There is a new excitement in the air at Lynchburg City Stadium, but it doesn’t have everything to do with the Lynchburg Hillcats.
While the local Carolina League team is deep in last place, fans will be treated to a new on-field master of ceremonies.
Kyle Marks, a 2006 Nelson County High School graduate and former goalie for the Govs, has made the most of a recent opportunity. Marks has worn several different hats while working at City Stadium, but earlier in the season picked up the on-field microphone.
Fulltime Hillcats mistress of ceremonies and professional comedian Lianna Carrera took her act to Ireland, and Marks filled in.
“I was a little nervous at first,” said Marks, who got a little tongue-twisted on his first announcement. It was for the queen of the night, in which two fans get their seats upgraded to the reserve box seats. Marks stumbled a little on the name of the sponsor, La Li D’s Boutique, but he got it right the next night.
Other on-field emcee duties included the KFC Bungie Pull, in which two contestants are strapped to each other by a bungie cord while pulling in opposite directions, trying to drop a rubber chicken in a 5-gallon bucket.
Marks said his favorite game is when a very young fan is selected to run around the bases while racing the Hillcats’ mascot, Southpaw. Marks runs with the young fan around the infield while barking out a play-by-play of the race. The excitement builds and when home plate is finally touched, the crowd is roaring with laughter from Marks’ enthusiasm.
Other contests between innings are the Toss Your Sauce into a giant taco shell and the Lynchburg College Hornet Hop.
Marks won over the Hillcats’ jam-packed stadium recently when he broke into an operatic voice while singing, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”
Marks had at least two more games with the Hillcats as they wound up the regular season on Sept. 6 and 7. The Hillcats won the division’s first half and will host the opening round of the playoffs on Sept. 9 and 10.
If you attend any of the Hillcats games, do not be surprised if a tall blond man with a million-dollar smile puts a mic in your face.
It’s only Kyle.
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