About some Rattlers

Schoolcraft's Ritchie paying his dues in Brewers' farm system

Brandon Ritchie is a broke college dropout who takes a smelly bus most everywhere he goes. But he's enjoying the ride, often at 93 miles per hour.

"It's been a lot of fun, but people like to glamorize being a professional baseball player," the left-handed pitcher said. "But we pretty much scrape up all the money we can get."

Ritchie, a former Schoolcraft and Grand Rapids Community College star in his first season with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Class A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers) hopes to one day cash in on his potential left-arm lottery ticket in the Majors.

Catching up with: Corey Kemp

WH: What city has been your favorite?

CK: Appleton, just because I’ve spent a considerable amount of time here and the fans are die-hard and loyal. We’re in Brewer country so the fans come out in record numbers to cheer us on and give us support. They are all rooting for you and cheering for you, even when you somewhere in town to get a sandwich before a game. Up north, you don’t get too much southern hospitality but Appleton really reminds me of home.

You know what the next question was? What about the cold?

It was 40 degrees in April! Ask about the freaking cold when it's minus 30 in December! Okay!