Some of you may be surprised to hear that there are sports in Central PA, but believe it or not, between Hershey, Harrisburg, Lancaster, and York there are an abundance of diverse sporting events that are nothing short of overwhelming. Though we haven’t had much exposure to curling, Central PA has played host to everything from hockey and weightlifting to football and golf. There is great deal of time, money, and energy pumped into our area to support such a multiplicity of sports. Why? Obviously, sporting events do generate a great deal of revenue, but they also bring a great deal of drama and excitement to the area: a level of exuberance that is unmatched in any other venue. If you haven’t been paying attention, maybe you should. And if you truly despise sports — flip to the film reviews.

Perhaps the greatest level of sports fervor that our area has seen over the past four years is connected to baseball. The Harrisburg Senators, the AA Minor League’s affiliate of the Montreal Expos, have won three consecutive Eastern League Championships. If that isn’t enough to generate home team support and enthusiasm, add the thrill of watching out-and-out horrible teams turn into champions and the excitement of seeing future Big Leaguers like Vladamir Guerreroa and Andy Tracy come into their own, and you will understand why the Senators have caused such a commotion. This atmosphere of enthusiasm and excitement is evident at almost every game — win or lose.

The Business Man’s Special at Riverside Stadium on July 31 was no exception. All those attending witnessed a great game. Good pitching, great fielding, and great hitting. Jeremy Ware’s first inning throw to the plate with New Haven’s Adrian Myers screaming toward home was brilliant and brought the crowd to its feet, creating an intensity that carried through the remaining eight innings. After the Ravens scored one run in the third, the Senators replied with a pair in the bottom half of the inning, and with the exception of a Jeremy Ware’s (there’s that name again) insurance home run (10) in the eighth, that was all that the Senators needed to secure a sweep of the Ravens and up their record to 56 – 51, leaving them only a half game away from a playoff position. Donnie Bridges upped his record to 7 – 5, giving up just one run in five innings. Scott Chapman came in with almost perfect relief, and Brandon Agamennone pitched the last out in the ninth to get his fourth save of the season.

On top of that, there was something else going on that almost eclipsed the game. If you didn’t notice the schools of buses in the parking lot when you pulled in, you were too busy looking for a good place to park. The grass around the ballpark was a smattering of children, all trying to eat their lunches before going in for the afternoon festivities. At 12:05 p.m., when the game got underway, there were more kids in the stands than there are mayflies at an evening game. (By the way, if you are staying away from Riverside Park because of those annoying white insects, fear not. Because night games now start earlier — either 6:05 p.m. or 6:35 p.m. — most games end before the swarm of locusts has time to descend.) At first, the unruly brats proved annoying: the constant up and downs and "excuse me’s" were a distraction to the game at hand, but with time the children stopped being a distraction. Instead their presence began to enhance the atmosphere. Their unbridled enthusiasm for the team and for the colorful Senators’ mascot, Rascal, was a reminder that baseball is all about fun.

Statistics mean nothing without the involvement of the fans. And going to the game is nothing unless it allows for the opportunity for connection: the connection of the fan to his team and his favorite player, the connection of parents with their sons or daughters, or perhaps the connection with your own childhood stirred by the souvenir baseball caught off a foul tip that’s still sitting on your dresser. It is all part of the experience that is baseball.

Next time, when you’re thinking about how there is nothing to do in Harrisburg — you’ve done it all — check the paper and see whether the Senators are home. Go check out a game. You might even have a good time, and if not, they sell beer, and the hot dogs are only a buck.