It’s no secret that sports are money-makers.  Whether it’s on the professional, collegiate or even high school level, sports make money.

Baseball in particular is one of Dunbar’s most profitable organizations.  From ticket sales to concession-stand orders, it only makes sense that baseball teams are hesitant to cancel games – even during bad weather.

According to the official rules, there must be a 15-minute delay after thunder and a 30-minute delay following lightning.  If there is just rain, however, the decision is made by the home team’s umpires.

Rain delays can last for hours, as there is no official curfew for how long the game can be delayed.  Last season, for example, the Dunbar baseball team suffered through a two-hour delay in their game against the Lexington Christian Academy team.  The game didn’t conclude until 12:30 A.M.

While these long delays are often viewed as bothersome, there are ways for teams to pass the time.  During a Clemson vs. Davidson 2011 game, the players played a game of “human bowling.” After over an hour of rain delays at a Radford vs High Point 2011 baseball game, the teams resorted to other means of entertainment: jousting.

Dunbar’s team is no different in coming up with creative ways to pass the time during a rain delay.

“One time during a rain delay we took a baseball and wrote a message on it and threw it to the other team’s dugout, then the other team would write their own message and throw it back,” said catcher and outfielder Clark Smith.

“It’s a fun little break from intense competition.”

If you’re interested in seeing the Dunbar baseball team in action, their first home game is this Friday – but make sure to check the weather first.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkuhqsnZF7Y