Not Your Average Baseball Game
Jey Young/ Ball Boy Media
The first Colligate Summer league game of 2022 was a wild success. We were welcome to Mel Olsen Stadium, The Fryer, on July 1st to watch the Dub Sea Fish Sticks against Diamond Pro Athletics. For those who don't know about Colligate Summer ball, it's pretty special. You have a mix of college athletes, high school athletes going to college, and college athletes who may be on the way out of the draft and are looking to build some additional reps ahead of going pro.
Jey Young/ Ball Boy Media
Mel Olsen Stadium is located in Steve Cox Memorial park down in South Seattle/White Center Area, actually very close to where I grew up in Burien. It was amazing being back so close to home. The price of the tickets was very affordable. For a family of 4 with two kids, you're likely spending less than $40 on tickets. Then we move to the shop. Next, timeThe shop is simple yet well organized and merchandised well. Overall, it was a great little shopping experience, from jerseys to hats to kids' clothes. Remember, ball boys and girls, that you always ALWAYS want to buy your merch from the team shop directly for colligate summer teams and most MiLB teams so that they see the max amount of this revenue.
Jey Young/ Ball Boy Media
Lastly, before we talk about the game and the on-field action, we have about the food. The food was excellent. The selections feature, of course, some delicious fish sticks, friends, and your classic hot dogs. However, there are some local Seattle favorites like a Seattle Dog, Ivers Clam Chowder, and something I haven't seen before in Pulled Pork Nacho's, Pulled Pork Mac n Cheese, and a few other delicious selections, all relative cheap. My two k ds and I spent about $20 for Mac n Cheese, Pulled Pork Mac n Cheese, Pop Corn, Nerds, and two drinks. Down the 3rd baseline, you can grab a beer with some friends in the Ice Chest, and hopefully, I'll enjoy some adult conversation down with Dub Sea fans next time.
Jey Young/ Ball Boy Media
Now to the game action and on-field action. The warmups for the players start down the right-field line as they bring kids with their gloves on to help them get loose and enjoy being on a field. The memories that are being created for these kids and parents are unforgettable.
Jey Young/ Ball Boy Media
The Fish Sticks do something unique to the brand, and to Seattle, a ceremonial first "fish" yes, a fish is thrown out to start the game. Much like fish is flung down at Pike Place Market in the heart of Seattle. Following the first fish, the Sticks play the anthem and give the crowd a choice if they are willing and able to stand and honor the country; I thought that was a very p.c. Move. Following the anthem, the Sticks got two lucky fans(one being my daughter). My daughter was able to run out the game ball to the pitcher and get greeted back with highs 5's by the players, and following the opening warmups, another young fan yelled, "play ball."
Jey Young/ Ball Boy Media
The fun doesn't stop there at the Dub Sea game, as the Fish Sticks select one lucky raffle winner to be the lead-off batter of the game. Luckily, they didn't select my ticket cause I would have taken the opposing starter deep. I am kidding, of course. Tim did a fantastic job leading off as he was able to foul one of the pitches off.
Jey Young/ Ball Boy Media
The game was fast-moving for both sides in this one as pitchers took little time between pitches, and batters were making contact and not working a lot of counts. You could tell as a fan that these kids are just having fun playing some more baseball; they are having fun entertaining and having kids and fans in the stands. The on-field entertainment includes concession races, pony races, dice rolls, t-shirts thrown into the stands, and fish tossed into nets, among other things. Crispy- the team's mascot, is all over the stadium taking pictures, giving high-fives, playing with the kids, and chasing kids who take his hat.
Overall, I had a great time at the Fish Sticks game, being with my daughters, seeing a new park and new team, and enjoying the park and kid park around the stadium. I love the location of the Fish Sticks; I say that being a Burien kid and knowing the economic graphics for the South Seattle area. I know my family would have loved to have a local team, not the Mariners, to go and see in the early 2000s that was affordable and close by. The Sticks overall do an excellent presentation, keep it local and make you feel like you're getting a little taste of Seattle.
