Photos: Lancaster Barnstormers vs Newark Bears

GREENSBORO, NC – Saturday night, I was in Lancaster, PA watching the Barnstormers notch an action-packed victory over the Newark Bears, but I had to get back on the road quickly to make it down to North Carolina by dinnertime. So I’m only just now posting my photos. Take a look after the jump!

The park just opened in 2005, but was obviously built with classic ballparks in mind. The most expensive seats are still just $11, and parking is free—just the way baseball should be!

Foul pole!

Why would you even have an alcohol-free section? It was this moment I knew I wasn’t in Kansas (erm, Boston) anymore. (Random aside: isn’t the English language funny? “Alcohol-free section” means something completely different from “Free alcohol section,” and yet all the words in each phrase are the same…)

Cylo, the Barnstormers’ cow mascot, frolics on top of the visiting team’s dugout, rallying the crowd. On the berm in the background, fans relax with their dogs (for Lancaster’s “Dog Daze” promotion), while beyond, kids ride on the in-park carousel.

A young fan tries to watch the game from the left-field carousel….

…while fans at the right-field bumper boats feel completely free to ignore the action on the field.

The barn in right field—when a ball clanks off the roof, a loud “MOOOOOO” blares from the speakers.

The ‘Stormers get one of many rallies going with a bunt…

But in the bottom of the ninth, they’re down again—by one run. They manage to load the bases. TIme to start waving that flag!

A single! And the tying run heads home….

…and Lancaster fans leap to their feet as the winning run crosses home.

In an instant, victorious Barnstormers are running out of the dugout in euphoria….while a lone Newark Bear slowly walks off the field in defeat.