I love baseball.

After watching the Kansas City Royals make their first run at the World Series in 1985, I asked my mom if my elementary school birthday party could have a Royals baseball theme. She quickly went into super-mom mode, and instead of traditional cupcakes, my birthday party consisted of nachos with cheese, roasted peanuts in the shell and freshly popped buttered popcorn in little cardboard boxes (all without the help of Pinterest). I think she even wrote a letter to the Royals Baseball Organization asking for 30 free stickers, which she received only days before my birthday and we happily handed out to everyone in Mrs. Hays’ classroom.

In fourth grade I loved watching my dad and uncles play men’s summer softball so much my aunt taught me how to keep the scorecard of all the hits, outs and runs in the official team scorebook. I remember spending countless summer evenings watching the games, keeping score and staying up way past my bedtime while doused in massive amounts of bug spray.

I played softball in junior high but was pretty soured when my dad umpired a game and called me out on strike three (we lost).

And as I write this blog, I realize I have numerous photos of my birthday being celebrated while attending a baseball game.

The Baltimore Orioles (O’s) have spring training facilities in Sarasota, Florida, and this year I was lucky enough to take in a few games. I’m relatively new to spring training games — I saw the Royals in Arizona in the mid-2000s (certainly before the current facility was built), and a couple of years ago I was in Port St. Lucie to catch a Mets spring training game when Tim Tebow was still with the organization. (To be honest, I was secretly hoping to spot his Miss Universe then-girlfriend in the ladies’ restroom. No such luck.)

Although I haven’t paid much attention to the Orioles since Cal Ripken retired, they have certainly spoiled me with the spring training experience. It seems as if everyone working at Ed Smith Ballpark is required to pass a super-kind-nicest-person-ever test (and I’m from the Midwest!). I have never met nicer volunteers in my life! Easily spotted in bright orange shirts, everyone is super welcoming, volunteering to take your photo, asking about your favorite teams and suggesting places within the stadium to snap a pic with your BFF.

It’s a mini-baseball haven right here in my hometown, complete with freshly grilled burgers and hot dogs and, of course, boxes of Cracker Jack.

The experience caused me to buy an Orioles t-shirt for the first time ever. And with the shortened spring training season, I wasn’t able to wear it as much as I’d like, but I’m guessing I’ll sport that Orioles shirt for years and years to come.

And as long as they’re not playing the Kansas City Royals, I’ll cheer them on.

— Carrie Cox, account executive