PORT ANGELES — Last-minute preparations are in full swing at Civic Field ahead of tonight’s Opening Night for the Port Angeles Lefties.
The summer wood-bat West Coast League baseball team opens its third season of play with two exhibition games tonight and Friday at 6:35 p.m. against the Northwest Honkers.
Gates open at 5:30 p.m, and tonight is the first of five special all-you-can-eat promotions for spectators with “Unreal Deal” tickets planned this season, according to Lefties co-owner Matt Acker.
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A trip to Victoria, B.C., to play a team of Cuban players is set Sunday, with the official West Coast League Opening Day coming on Tuesday with the Lefties visiting the Portland Pickles.
Port Angeles will make its WCL home debut Friday, June 7 against the Bellingham Bells.
“Well, we have the five all-you-can-eat dates, that’s different. That will be a fun experience. We’ve sold a ton of tickets for those games,” Acker said.
“The walkway project is still ongoing. Stairs are going to go in pretty soon.”
Acker is describing the paved pedestrian path behind the baseball press box that will ease fan movement and access and lessen logjams in front of the seats behind home plate.
Acker said the team will run concessions inside Civic Field this year, but Next Door Gastropub will continue to serve items from its parking lot food truck — with weekend games and big-event dates an emphasis.
“We will still have the food truck this year,” Acker said. “The pub did a huge favor for us by running everything the first two years. We are going to run the concessions now ourselves — standard ballpark fare like hamburgers, hot dogs, cotton candy and popcorn.
“What they do best is the food truck and that will continue to be an option.”
Acker said he encourages fans to try out the Lefties Burger.
“We have a Lefties burger with a special sauce that I’m excited about,” Acker said. “I think it will be successful, you’re just going to have come and try it.”
Lefties beverage sales have impressed both micro and macro breweries through two seasons, Acker said, and there will be many options.
“We’ve got beer from Fremont, Two Towns, Rainier, Full Sail, Silver City, Lagunitas, Deschutes, Manny’s and we have Port Angeles’ own Bedford’s Sodas,” Acker said.
Promotions such as $2 Tuesdays, where fans can enjoy $2 Rainier beers, also return.
“We have the $2 Tuesdays returning, 1st Security Trivia Wednesdays and Go Western Rodeo bingo on Sundays,” Acker said.
“We’ll have a promotion or an event pretty much every game, though.”
Acker mentioned a Kid’s Night with free admission for youth on June 19 and a Teacher Appreciation Night on June 20.
Chig Martin returns as the Lefties in-game, on-field event host.
Dan Harvey will be in the booth as public address announcer for the third season.
Timber, the Lefties’ marmot mascot, also will be back to entertain fans of all ages.
Individual game ticket prices range from $5 for general admission, $15 for premium seating and $20 for Diamond seating with table service available.
The 1st Security Park Deck also can be reserved for $1,000 per game.
Port Angeles Lefties pitcher Tyler Tan pitches against the Yakima Valley Pippins during the last game of the three-game series on Sunday. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)