It was around this time one year ago that @KevinRivoli and I left our hotel and headed to Yankee Stadium to cover the final of a two-game series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Yankees. My plan was to get to the ballpark and interview Auburn native Tim Locastro.

We arrive and, a short time later, the D-Backs' clubhouse opens. Timmy is there and we chat for a few minutes. The first thing he says is that he's starting. That was big enough news for Riv and I because we knew we had our story and Riv would get many photo opportunities.

I knew neither team would be taking batting practice, but wanted to go down on the field anyway. (It's Yankee Stadium, after all.) I met up with Timmy's parents, Colleen and Tim, and a couple of other family members. After that, I headed up to the press box.

It was a sunny morning, but the weather forecast wasn't promising. There would be rain. I really didn't want a rainout. At the very least, I wanted to write a story about Timmy playing at Yankee Stadium. I knew Riv would deliver great photos. I wanted something to write about.

The day before, Locastro didn't play so I followed the game by keeping score. But I had already filed my stories for the day. With him in the lineup, I was locked in. My view from the press box looked directly out to right field, which is where he played that day.

When he was in the field, I followed his movements. When he was at the plate, I didn't miss a pitch. He hit a flyout in his first AB, then he came up with the bases juiced in the fourth. He came very close to getting an extra-base hit. Yankees' Urshela made a great play.

At the mid-point of the game, I'm starting to piece together my story for the day. "Locastro makes Yankee Stadium debut." And then, in the sixth, he hits a double! "Locastro gets hit in Yankee Stadium debut."

Not a bad story!

Riv has told this story, but he missed it. He thought there was going to be a rain delay. It was coming down harder at that point and Riv was in one of the photographer wells at field level. He overheard a conversation that they might bring out the tarp.

The ump decided against it, apparently, and they kept playing. So while Riv was heading back up to the press box, Locastro hits a double to left-center. It didn't ruin any plans because I knew Riv had so many other great photos from that day. We could live without that photo.

Because Locastro doubled in the sixth, I knew he would get at least one more at-bat. At that point, I had a good chunk of my story written. Remember: "Locastro gets hit in Yankee Stadium debut."

And then the ninth inning arrived.

Riv gets in position for the last at-bat. I'm in the press box (obviously). Locastro is leading off the ninth for the Diamondbacks. Nestor Cortes Jr. is pitching for the Yankees.

First pitch is a fastball on the outside corner. Strike.

The next pitch? A changeup. Same spot.

Locastro swings. "CRACK!" The press box gives you a great vantage point of these things. Once I saw the flight of the ball, I knew it. He hit his first major league home run.

The first rule of the press box: No cheering. I'm stone-faced, but I'm unglued inside. What a story!

Of course, I had to rework some of what I had already written. But for this story? Totally worth it.

After the game, I interviewed Locastro. He was frustrated with the loss (D-Backs fell 7-5), but said he was happy his family and friends could experience that moment.

One thing to note is that this game was played in normal times. July 31 is baseball's trade deadline. The Diamondbacks' starting pitcher that day was Zack Greinke. He was removed from the game. It ended up he was traded to the Astros.

Before the game, there was a lot of focus on Robbie Ray (another D-Backs pitcher) because there were trade rumors surrounding him. In the end, he wasn't traded. But when I went into the clubhouse, I'm the only reporter who doesn't want to talk to Ray. I wanted Locastro (obvs.).

There was this funny visual. I'm the lone reporter interviewing Locastro. There's like 15 or so people over by Ray. I got a chuckle out of that. There's major MLB news happening, but I'm here for the local kid's first major league homer. (A much better story, IMO.)

After interviewing Locastro, who was gracious with his time during that two-game series, I returned to the press box to write the story. Riv filed excellent photos. (You can see them here: https://auburnpub.com/multimedia/galleries/gallery-auburn-native-tim-locastros-big-league-day-in-yankee-stadium/collection_d52c4748-2793-5643-86a6-995361b77dfc.html) I file my story: https://auburnpub.com/sports/local/auburn-native-tim-locastro-caps-yankee-stadium-debut-with-first-major-league-home-run/article_33a4c6bf-cbcd-5a63-ac46-938b5e776d8e.html

At the moment, my instant reaction was that this is one of the greatest things I've ever covered. A year later, I still feel that way. If anything, I have stronger feelings about it. It was an amazing experience to be there. I'll never forget it.

Added note! I mentioned Greinke earlier. So Greinke started another game in the 2019 season that was important to me: Game 7 of the World Series. He was the starting pitcher for the Astros against my Nationals. The Nats won, of course.