Working the Series

Last week the College World Series came through town. The Series is unlike any other sporting event I've photographed. It has been hosted by Omaha since 1950. There are no high level professional sports teams in Nebraska so this and Huskers get an avid following. People come in town from all over the country to cheer for the top eight baseball teams in the U.S. and some people travel here each year just to get in on the action. 

Since I wasn't scheduled to shoot very many games, I used my extra days where I had lighter load of assignments to try something a little different. I'm pretty good at psyching myself out of doing stuff like this. I make excuses in my head like "I don't have time" or "it's a stupid idea." So, this time I decided that I would just go for it. Since I was wandering around the stadium I needed a lightweight setup to take with me. I used one strobe direct or with an umbrella. There are a couple with natural light. 

I had a lot of fun meeting people and I liked the freedom of being able to wander. I was surprised by how may people came from outside Omaha to work the series. Everyone had a different story about why they were there from a teen raising money for her soccer team to a musician on tour trying to get to know the city.

Payton Kothe, 15, of Omaha serves lemonade on June 15, 2015 during the Virginia vs. Florida College World Series baseball game at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb. The money that Kothe makes goes into the soccer fund for her team at Benson High School. She has been playing soccer for 7 years, almost half of her life. "In between (games) is really boring but the rest is really fun and we get to be at a baseball park," she said.  SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

They cook your food, serve your lemonade and sweep up your popcorn. They make sure the game is a fair match, drive the team buses, and broadcast to viewers at home. They are your first responders— and often the last to leave the park.

They work beneath the stadium or pass you by on the concourse. They travel from coast to coast, and whether it's their first day or their 10th year, these are the people who work hard every second to make the College World Series special.

Haley Whitesel, 17, of Council Bluffs works event staff at the gate on June 15, 2015 during the Virginia vs. Florida College World Series baseball game at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb. Whitesel is in her second year at the CWS. Her favorite part of working the CWS? "cute baseball players, " she said. Who is her favorite? "The pitchers from LSU. All of them." Whitesel said she's not much of a baseball fan. "My family never really took me."  SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Umpire Jeff Henrichs of Sacramento pictured in the umpire locker room on June 17, 2015 before the Miami vs. Florida College World Series baseball game at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb. Henrichs, who lived in Lincoln, Nebraska until 1997, has been working the Series for five years. "I love it. No place better," he said. He counted seven different pieces of protective gear that he puts on before each game. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Dave Quinn of Omaha, bus driver for the Florida Gators, stands in the dugout where he often sits during games on June 17, 2015 before the Miami vs. Florida College World Series baseball game at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb. This is his first year working the College World Series. "I’m rooting the Gators. I always root for the team that's on my bus whether it’s a high school, middle school or Division 1 team. My son went to KU and played hockey for four years but I took the (Creighton) volleyball team down there and rooted for Creighton not KU," he said. Quinn says getting along with the team and breaking the ice is key and  "once you do you’re part of the team." SARAH HOFFMAN/OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Dave Quinn of Omaha, bus driver for the Florida Gators, stands in the dugout where he often sits during games on June 17, 2015 before the Miami vs. Florida College World Series baseball game at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb. This is his first year working the College World Series. "I’m rooting the Gators. I always root for the team that's on my bus whether it’s a high school, middle school or Division 1 team. My son went to KU and played hockey for four years but I took the (Creighton) volleyball team down there and rooted for Creighton not KU," he said. Quinn says getting along with the team and breaking the ice is key and  "once you do you’re part of the team." SARAH HOFFMAN/OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Alfrie the dog of the Omaha Police Bomb Response Team pictured on June 16, 2015 before the TCU vs. Vanderbilt College World Series baseball game at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb. This is his third College World Series. Alfrie does bomb sweeps and searches team buses. If something were to go awry, Alfrie would be a first responder.  SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Cassie Bernier of Portsmouth, New Hampshire works as a Culinary Club Chef and stirs a sauce in the stadium's kitchen on June 17, 2015 during the Miami vs. Florida College World Series baseball game at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb. This is Bernier's second year at the Series through a work program from her school. "I love Omaha. It's a lot hotter than it is in New Hampshire. It's a great opportunity," she said. SARAH HOFFMAN/OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

James Priester of Buffalo, New York, who works custodial, takes a smoke break outside the stadium on June 15, 2015 before the Virginia vs. Florida College World Series baseball game at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb. This is his first year working the College World Series. Priester is a musician and performs as the artist "Facey." Priester picks up part-time jobs as he travels to interact with the cities. "You go to New York and the only baseball game you can be interested in is the Yankees," he said.  SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Betty Winrow takes calls on her walkie talkie from the housekeeping office on June 16, 2015 during the TCU vs. Vanderbilt College World Series baseball game at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb. Winrow, of Omaha, has worked the College World Series for ten years. "I love the College World Series, I always have. It's a lot of work for all of us we are busy all the time." Winrow said that with the tens of thousands of attendees a day they try to make sure the place looks really good. "I’ve been a single mother my whole life and raised my kids by myself so I get tired sometimes but I have to get out there and take care of business." One of Winrow's daughters works the Series as well. "I've worked really hard. I try to teach my girls to be responsible like I am and they do."  SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Betty Winrow takes calls on her walkie talkie from the housekeeping office on June 16, 2015 during the TCU vs. Vanderbilt College World Series baseball game at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb. Winrow, of Omaha, has worked the College World Series for ten years. "I love the College World Series, I always have. It's a lot of work for all of us we are busy all the time." Winrow said that with the tens of thousands of attendees a day they try to make sure the place looks really good. "I’ve been a single mother my whole life and raised my kids by myself so I get tired sometimes but I have to get out there and take care of business." One of Winrow's daughters works the Series as well. "I've worked really hard. I try to teach my girls to be responsible like I am and they do."  SARAH HOFFMAN/OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

ESPN's Jessica Mendoza practices her swing for a live broadcast on June 19, 2015 in ESPN's studio during the TCU vs. Vanderbilt College World Series baseball game at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb. The Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist from Southern California has been covering the Series for four years. Mendoza says her favorite aspect is the family atmosphere. "The fact that it's not just the game, it's the city, the people, it's the culture all around this," she said. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

ESPN make-up artist Sarah Jane Hunt of Omaha looks into a mirror with a makeup pad in ESPN's studio on June 19, 2015 during the TCU vs. Vanderbilt College World Series baseball game at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb. This is her seventh year doing make-up for ESPN's on air personalities. "I love how Omaha gathers around the teams. It's an innocent sport, America's past time, and there's no place I'd rather be," she said. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

ESPN make-up artist Sarah Jane Hunt of Omaha looks into a mirror with a makeup pad in ESPN's studio on June 19, 2015 during the TCU vs. Vanderbilt College World Series baseball game at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb. This is her seventh year doing make-up for ESPN's on air personalities. "I love how Omaha gathers around the teams. It's an innocent sport, America's past time, and there's no place I'd rather be," she said. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

Taylor Lucas of York, left, and Gina Grizzle, of Pawnee City, work the shaved ice booth during the College World Series. on June 15, 2015 during the Virginia vs. Florida College World Series baseball game at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb. Grizzle has been working out at the CWS for four years. "I just come because it's a great atmosphere. You can hear the crowd and the excitement, it's like sitting in the stands," she said. Grizzle's favorite flavor is Bahama Mama. It was Taylor Lucas' first day. "I've been handling the cash which I like the best because I'm going to be a CPA in September," she said. SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD