For the first time since my arrival at the Issaquah/Sammamish Reporter in August of 2014, I had the rare opportunity to take advantage of some of my rapidly accruing vacation time.

I made the short two-hour plane ride to Reno, which has been dubbed “Biggest Little City in the World,” for my good friend John Ball’s bachelor party in late July. It was a gathering of six individuals from three different states with a vast amount of different likes, interests and modes of operation. One aspect of life on which all six of us in attendance were in agreement was our affinity for sports. Collectively, we decided to attend a Triple-A baseball contest between the Reno Aces and Las Vegas 51s on Saturday night. The Aces defeated the 51s 8-5 in a battle between Nevada rivals. Aces Ballpark, located in downtown Reno, was a 10-minute walk from our hotel rooms at the Eldorado Resort Casino.

Aces Ballpark opened in 2009 and, in my opinion, is the crowning jewel of Reno’s downtown core. In addition to attending the game on the diamond, I placed a $30 bet earlier that day on the Mariners in their contest against the Toronto Blue Jays. While dining at Eldorado’s delicious buffet, I checked my phone and discovered the Mariners built a 6-3 lead after five innings of play. I thought I was going to be $30 richer later in the evening.

Sadly, I was wrong.

The Blue Jays put up two runs in the top of the eighth and the top of the ninth, earning an 8-6 victory. A few of my buddies engaged in some spirited trash talk in regard to the loss I experienced and I laughed right along with them. The entire trip was a blast. It was two vacation days well utilized and well spent!

Shaun Scott: 425-453-5045; sscott@bellevuereporter.com