RUMFORD — Teachers at Mountain Valley High School had to get creative to keep the interest of their students so late in the school year, and two classes of went to a Portland Sea Dogs game. Each class had a different purpose though.

For Todd Papianou’s traditional sports class, it was a lesson on officiating. For Tom Danylik’s sports and culture class, it was about experiencing sports up close and thinking about how sports influence our culture.

Sophomore Cam Bouchard is a student in traditional sports. He explained, “The main purpose of the trip was to watch the officials and see a real game being played.”

From the sports and culture class, junior Ashlynn Young said the purpose of the trip was “to have a new experience and to open our eyes to a new sport.”

For Rasmus Soeegaard, an exchange student from Sweden, it was an opportunity to “experience the American sports culture.”

Since sports and culture is an English elective designed for students who enjoy reading about, watching and participating in sports, it seems fitting that the students learned a vocabulary word at the game.

Freshman Curtis Gauvin said a player on “the other team hit a ‘dinger.’”

A dinger is a home run.

Another highlight was a moment of fame for some MVHS students.

Sophomore Brittany Pettigrow and Sam Shorey simultaneously said the exciting moment was “being on the big screen.”

The epicurean delights at the ball game impressed some.

Junior Kevin Chase liked, “eating two Sea Dog biscuits.”

Sophomore Grace Briggs summed up the highlights with “the game, food, and good times with friends.”

But what about the game?

With the details of a play-by-play announcer, Young described the nail biter. “At the bottom of the ninth inning, Sea Dogs had the bases loaded and all they needed was a single to tie the game. It was so intense. But they lost 9 to 8.”

Junior Mike Provencher added, “It was very fun and a great game.”

All in all, the trip to the Sea Dogs game accomplished its purpose – to watch officials and their calls as well as soaking up some of the baseball culture.

The students paid for their admission and food. RSU 10 provided the bus as part of the physical education department’s budget.