news-record.com

OMAHA, Neb. — One of the many benefits of making it to Omaha is the chance to get "adopted" by a host club.

They do a vast amount for us during the entire trip, including greeting us at the hotel with a crowd cheering, making sure we have fans on our first touchdown in Nebraska. They come to the games and greet us as we get off the bus and, win or lose (hopefully win), they meet us after each game to congratulate us (most of the time) and just to enjoy the fellowship.

The highlight of the club is to provide a team function of some sort. In years past, we have had the good fortune to enjoy a trip to the driving range and dinner with family/country-club pool party. I have heard of other teams enjoying Omaha-steak fries and boat trips, which are equally spectacular.

Unlike any other year and any other experience, this year we were lucky enough to be sponsored by Offutt Air Force Base, and the team function was assuredly unlike anything else.

We arrived at the base to a spectacular lunch, featuring Nebraska's version of barbecue. I don't want to complain, it tasted great, but I will forever hold a place in my heart for both versions of N.C. barbecue back home.

After a trip to the armory and the handling of all the guns that the guards get to use, we were treated to a demonstration of the guard dogs on the base that are shipped around the world do what they do best — attack when called upon, and then be the sweetest man's best friend on command.

The absolute greatest part for all of us was the finale: shooting a real, no-joking, 100 percent legit machine gun with live rounds. Ear plugs were in, bulletproof vests were on and helmets and glasses were passed out. And then the real fun came — lying down and actually rolling off some serious firepower.

The thing that we all came away with, however, was the fact that baseball is only a game. Seeing the base and all that was surrounded in the military life, and how much they do to protect our freedom, gave us a sense of gratitude that could never be replaced. So maybe, as the rest of the military is protecting us, hopefully we will revel in the opportunity given us to beat the Sun Devils.

Ragsdale alumnus Chase Jones is the bullpen catcher for the North Carolina baseball team. He gives News & Record readers an inside view of the College World Series.