HOME RUNS AND HOT DOGS

ABOVE: A sparse and happy crowd. TOP: Pirates pitcher Carlos Mateo working himself into a tight situation.

Some of Florida’s first settlers and the builders of the CoolToday Park shares a few trade secrets, such as the best ways to catch a breeze.

On a warm early evening at the stadium,s located along West Villages e Parkway in Wellen Park, several hundred fans gathered to watch the home team Braves of the Florida Complex League take on the Bradenton Pirates. The FCL, run by Minor League Baseball, is a rookie organization that old-timers remember as the Gulf Coast League. Admission is free to CoolToday Park FCL games, so guests were ahead of the game before.

Fans drifted up the broad stairs of the western entrance to the stadium, past larger-than-life renditions of Atlanta Braves greats. In the arena, a generous overhang, stretching roughly between the foul poles, provided ample shade, and the open nature of the stadium allowed breezes to reach almost every corner. Diehard watchers — and, of course, the players — welcomed the rare twilight game; most contests at the park during the summer league are played at high noon.

On a slow night, spectators had their choice of seats. Many chose the comfortable mid-deck area with tables for beverages and sundries. A few opportunistic fans braved the bleaching sun at the right field foul line pole, hoping to catch a tipped ball. The clean lines of the stadium gave almost everyone a view as the players took the field.

The lineup was a reversal of fortunes played out on the diamond. Last year, the Braves won the league with tenacious play at the bat and in the field. But in June they were ranked in last place with a record of 8-21. Worse, they were playing the second-best team in the league, the 19-13 Pirates, who are sailing in the upper division of the rankings.

You wouldn’t know that early in the game, as Pirates pitcher Carlos Mateo easily mowed down the Braves’ batters. His counterpart, Ian Anderson, a former first-round Braves pick, returned the favor and retired the side. But in the bottom of the second, all bets were off. Stocky infielder Diego Benitez slashed a grass-whipper of a hit through the left field gap to start a major rally. Mateo got himself in trouble, and after hitting a batter, he was faced with bases loaded. Somehow, he escaped the inning intact after a masterful cutoff throw from right field, but he left three runs scored by the hometown heroes.

CoolToday Park western entrance. JAMES ABRAHAM / TOWN CHRONICLE

After that, it was anticlimactic for the home crowd. The game dragged on as the Pirates, 19-13, established ascendancy over the 8-21 Braves, who are ensconced in the cellar of the six-team division. The end result was a 4-3 decision for the Pirates.

But that’s OK. Folks go to a ballpark for more than just the wood and leather on the field of play. From the Tomahawk Tiki Bar & Grill, which serves up empanadas, corn dogs, shrimp and other treats, to the vendors serving brats, no taste goes unmet.

Besides the food, stadium operators also employ a giant scoreboard video screen and the rising and falling notes of the classic ballpark organ to keep the fans in the stands happy.

A fan interacts with the lifesize renderings of Atlanta Braves superstars. JAMES ABRAHAM / TOWN CHRONICLE

A series of photos of dogs appeared as pet enthusiasts cheered. The dogcam scoured the stadium, broadcasting proud dog owners waving their pets before them. A dog-scale version of the shell game played out on the screen as a golden lab sniffed out the right treat to applause from the stands.

As the biggest crowd-container in town, the stadium has fast become the go-to place for city activities, such as the fireworks-studded Freedom Festival on July 4. On some nights, stadium officials show family movies; on other occasions, folks can enjoy live music at the Tomahawk Tiki Bar & Grill.

It may not be your daddy’s municipal stadium or mistake by the lake, but CoolToday Park is a fine Florida evocation of a fitting venue for the grand old game.

LEFT: The dog wins the shell game during a lull on the field. RIGHT: Infielder Diego Benitez lights a spark off Pirates pitcher Carlos Mateo.

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