This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Take Me Out to the Ballgame, Without Breaking My Budget, Please

One option (among a few in NJ): The BlueClaws

“If they don’t win, it’s a shame” is a verse that seems to sting more and more with every passing baseball season. After all, you paid good money for your tickets; the least your favorite team could do is win for you.

As owners look for ways to justify Major League contract costs and stadiums look to rescue their profit margins, the average fan has to deal with the financial pinch. Even worse, it can be hard to enjoy a game when you estimate how much it is all going to cost.

Meanwhile, Lakewood’s BlueClaws are playing real, honest-to-goodness baseball at a price suited for the whole family. Media and Public Relations Manager GregGiombarrese explained why he thinks fans ought to have a look at this Ocean County outfit: “The BlueClaws are a single-A affiliate of the PhiladelphiaPhillies.”

Find out what's happening in Hopatcong-Spartawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

As a farm team, players build up their skills through the BlueClaws and have the opportunity to be called up into major league play thereafter. There’s a great chance of seeing tomorrow’s stars today at First Energy Stadium.

On opening day, the BlueClaws will raise the 2010 South Atlantic League Championship Banner, the third earned in five years. A replica of the banner, along with replicas from 2006 and 2009, now hangs in the team's Wall of Fame at the first base gate.

Find out what's happening in Hopatcong-Spartawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Giombarrese also detailed several fun special promotions that happen at the team’s home stadium, First Energy Park. With the team’s season opener fast approaching on Thursday, April 7, we've chosen the Blueclaws as the subject for this latest installment of Day Tripper, a weekly look at destinations that are out of town, but in reach, and worth the trip.

DAY TRIPPER DIGEST

Estimated Travel Time: 1 hour, 48 minutes.

Why it’s Worth the Trip:  First Energy Park is an excellent venue not just for baseball, but for several of the stadium’s special events through the year.

How to Get There from Here:  There's easy access from the Garden State Parkway, exit 89. Detailed driving directions.

You’ll Probably Get Hungry:  The stadium is relatively close to Brick Township and connecting Hooper Avenue, a main road featuring stops like, Chili’sThe Olive Garden,  and other restaurants. If you’re more interested in a one-stop sort of outing, the stadium’s concessions are reasonably priced, and during the summer every Sunday and Monday kids eat free.

While you’re in the Area:  Also on Hooper you’ll find Ocean County Mall featuring , Boscov's and many other stores and restaurants. At the corner of Hooper and Bay is the Sony Seacourt Tenplex Theater, a perfect alternative in case of a rainout.

Don't Want to Go So Far? Well, of course, there's always the Newark Bears, the Jackals in Little Falls and the  (and we may come back to them in future Day Trippers). Unfortunately, the Sussex Skyhawks won't be operating in 2011.

Giombarrese said that while baseball is the main event, there’s always something happening at First Energy Park during the year.

“We’ll have theme nights through the season, and our Springstock concert in May. Every Friday night we have a fireworks display as well," he said. “[First Energy] is a beautiful ballpark with grass seating in the outfield. Families will come out with blankets and enjoy the game in a really great setting."

Decent tickets to a typical Yankees game can range from $50 all the way up to $325 for single-game admission. Tickets for a BlueClaws game are standard-priced at $10 for adults and $7 for juniors and senior citizens.

 Giombarrese emphasized that one of the best things about the field is the open-stadium setting with the green grass of spring chasing away what has been a very long, cold winter.

“It’s just great, affordable family entertainment,” he said.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?