Students find time to watch opening Detroit Tigers game at restaurants, residence halls

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While baseball fans traditionally prefer peanuts and Cracker Jack, many Central Michigan University students went with hot wings and mozzarella sticks on opening day.

Students enjoyed the Detroit Tigers’ away game against the New York Yankees Thursday in locations on and off campus.

Buffalo Wild Wings, 1904 S. Mission St., had 23 of its 35 big-screen televisions tuned to the game for customers to enjoy. Clarksville sophomore Greg Forman and Troy senior Matt Campbell said they felt very optimistic about the Tigers’ chances this year.

“I think they’re going to make the playoffs,” Forman said. “They’ll make it to at least the American League Championship Series.”

Campbell said the restaurant was the perfect place for him to eat and watch the Tigers play because it is within walking distance to his classes.

O’Kelly’s Sports Bar and Grill, 2000 S. Mission St., also embraced the opening day celebrations. Bay City junior Charelotte Kern said she has a history with both O’Kelly’s and the Tigers.

“When I am not working (at O’Kelly’s), I usually hang out here with my friends,” Kern said. “Not only that, but I also love the Tigers and Magglio (Ordonez).”

Despite the Yankees’ 6-3 victory over the Tigers, Waterford junior Jeff Olson said the Tigers will have a good year overall.

“Being a big sports fan in general, I think we’ve got a good lineup,” Olson said. “We’re a little slow and we need to get a little better pitching, but we’ll be able to put up a lot of runs on the scoreboard for sure.”

Olson and his friends decided to watch the game in the Beddow Hall lobby.

“We all know each other from Beddow Hall,” Olson said. “We all cannot wait to start going to the games in the summer.”

The Tigers logged six hits and one error during the game. First baseman Miguel Cabrera batted 1-2 with two runs and an RBI off a sacrifice fly.

Starting pitcher Justin Verlander pitched six innings with eight strikeouts and three earned runs. The Tigers play again at 4:10 p.m. Saturday at Yankee Stadium.