Four hours before the home opener against the Outer Banks Daredevils, under a blue sky, a drainage pipe behind the pitcher's mound burst, sending geysers of water onto the infield.
And what does a tobacco-spittin' baseball junkie without a plumber's union card do in such straits?
"Stick a finger in the fitting and call for help," Morgan laughed, sporting a battle scar on his right palm.
One cutoff valve later, the Pilots were back in the business of attempting to launch their 10th season of homespun Coastal Plain League competition on Pembroke Avenue.
Alas, the true washout came with the teams deadlocked at 1 after two innings, sending a packed house of approximately 3,500 scurrying for cover.
Contrast that to the announced crowd of 714 (wink, wink) for Peninsula's opener Wednesday at Petersburg.
"To see all the people back here is really gratifying," Morgan said. "We don't have a lot of fancy seating or fancy ticket packages. What we do have is a lot of personality."
Indeed, if you like baseball with creature comforts and gourmet grub, go elsewhere. If you're charmed by a community and business treating a bunch of college kids like family, come on down, grab a bleacher seat and meet players such as Jake McAloose — the next home game is Saturday night against Petersburg.
A first-team all-Colonial Athletic Association third baseman at Old Dominion this spring, McAloose is as close to a Pilots lifer as it gets. He hails from Virginia Beach, and this is his third season with the team.
"It's a lot of fun," McAloose said. "That's why I'm back. It's a great atmosphere for players and fans."
So enamored are the locals that several youth leagues postponed their games Thursday to allow folks to head to War Memorial. And why not?
The prices are right, burgers sizzling, bags of peanuts crazy generous. And don't forget the product — spirited wooden-bat baseball that spares spectators aluminum's dreadful ping.
"My husband and I have been attending Pilots games for about six years now," said Heather Seidnitzer of Hampton, who was pained to miss Thursday due to a class conflict. "We go because it's family. Before we attended our first game, we never really watched baseball. … But there is something magical about War Memorial Stadium. It brings you back to your childhood. …
"Every opening game is like a family reunion, reconnecting with the family you see every summer watching their kids grow. I love the wooden bleachers, the closeness with the team. They are always so friendly. Sure they are just college guys playing summer ball, but to my friend's little boy they are baseball players, and they take the time to throw (kids) the ball and sign their glove every single game."
As the season progresses and players join the Pilots from college programs still competing in the NCAA tournament, fans will recognize more and more faces.
Returnees scheduled to arrive include two 2008 Coastal Plain all-stars — Western Kentucky second baseman Matt Payton and Kent State outfielder Anthony Gallas. Payton led Peninsula with a .344 average last season, while Gallas hit a franchise-record 10 home runs.
Also expected back is Coastal Carolina catcher Jose Iglesias, whose 2008 Pilots season ended prematurely in July when he sustained a broken jaw.
