guys.”
It doesn’t appear the man who made it happen for Hindle is expecting anything however, as Lance Burkhart was just happy with his second home run of the season. It was great, it felt good to do something for a fan there,” said Burkhart. Hopefully that family can take advantage of the money.”
“What an exciting moment. I’m just so happy that a fan who supports so often, a season-ticket holder, was the first to win in this promotion,” said Blue Crabs General Manager Chris Allen. Congratulations to J.T., and we’ve said it before, it pays to be a Blue Crabs fan.”