Last weekend, I had the pleasure of heading to Phoenix Municipal Stadium to photograph the Houston @ Arizona State baseball game. The Arizona sun, straight up overhead, made for perfect shooting conditions. This allowed me to get many sharp, action packed shots throughout the day. Each shot was telling its own story through my lenses, whether it was just a single pitch, a slick defensive play, or a home run clearing the fence. It was a surreal experience to get the opportunity to photograph the game for them, just a few days prior I emailed Mr. Hawkes at ASU, he generously set me up with a media pass that allowed me to shoot the game from multiple spots around the ballpark.

Throughout the day, I was able to chat with many photographers and fellow fans around the stadium. Each photographer had their own unique style and story to tell, I couldn’t get enough of it. Many gave me tips, talked about past experiences, and talked about ASU. I even met the sweetest couple, one of whom was originally from my home state of Massachusetts-a connection that made that moment even more special.

The game itself featured a very strong performance by ASU. Jack Martinez got the start, pitching 4 innings and giving up 2. The Sun Devils ended up pulling out a win vs the Cougars 13-3. The Cougars led 3-2 going into the bottom of the 3rd until a 5-run rally led by a Brandon Compton 2-run shot gave the Devils a 7-3 lead. The Cougars and Devils traded scoreless innings back and forth until the bottom of the 5th when Kyle Walker launched one over the wall to up their lead to 5. The Cougars eventually got out of the inning, but they weren’t safe yet. In the bottom of the 6th, Jax Ryan started another 5-run rally with a double that scored 2. The final run was scored on a fielding error by Houston that finally left the score at 13-3 at the end of the 6th. The game stayed steady from this point on, and was put in the hands of Max Arlich during the top of the 9th. While Max gave up two hits and a walk, he was able to keep the Cougars at 3. The final out came on a 2-2 pitch from Max Arlich that ended up as a K against Anthony Avalos. Jaden Alba picked up the W as the Sun Devils swiftly took their 33rd win of the season as their quest for Omaha continues.

As the Devils walked off the field with a win, I packed my camera bag and gear, feeling incredibly grateful for my experience that day. A day I won’t soon forget, it reminded me of how much I love telling a story through pictures-I’m already looking forward to my next opportunity.

Each game I attend pushes me to grow. Not just as a photographer, but also as a storyteller.

Gallery • 9 Photos

Clark McHugh