By: Becky Nelson

The All-Star break has come and gone, and there are only a couple of weeks left in the season.  I don’t know where the time has gone!  Well, I guess that’s a lie.  I know I just spent the last week traveling the North Division after the All-Star Game.  Before that there was baseball…and before that…more baseball…

The All-Star Game and Home Run Derby were a blast, but I have to admit the highlight for me was seeing Lord Stanley’s Cup come into Port Arthur Stadium with Pittsburgh Penguin, Jordan Staal, and MLB Hall of Famer, Ferguson Jenkins.  I also learned that you know a trophy was designed by a Canadian if you can drink out of it!  Kudos to the Border Cats and their staff for putting on such a fun, successful event!

After making the scenic drive down the North Shore, I stopped in Duluth to spend the first of three nights with one of my best, most patient friends.  The next afternoon, I headed to Brainerd to check out their game against the St. Cloud River Bats.  After all the talk from some of the Lunker interns, I had high expectations and I wasn’t disappointed.  The crowd was loud and energetic despite St. Cloud taking an early lead, and I enjoyed the obvious pride Brainerd feels for their team.

It’s an almost two and a half hour drive from Brainerd to Duluth, but thankfully, I had a comfy bed and warm smile waiting for me.  I got to spend the day in Duluth walking in Canal Park and making the most of a warm, albeit windy, day by the lake.  After a huge, delicious strawberry cheesecake ice cream cone, I made my way over to historic Wade Stadium. 

The Northwoods League Media Guide describes the exterior brick walls of Wade Stadium as “ominous”, and as I drove into the parking lot, I felt an overwhelming sense of history and could only imagine the stories those walls could tell.  I found myself taking lots of pictures during Friday’s game and losing myself in thoughts of the past teams that called the stadium home.  The Huskies and Beetles did put on an exciting show, however, along with a fantastic rendition of “Footloose” performed by Harley D. Husky.

I imposed one more night on my friend, before edging through weekend traffic down to Alexandria for a Beetles home game.  I got to “The Knute” a little after game time after checking into my hotel, and the crowd was already into the game.  The view drew my eye first as I walked to my seat.  The sun was setting over the water in left field creating a picturesque setting for exciting baseball.  Sadly, my camera battery died so not as many pictures as I’d have liked.  I also missed out on trying one of the tasty looking, Beetle orange and purple, chocolate chip cookies.  I’ll be back for one of those…

I got a chance to stretch travel-weary muscles in the pool at my hotel, which felt great after hours of bleachers and car seats.  But only one more game to go.  I packed up and hit the road the next morning for a relatively short trip to St. Cloud.

I have to commend the city of St. Cloud, because the playing surface at Joe Faber Field is absolutely gorgeous!  It was a little different feel from the older fields I’d been visiting, but no less beautiful.  I did feel bad for the left fielders having to contend with the sprinklers from the golf course next door, though! 

There was a terrific crowd on hand for “Firefighter Night” and I already changed the battery in my smoke detector – thanks guys!  Plus, if the baseball wasn’t enough entertainment in the first inning, watching the bat boys trying to run around in firefighting gear was hilarious.  Turned out to be a big game in the North Division, and it was the perfect cap to my week of travel.

Now, I’m back in Madison and waiting anxiously to see where I’ll end up for the South Division playoffs and then the Championship series!