Todd Parrish left ’ Bulls have By ELBON ARMSTRONG JR Sun Sports Writer The remembered u the year "bat men" what with the Warner Bros movie drawing hi the megabucks which in turn hu csused a revival of the "Batman" hit television series which originally ran from 196668 The Durham Athletic Park hu two "bat men” but 17-yearold Ryan Thompson and 16-year-old Todd Parrish aren't characters from the movie television show or the comic books They are working this season u bat boys for the Durham Bulls Both Parrish and Thompson say that their summer Jobs u DAP bat boys are the ideal situation for them "I love the game of baseball and with this JobI feel like I’m a member of the Durham Bulls team It's a great Job to have for the summer” said Thompson a rising senior at Northern High School "This Job is a lot id fun and since I also really like baseball I couldn't ask for a better way to spend the summer” added Parrish who in a few weeks will be transferring from Northern to the N£ School of Science and Mathematics Thompson is working his second season u a DAP bat boy while 1989 is the first for his friend Parrish "We are friends and when there wu an opening for another bat boy Ryan helped me get the Job” saidParrish "Two years ago I needed a summer Job My mother got in touch with Bill Miller the head of the ground crew at DAP and I wu hired” Thompson stated Although the public may think that the only duties of the bat boys re to retrieve bats and helmets during a game both Thompson and Parrish have numerous other duties to take care of before during and after a Bulls and Ryan Thompson pick up bolt for BuBm a job for 'bat men9 home game "I usually arrive at the bait park around 3 pm One of the first things I do is to dean shoes then I turn on the scoreboard and raise the flag After that I help shag balls during the team's batting practices” said Thompson "I usually get to the DAP around 5:30 but if they need me to come in at an earlier time I do” added Parrish "The first thing that I do is wash the bases After that when batting practice ends I help remove the batting practice equipment from the field and we work with the ground crew hi getting the field ready for the game” Parrish stated Parrish and Thompson alternate working with the Bulls and the visiting team during home stands "Although we both feel like we’re virtual members of the Bulls team we also get along well with the visiting turns” Parrish stated "Pve only had two what may be called run-ins with members of a visiting team Once a visiting player thrust his bat into my stomach and on one other occasion when I warned a player that it wu against league rules to throw balls into the crowd he ver- bally assaulted me” said Thompson Thompson wu quick to add that such unsportsmanlike behavior wu very rare "Most of the time a player will let you know if he's in a bad mood after say striking out and you know to back off from him He’ll say something like '111 get it’ when you’re getting ready to place his oat ban into the nick" Thompson added "Some of the fans have even asked us for our autographs and they still want them even when we tell them we’re the bat boys That really amazed me the first time it happened” said Parrish "One of the things I’ve been a Carolina are iDoeared u an extra in the movie ’Bull Durham I didn’t” added Thompson - Thompson went on the say that the movie and other publicity about the Bulls u the most successful gate draw in all of Class-A baseball for the past four years has made the DAP a Durham landmark for tourists and other first-time visitors to the city "Pve had people ask me to take pictures of them and their family members so they can show the folks back home that they were actually at the DAP There were some people from England who were recently thrilled to be here” said Thompson Thompson and Parrish said that since they both are baseball fans and sports lovers this is the perfect summer Job for them "I like to play baseball collect baseball cards and play other sports This Job is great because on my days off I also get to do 1th my friends” said things Parrish "It’s not a Job for a lazy person you have to bustle and remain aware of what’s going on while the game is in progress I also collect baseball cards and love to be around the game so it’s like a dream job for me” Thompson added Parrish and Thompson said that this Bulls season has been a one with the Bulls win-the first half and playing so well thus far in the second half "Since we both feel like members id the squad it’s great to see them doing so well” said Thomp- "The DAP is a great place to work with the large crowds and alL I hope to be able to do this again next year” said Parrish After the game Thompson and Parrish help police equipment and baseballs from the field before calling it a night "Sometimes like during rain delays the hours can get long but I still love this job Thompson said
