Marine Surprise Homecoming at Sons’ Little League Game

Eight-year-old Michael Solomon and his little league teammates have made it to the playoffs.

They’re warming up and getting ready for a big moment. But a win won’t be the big moment of the night.

On the field, the crowd is cheering because the national anthem has been sung. Soon, they’ll be cheering for something else.

A Marine father away on a six-month deployment has just returned and will surprise his sons on the field.

"Well, I know from [being] a father coaching my own son, that the father-son relationship on a baseball field is pretty sacred, pretty special," says Jim King, president of the Buchanan Babe Ruth league.

As the game begins, Michael is up first to bat. His coach calls him away for a moment so that U.S. Marine gunnery Sergeant Chad Solomon can run onto the field and switch places with the umpire.

"Let’s go batter!" Solomon shouts standing right behind his unsuspecting son. "Hey batter–lets say you get a big hit for your old man, huh."

As Solomon removes his umpire mask, his son does a double take.

It’s a surprise homecoming. Solomon takes his son Michael in his arms. Younger brother Anthony joins in on the group hug moments later.

"Just to see Michael’s reaction, and then Anthony’s reaction is just amazing," says the Marine’s wife Ana Solomon.

Ana was in on the surprise. Several community members and their baseball family helped made it happen.

"The community going and getting involved and wanting to do–make this welcome home special for us, it was very appreciated," Solomon says.  

Solomon has been serving the country for 15 years. Now he’s back from his sixth deployment, and he’s eager to catch up with his boys.

"We’re going to probably play all night. Play all night. Do boy stuff," Solomon says.

"This was our first deployment where the kids really felt emotional about it. Other than that they were little," Ana says. 

Having been away for six months abroad, he’s missed the entire season. But not tonight–he’s home safely.

The Solomons are from Southern California, but while the Marine was away on deployment, his wife and two sons joined their family in Clovis.

Solomon says he doesn’t know how long he will be home before his next deployment, but he hopes to be home with his family for at least one year.

To watch the extended video of the reunion, click here: http://www.yourcentralvalley.com/story/d/story/extended-video-marine-surprise-homecoming/34026/KTb4zygEokqXOwF5bXIGmA