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Bash becomes birthday party
Posted: Friday April 11
By Amy Allyn Swann
The Augusta Chronicle
At 8 p.m., the dozens who had gathered in the stands at Lake Olmstead Stadium were still waiting for The O'Kaysions to take the stage, and the Krilciches were waiting for their birthday girl to arrive.
Pam and John Krilcich, along with friends Karen and Randy Denelsbeck and Dennis and Kathy Withers, were gathered at a table at the Masters Ballpark Bash waiting on Melanie Bessey and her husband, Chuck.
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Lester Jones waits in the visitors' dugout at Lake Olmstead Stadium for the Tams, a beach-music group, to begin playing at Friday's Masters Ballpark Bash.KEVIN MARTIN/THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE |
"It's her birthday," Pam Krilcich said. "She's 40-something."
They'd transformed one of the green picnic tables on the field into an instant party with yellow and purple balloons, tablecloth and, of course, a birthday cake.
They'd picked the ballpark venue because the birthday girl is a big beach-music fan, and they wanted to have fun.
"That's what Masters Week is about," Karen Denelsbeck said. The Denelsbecks lived in Evans for 16 years and moved to Maryland three years ago.
Every year they return to Augusta for the Masters Tournament and all that comes with it.
"That's why we come back, the festive mood of the Masters," Karen Denelsbeck said.
That's why Cliff and Else Arter made it out to the ballpark Friday night - to enjoy a Masters Week event and to listen to beach music.
"We haven't been out this week because of the rain," Cliff Arter said. "But tonight is so beautiful."
Despite the sparse attendance early on, organizer Elizabeth Norris said ticket sales had been brisk and she expected a crowd by the time the Drifters and Tams took the stage.
"Most of the people are probably still on the course," Norris said. Play did not end until just after7:30 p.m.
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