Opening Day

I found out about the Women's Pro Baseball League via Bluesky less than a month ago and within hours, I had tickets to the first two games in my hot little hands0.

We have a tween who started softball this year, despite having parents who have never been team sports people. Her dad is the more athletic0 of the two of us (he's a mountain biker); he not only encouraged her, but played catch with her every day and even ended up coaching her YMCA league team. She ended up loving softball, playing in two leagues, so I figured this was a perfect vacation.

As former Angelenos, we were obviously cheering for the Los Angeles Queens. Saturday's game between the Queens and the New York Heights was scheduled to start at 5:30 but was delayed an hour and a half due to rain. It lightened up by the start of the game but really never stopped and only felt like it worsened by the end of the night.

Fans didn't seem to mind, or at least we didn't hear many complaints. The line for merch, which was sold out online, snaked well past far end of the stadium. We arrived when the gates opened and used our early arrival to get through security, buy some Queens gear and food, and settle into our seats.

My daughter was sad when the first inning ended with the Heights up 5-2 and absolutely stricken when the end of the second saw them leading 7-2. I told her it was fine because anything can happen in baseball. And it's true! I mean, she ended up seeing the first WPBL home run from New York's Denae Benites! Okay, not what she was hoping for, but still very cool.

She was super worried when we hit the top of the seventh and LA was down 8-6. Again, I told her, anything can happen. And how it did! That last inning was some of the best, most exciting baseball I've ever seen. We were soaking wet despite our ponchos, but screaming our heads off at one amazing play after another. We were jumping up and down when the Queens won the game 10-8.

We were super hyped to end the night on such a high note. Both teams played well, especially given how wet it was, and we can't wait to watch them in better conditions. The Queens face the Boston Hunters tomorrow, 8/5, at 7:30pm Central, and the Heights play the San Francisco Firebells on 8/6 at 7:30pm Central.

You can subscribe to this public Google Calendar I created with all of the WPBL games, including a link to buy tickets and which service will stream the game (ESPN Select or Scripps Sports Network)0.