It was a record-setting day for the Akron RubberDucks.
The minor league team set an attendance record Wednesday as 8,375 fans filled the stands and beyond for the daytime game against the Erie SeaWolves.
The crowd was 99 percent kids as it was Education Day at the ballpark, with students from 74 Akron-area schools packing the stands, picnic tables and concourse.
And by the time the final run was scored in the 10th inning when second baseman Todd Hankins was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, the RubberDucks celebrated a 9-8 win before what was likely a small crowd as the young fans were already back on the buses and headed back to school.
RubberDucks General Manager Jim Pfander said that’s the downside of what was otherwise an exciting game that featured lead changes and a come-from-behind win for the home team.
The victory marked the Ducks’ 12th straight win at home.
Pfander said Tuesday’s daytime education game was finished in about two hours so everyone got to see the last out. Wednesday’s game ran about four hours, leaving just a handful of fans left in the stands.
Wednesday’s crowd was the biggest at Canal Park since the team’s name change and renovations eliminated about 1,000 seats from the Aeros era.
The previous Ducks record was set July 26 when 8,330 fans flocked to the ballpark.
Pfander said so many kids were in the stadium Wednesday, staff had to be creative finding places for them to sit and used standing-room areas and picnic tables in the ballpark’s family section.
“We literally used every square inch of the ballpark,” he said.
Planning for the team’s education days starts in October with lining up the schools and coordinating the scores of buses on busy downtown streets.
“This is a special day for us,” he said. “A lot of these kids might not get a chance to get back to another Ducks game.”
Craig Webb can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3547.