As I've mentioned many times, I'm somewhat of an opportunist when it comes to my baseball park pursuits. Some unforeseen circumstances resulted in me making an unexpected trip up to Virginia. Given the fact that I've been to Nationals Park, as well as the Pfitz several times to watch the Nationals and their High-A affiliate several times, I wanted to try something different.

Going into the 2011 season, there is/was much about the Nationals' second consecutive number one draft pick, Bryce Harper. Artificially placed in the lowest rung of the minor league system to break him into the ropes, I saw a good opportunity to see the next supposed baseball Jesus before he became too big of a sensation that simply trying to attend any game in which he might be present would be come cumbersome. Personally, I don't have very high regards for Harper, since he's presented himself as somewhat of a primadonna, a little too high on his ability, despite not actually haven proven anything yet, at a professional level. But as a fan of the game, it's still a good chance to see the underdog dream, of the young prodigy, attempting to prove his worth up the minor league system, and get to the big leagues before the age of 20.

As is the case with many of my baseball trips, nothing is ever really that simple. The Saturday evening game I had intended on attending, was declared postponed while I was but five minutes away from the park after arriving in Hagerstown, due to a monsoon of a rain storm that had essentially followed me up from Atlanta for the weekend. The most frustrating aspect about the premature postponement of the game was that weather reports indicated that by evening time, it would be perfectly adequate to play ball, if there was perhaps, an hour or 90 minute delay to the start of the game. Typically, I'd imagine such actions would have taken place, if not for the presence, and kid gloves treatment Bryce Harper was getting. No risk of having young Jesus possibly slip in the outfield and mangle up his hamstrings or something; especially when he's not an outfielder by trade and is still prone to some inexperienced mishaps.

I'm actually a little disappointed with how the Suns' ticket office handled the makeup. By not making it clear on their website or anywhere else, it was ambiguous to which tickets could be used the day after. As a result, the seats that I had purchased were already occupied when I had arrived to the park, and the ticketing people tried to slip under my nose, general admission tickets instead. Now I applaud the ticket rep I chewed out for the mistake for doing his best to get me comparable priced tickets to make up for it, but to be frank, the replacement tickets stunk, and Municipal Stadium's covered grandstand is dank, cold, and full of obstructed views. Thankfully, the weather was beautiful, and sitting in the grandstands weren't so bad after all.

As for the park itself, Municipal Stadium is supposedly 81 years old, and it looks and feels every part of it. Barely recognizable as a baseball venue upon arrival, I think people have to know where they're going to find it, because like with many parks, you might not be able to bank on simply looking for high stadium lights. Sitting at the base of hilly downtown Hagerstown, the park kind of blends in with the overall view of the mountainous township.

Since it's a Low-A park, it's welcome to discover that parking is free, albeit a little crowded, likely due to the presence of Harper on the squad. Upon entering the park, there's really nothing visually pleasant. It's an old, dingy park, lots of dated, green painted metal structures everywhere. But as Low-A venue, it kind of works, and adds to the charm of its overall ambiance.

Moving about the park is are fairly narrow passages, and getting to the grandstands are stairways and ramps aplenty to get where you need to go. It's a lot easier getting to the general admission section, which are all old, rickety, wooden bleachers. Overall, there's not really a huge capacity for seating, but I imagine it becomes a non-issue once Harper is ultimately promoted out of there.

Surprisingly neato in the LF plaza was a good attempt at a biergarten. With lots of picnic tables, and a designated area for nothing but the purchase of beer, I'd imagine Suns games are a great default activity to experience in the summers of a sleepy area like Hagerstown. Also something I couldn't help but notice was the more or less lack of regard to any smoking rules that I guess I've grown accustomed to most places simply having by default, when I noticed that a gentleman right next to me was enjoying a cigar during the middle of the game, without having to go any enclosed designated smoking areas.

Overall, Municipal Stadium is kind of a shitbox, as so many before me have aptly described it. But it's definitely not a bad place to watch a baseball game, as I can look at my experience as a positively pleasant one. Given its location, the level of baseball in which it houses, it's perfectly adequate, and is in a way, a little charming. I can't say that I'd really have any reason to go there again, unless the Rome Braves are up there with their own Jesus prospect that I wouldn't be able to resist, or if there were simply just a weekend when the Nationals were out of town, the P-Nats were out of town, and someone else were willing to drive me up to Hagerstown for a game, but if by chance, I'm ever presented the opportunity to catch some baseball out there, sure, why not.

Noteable performance(s):   Blake Kelso, DHing for this game, did a good job getting on base, going 2/3 in the shortened game. Randolph Oduber, playing left field delivered the big hit of the game, a 2-run home run in the third inning, which essentially put the game out of reach for the Blue Claws. Bryce Harper, despite the hype and expectations, finished the game going 1/3 with an RBI, and two strikeouts, both of them looking. Big Bobby Hansen, pitched six innings allowing only one unearned run. I half expected him to pitch the shortened CG.

Game Result:   It was pretty much decided after Oduber homered in the third. The shortened, seven-inning game ended with the hometown Hagerstown Suns beating the Phillies affiliate Lakewood Blue Claws, 5-1.

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