Sports
St. Petersburg International Baseball Series Gets Off to a Thrilling Start
Inaugural game between Penn State and the Seoul Nexen Heroes provides entertainment for fans of all ages. The next game is Thursday between the Heroes and St. Pete College.
The sun was shining.
The crowd was cheering.
And the teams were playing as if the game was never going to end.
Find out what's happening in St. Petefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The first game in the inaugural St. Petersburg International Baseball Challenge came to a thrilling conclusion Monday afternoon at Al Lang Field, as the Seoul Nexen Heroes mounted a furious comeback in the ninth inning, only to see their rally fall just short in an 8-7 loss to the Penn State Nittany Lions.
“Great game, great experience,” Mayor Bill Foster said shortly after the game ended. “This was a big experience. No one is doing this anywhere else.”
Find out what's happening in St. Petefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Indeed it was a great experience for many of the 1,300+ spectators who came to downtown St. Pete on a holiday Monday to watch exciting, high-quality baseball played in a gorgeous setting.
Although area kids did not get the day off for President’s Day, there were plenty of children of all ages scattered around the park, from the box seats to the outfield berm, enjoying the entire outdoor baseball experience.
“I got to get out of school early to come down and watch the game,” 14-year-old Clearwater resident Chad Hayley said with a smile. He came with his grandparents, Roger and Mary.
There were plenty of activities to keep the kids entertained other than the game itself.
Outside the stadium entrance before the game, a local band played while a pair of blow-up jump houses provided the perfect antidote for antsy youngsters.
Inside, kids rolled down the hill and played tag on the right field berm, while a 7th inning race between three human/bird hybrids -St. Pete’s answer to the Milwaukee Sausage Races – had fans of all ages laughing and pointing as the combatants struggled to strut across the finish line.
And then of course you had the gorgeous weather, which was enjoyed by local residents and visitors alike
Asked how he felt about heading back to snowy State College, Pa. following a weekend of baseball in the sunny Bay area (the Nittany Lions also participated in the Big East Big Ten Baseball Challenge), Penn State Coach Robbie Wine was blunt.
“We don’t want to go home, that’s for sure!”
The 13-game series continues Thursday night when the Nexen Heroes play a team from St. Pete College, and again on Saturday afternoon when the Canadian national team plays the Nexen squad.
For ticket information, click here.
