Singers give their star-spangled best at anthem auditions for Modesto Nuts
Robert Linan stood behind home plate at an empty John Thurman Field and offered his version of the national anthem.
He was among the amateurs auditioning Thursday to sing for the Modesto Nuts during the 2023 season. The minor-league baseball team has its home opener April 11 and once again plans to have a local soloist or group at each game.
Linan, 61, works at Costco Wholesale in Turlock and is a longtime Nuts fan. He said he sings often at home and in the car. He did a straightforward take on “The Star Spangled Banner” at the tryout.
“If I can get the word out to love America, I’m down with that,” he said.
The Nuts got just two singers at the live tryout, but at least five more plan to submit video auditions by the deadline of Friday, March 17. The staff is judging each audition and will assign several games to everyone who qualifies, said Lesley Cantu, community relations manager.
The pay? Four free tickets to see the national pastime at the low-A level of professional baseball.
Anthem hopeful Ariana Flores, 18, is a part-time dance instructor and studies theater arts at Modesto Junior College. She said she has sung since she was a little girl and has had professional training for the past four years. She also is a longtime Nuts fan.
Flores’ anthem was at a slower pace and featured an extra high note at the end of “land of the free.”
“... I belt and I use a lot of volume, and I also do a riff here and there,” she said. Like all entrants, she had to do it a capella.
One other thing: Both singers nailed the lyrics to this famously difficult song.
Get more information about anthem tryouts by emailing lesley@modestonuts.com.
