Desert Doubleheader

Sometimes, misfortune can produce opportunity. I had originally planned to go back to Oregon over the weekend to see my parents. I got to Ontario Airport, all packed and ready, only to find out that my flights had been cancelled. I was only planning on staying in Oregon for a couple days, so the time waiting for the flight the next day would have been foolish. I did get the flight re-booked to another weekend later this month, but all of a sudden, I had two days of free time to spend. So, I turned my gaze up the 15 freeway for some action.

A few weeks back, I wrote about the trials and tribulations the High Desert Mavericks were facing as the season started. So, with my interest piqued, my girlfriend and I hit up the Saturday-Sunday doubleheader in Adelanto. It worked out that my hometown 66ers were playing up there that weekend, so I got an early look at my team during Opening Weekend. This would be my first time going to Mavericks Stadium since 2014, and I was eagerly looking forward to the experience.

Saturday night's game was very windy and cold. I got to the park early and saw that the facility has become a worn down. Paint was peeling, the bathrooms were barely functioning, and the public address system was hardly audible. Granted the weather may have played a factor, but for a Saturday night game, the crowd was sparse. The whole aura surrounding the game was almost a tired and "giving up" feeling. You just got the sense that no one at all cared what was happening with the team and that there was just shameful contentment. As I left the game that night, I was convinced that the Mavericks were going to be leaving.

Back in 2009, when I was still living in Oregon, I saw the closing of Eugene's Civic Stadium and the leaving of the Emeralds for greener pastures at PK Park. That final season, I saw the maintenance on the park stop, albeit for the most necessitous repairs. Paint was peeling, the bathrooms were rarely stocked, and the field wasn't maintained. I don't blame the Emeralds organization for these choices because they were leaving in a matter of months for new digs, so why would they invest money in a building that would become vacant anyway? I see the same thing happening in Adelanto with the Mavs.

The big difference between the Emeralds and the Mavericks is the fan support. Yeah, the ending at Civic Stadium was morose, but nobody could deny that the fan support for the team that final season was through the roof. The last year of Civic saw more sellouts than I could ever remember. In Adelanto, however, the sparse crowds sort of add to the misery of the surroundings. Barely 600 people showed up on that Saturday night followed by a paltry 1,000 on Sunday afternoon. With numbers that low, the people of the High Desert are sending the message to the organization that they don't want them there. And, considering the shape of the stadium, it looks like the Mavericks are more than happy to oblige.

I wish that I could speak to the people of the High Desert and tell them that they have a good thing going on there and that the hole when the Mavericks leave will be gaping. I wish I could tell them about my experience with the Emeralds leaving Civic and the Beavers leaving Portland in 2010, and how that affected me as a fan. Going to games up in the High Desert is fun, and if the community support was there, I'm sure it could be a great experience.

The Mavericks won both the Saturday and Sunday games over the 66ers. The first game was 9-5 and the next was 3-2.

This week will see me make my first visit to San Manuel Stadium for the 2016 66ers season. I'm looking forward to the game because the game it will be #SBStrong Night at the park, The team will be honoring the victims of the December 2nd Terrorist Attack, which will hold special meaning to me. The team will be giving away commemorative hats, and the 66ers and visiting San Jose Giants will be wearing special #SBStrong jerseys for the game.

Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)