Attendance, weather improves at second annual Clash at Comerica
DETROIT – Thirty-nine degrees made quite the difference from the inaugural Clash at Comerica to Tuesday’s second annual Clash at Comerica.
In the trail run between Central Michigan versus Michigan State at Comerica Park, it was 45-degrees, there were 15 mile-per-hour winds and 2,169 fans showed up.
The Spartans scored three first-inning runs, beating the Chippewas 3-1 April 20, 2011.
Although the results favored MSU, 13 months later and an 84-degree evening improved the event’s attendance to 3,468 Tuesday.
“Hopefully this thing can keep growing and with the weather like this it always helps, but at the same time, two quality teams going against each other and somebody has to lose at the end of the day,” said CMU head coach Steve Jaksa.
The fight songs blared, fans danced in front of the new 6,000-foot high definition scoreboard installed this season and they enjoyed a sunny baseball game.
Not only was it a chance to play on a big-league field, but a chance to showcase their programs.
The game was televised on the Big Ten Network and having it at Comerica Park, admittedly, helps with exposure.
“I said the same thing last year,” Jaksa said. “I think it’s very important that the people that came out here saw both programs and what kind of baseball is played at the Division I level in the state of Michigan, and I think a lot of people were there tonight (Tuesday) and I think that’s great.”
Recruits saw the annual event unfolding and it might be an experience one would eventually want to take part in.
CMU senior Eric Wrozek hit a solo home run and MSU sophomore Joel Fisher hit a two-run home run, his first collegiate home run as the Spartans took the second annual Clash at Comerica, 5-2.
Those memories, along with the arrival to the ball park, the atmosphere, the locker rooms, all add up to an experience -- one MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr. is glad his players got to experience.
“It’s a thrill for us to come down and play here in a beautiful ball park,” he said. “The Tigers are just tremendous in the way they treat us. It’s a thrill for us to be a part of the Clash at Comerica and neat for our players to experience it.”
