Fans View of a Camden Riversharks Game
by Fran Stuchbury
August 1, 2014 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Camden Riversharks
My good friends Colby and his girlfriend Rozie invited me this past Sunday to a Camden Riversharks game vs. the Sugar Land Skeeters. They play in the independent Atlantic League. This was the first minor league baseball game I have attended since I went to a Brooklyn Cyclones game a long time ago.
The Atlantic League was founded in 1998 by current CEO and co-owner of the Long Island Ducks, Camden Riversharks and Bridgeport Bluefish Frank Bouton.
The league has eight teams in two divisions. The Freedom Division consists of the Lancaster Barnstormers, South Maryland Blue Crabs, Sugar Land Skeeters and York Revolution.
The Liberty Division contains the Bridgeport Bluefish, Camden Riversharks, Long Island Ducks and Somerset Patriots.
Approximately 40% of the Atlantic League players have major league experience.
The fields are to be maintained at or above AAA standards. The regular season consists of 140 games.
Notable Atlantic League Alumni include Pete Incaviglia, Rickey Henderson, Stephen Drew, Jered Weaver, Lew Ford, Scott Kazmir and Dontrelle Willis.
The Riversharks play at Campbell's Field which opened in 2001 with a seating capacity is 6,425. Their manager is Ron Karkovice who has been with the team since the 2013 season. He spent 12 seasons as a catcher for the Chicago White Sox.
The Sugar Land Skeeters play in Sugar Land, Texas, not that far from Houston. I'm surprised they play in this league since they are far away from the other teams. They began play in 2012 and Gary Gaetti has been their manager. In January they gave him a three-year contract extension.
When we got to the game we were surprised parking costs only six dollars. We expected the price to be higher. When I got into Campbell's Field the Riversharks where hosting their "bark at the park" promotion where people were able to bring their dogs to the game, so dogs were all over place and occasionally during the game I heard some of them bark.
Also they had a guy dressed in a Batman costume and my friend Colby took a picture of me with him.
We had awesome seats in the second row to the right of home plate, a great view of the game. Beyond the outfield you see the Ben Franklin Bridge.
The Camden Riversharks defeated the Sugar Land Skeeters 9-3. The announced attendance of 2,755 slightly below the season average of 3,280.
In the fourth inning Riversharks center fielder Alex Hudak hit a solo home run.
The Riversharks had two huge innings scoring four runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. Second baseman Zack MacPhee hit a bases clearing double that plated three runs when the bases were loaded in the sixth inning.
The Riversharks scored nine runs but only five of them were earned due to three costly errors by the Skeeters.
The Riversharks are very kid friendly. They have a carousel for children to ride, and also during inning breaks they had many events for kids, which included a tug of war, two kids fighting in sumo wrestling inflatable suits, a potato sack race and one child raced the Riversharks mascot Finley around the bases.
The Riversharks encouraged fans to cheer for free food and they tossed t-shirts into the stands.
The only strange thing for me was the lack of urgency to chase for foul baseballs when they were hit in the stands. When I was a kid I would have ran like crazy for one if it came near me at baseball games I attended.
I spoke to a couple who lives in Feasterville, PA who went to the game and they both told me they really liked it and are happy it is geared so much for families. They also plan to go to more games in the future.
The ticket prices are $14 for a 100 level, $13 for a 200 level, $9 for a 200 level senior/child, and $5 for family section 218. For a family of four you can go to a game, not have to spend a lot of money and have a good time.
After the game was over, the Riversharks let fans that brought their dogs walk around the bases with them. All the dogs seemed happy doing it!
Overall going to a Camden Riversharks game was a great experience. I was so happy my friends invited me, and I would definitely go to another game.
For fans who live in the area, it is worth checking out a Camden Riversharks game. You are guaranteed to have a good time.
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- Revs Drop Low Scoring Rubber Match To Blue Crabs - York Revolution
- Somerset Patriots to Sign Josh Pressley to Officially Retire with the Team - Somerset Patriots
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- Fans View of a Camden Riversharks Game - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
- Fans View of a Camden Riversharks Game - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
- Fans View of a Camden Riversharks Game - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
