A friend and I drove two-and-a-half hours to the Dr. Pepper Ballpark in Frisco to watch the Frisco RoughRiders play the Corpus Christi Hooks in the first game of the 2012 Texas League Playoffs. What a game!
The ballpark itself is a wonder to behold. It is miniature in size compared, say, to the Ballpark in Arlington, but it has a quaint and friendly atmosphere. It is unique in appearance, clean, and utterly fascinating.
The game was fun. In minor league ball, you can see the players' faces, hear the crack of the bat more crisply, and feel the sting of the ball as the pitcher drills it into the catcher's mit. We were seated near home plate on the first base side. The grounds crew and the kids who entertain between innings were "camped out" in our section, and, though we never spoke to them, we enjoyed their banter, their planning, and their enthusiasm.
I was most impressed with the catchers on the two teams. Jose Felix, the Frisco catcher, must be the nicest guy in the league. He handed players their bats, held the opposing catcher's helmet for him, and tidied up the turf around homeplate continuously.
Jair Fernandez, the Hooks' catcher, was a powerful athlete, an imposing presence behind the plate with a arm like a rifle. He threw several line drives to second base, and every one of them landed on the bag.
Do yourself a favor. Take in a RoughRiders game. You'll love the whole experience.