Home, sweet home plate site for baseball wedding

Tides outfielder Benny Agbayani was planning to pass up the Triple A All-Star game to get married.

But when the club offered to hold the ceremony at home plate before next Wednesday's game at Harbor Park, Agbayani and his fiancee, Niela Guigui, agreed. First the wedding, then the game for Agbayani.Guigui had only one reservation.

"Ben," she said Tuesday, "what if between now and then you get called back up to the Mets?"

Agbayani assured her it wouldn't happen.

It did.

New York Mets director of player personnel Jim Duquette called later Tuesday to say that Agbayani was needed in New York to replace Matt Franco, who broke a toe.

Not to worry, said Ken Young, the Norfolk Tides president. The All-Star break for the Triple-A clubs and the majors coincide. The wedding could go forward, though Agbayani could not play in the game.

Neither of the two Tides originally selected for the game between the Pacific Coast League and the International League stars was able to play. Reliever Jeff Tam was called up to the Mets, and pitcher Mark Mimbs left the Tides to play in Japan after being passed over for a call up to the Mets.

Agbayani was offered one of the slots but declined until Young suggested holding the ceremony at home plate.