Blacksburg in a New York state of mind

WSLS News Staff
Published: March 18, 2008

Facing the likes of perennial all-stars Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez would phase just about anyone.  So it’s no surprise that the Hokies didn’t score a run against the Bronx bombers.  But in the end, the score didn’t really matter.

Thousands of Hokie fans and Yankees fans packed a modified English field Tuesday afternoon, for an April 16th tribute months in the making.

The Yankees’ visit to Virginia Tech for an exhibition game against the Hokies meant more than the $1 million check the New York City squad donated to the Hokie Memorial Fund last year.

Yankees captain and shortstop Derek Jeter said after September 11th, people asked “what could the Yankees do” to help ease everyone’s mind for just a little while?

Jeter said he had similar thoughts after April 16th, because the incident touched everyone’s lives, even if they were not directly tied to Virginia Tech.

All-star 3rd baseman Alex Rodriguez said events like April 16th make you appreciate life more, and that today’s (Tuesday) game is one of the most important he’s ever played in.

He proved that by going into the Hokies’ dugout, and sitting with the team during the game.  A-Rod talked with the players, and signed balls for the team.

Students who got to watch the game echoed the sentiment, thanking the Yankees for the special visit even though the team had few if any true connections to Blacksburg.

Yankee players also made sure they took time to visit with, talk to, and sign autographs for the students.

Hokies head football coach Frank Beamer also took in the game.  He told the YES network that he recently had knee surgery.

Before the game, Yankee players and coaches paid their respects to the victims of April 16th, at the drillfield memorial designed by Hokies United.

Jeter signed a special t-shirt for Marcy Crevonis.  Her fiance was Michal Pehole, one of the 32 victims on April 16th.  Crevonis told us she a huge Yankees and Derek Jeter fan.

Other Yankee fans from across the region drove hours just to get a closer look at their team.  Mark Shull brought his son from North Carolina.  His son’s name is Derek, after the Yankee captain Mark tells us.

We even found a Yankee fan who says he traveled all the way from Staten Island, just to see his Yankee take another victory, even if it was against the Hokies.