Took an evening off from my literary labors last Saturday, so that Carole and I could catch our first Palm Springs Power game of the year. The Power is an unaffiliated minor league team that's part of the Southern California Collegiate Baseball Association, though they play teams from all over the west. They've only been around since 2004, but they play in a charmingly spartan ballpark that dates back to 1960 — actually a full decade earlier, if you count its original incarnation as a polo grounds — and which has plenty of history in its (lack of) walls: the California Angels, San Diego Padres and the Seattle Raniers of the old Pacific Coast League all used to train there.
Carole and I have been going to Power games ever since they started playing in 2004, and — along with the games, which are always a blast — it's been fun to watch the gradual improvements the organization has made each year. Although our jury's still out on the new "VIP" tickets, which gets you all the hot dogs and popcorn you can eat (and unlimited $1 draft beers) for $17; not because it doesn't seem like a good deal, but because the seating area is in a lonely section of the park, past the visitor's dugout on the first base line; it's more fun to sit with the rest of the fans. Plus, there didn't seem to be any misters in effect in the VIP area. (I don't mean dudes, but rather the little nozzles that cool you off by spraying water into the air. Though the dudes were in admittedly short supply, as well.)
Great view from there, though, as you can see above — that's the foot of Mt. San Jacinto's lovely slope in the background, with a bit of the San Bernardino Mountains in the distance.
One of the other new additions to the Power experience is the presence of soul food on the concessions menu. Yep, for real — I've had some great dining experiences at minor league ballparks, but I've never been to one that's offered a genuine pulled-pork sandwich. (I know, I know, one can probably find 'em at ballparks all over the south; but I've never been to a minor league game east of the Mississippi.) The chow in question is catered by Big Mama's Soul Food from Cathedral City; we'd been there once about a year ago and were fairly underwhelmed, but the pulled-pork sandwich I had at the ballpark was very good; the meat wasn't as flavorful as I would have liked, but it wasn't too greasy or fatty, either — and the barbecue sauce had a nice zing to it. Fine cole slaw and tater salad, too!
Oh yeah — the game itself, against the Colorado Sox, was pretty exciting. A back-and-forth game that included some fine fielding plays (and a few awful ones), a long home run by the Sox first baseman (first time I've ever seen someone hit one out of Palm Springs Stadium) and some questionable umpiring (I could SWEAR they gave the Sox four outs in the top of the first), the Power finally won it 6-5 in the bottom of the ninth. Second baseman Dominic Zuniga (who had already gone 4-for-5, and was half of a very exciting double steal) came in from third on a wild pitch for the winning run, and there was much rejoicing.
Baseball, BBQ, cheap beer, a warm night and a desert sunset, all enjoyed with your best girl by your side? A little bit of heaven, for sure. Can't wait to go back for more in July...
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