LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Forget the diamond and the chalk lines, it was the lake and the lagoon where the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros battled on Wednesday, and it wasn't great pitching or the long ball that won the contest. It was good casting, proper lure presentation and solid hook-sets.
Instead of runs, hits and errors, the Braves and Astros were competing for pounds and ounces in the Second Annual Walt Disney World Grapefruit League Bass Fishing Challenge. The event took place on Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
The Astros fielded a team consisting of pitchers Turk Wendell, Roy Oswalt and Dave Burba, pitching coach Jim Hickey and outfielders Craig Biggio and Barry Wesson to catch 15 largemouth bass weighing 27.13 pounds. They defeated a Braves lineup that included third baseman and former MVP Chipper Jones, first baseman Adam LaRoche, outfielder Ryan Langerhans and pitchers Tom Martin and Adam Bernero, who collectively caught 15 bass weighing 17.88 pounds.
The Astros will receive a trophy for their victory at an upcoming spring training game at Cracker Jack Stadium, the Braves' spring training venue.
The bass tournament showcased the terrific fishing opportunities at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in Orlando. Though the hardball pros didn't see any lunkers, Disney offers world-class bass fishing excursions with the potential for a trophy bass on any cast, and expert guides ensure that every trip is a success for anglers of all experience and skill levels.
More information on the Disney lakes and reservations are available by calling 407-WDW-PLAY.