A Week at the Ballpark

Thanks to the way our quarter-season ticket package shook out, most of our Bees games for June landed in the same week. We had three games already on the calendar, and for good measure we added a fourth. It was shaping up to be a jam-packed week of baseball—a full-on Bees binge.

But as they say, best laid plans…

We ended up skipping the first game entirely. Madeline and I both came down with a nasty virus. On Tuesday, I could barely get out of bed, and Madeline came home from school with a fever. It was rough. Alison was an absolute champ, juggling work, taking Madeline to the pediatrician, and nursing both of us back to health. On Wednesday, I was starting to feel a little better, but Mads was still under the weather. I took a sick day and just laid low with her at home. We had Bees tickets that night, but it just wasn’t in the cards. Instead, we passed our tickets off to Blake and Meg. It was a bummer to miss it, but we were glad someone got to enjoy the game.

By Thursday, Madeline was still fighting it, but I had the day off for Juneteenth and was finally feeling more like myself. So once again, Mads and I spent the day at home resting and recovering—this time with a bit more energy. On Friday, the clouds finally lifted. Madeline was clearly feeling better and was giggling as I took her into school, thrilled to be back in her routine. She loves being with us, but she also loves the structure and social time school gives her. And we were grateful for the return of normalcy too—working from home while simultaneously entertaining a sick infant is not for the faint of heart.

Friday night’s game was a fun one. Alison scored us premium tickets through her company, Cox Automotive, and we were excited to try out the fancy seats behind the first base dugout. These seats came with plush recliners, in-seat food service, and a killer view of the action. We arrived early to soak in the experience and walked over to the stadium in perfect summer weather—warm, breezy, and not too hot.

The food service was… eh. It felt like an off night. Our food came late, the burger didn’t show up until the 6th inning, and we never did get our ice cream. But I did get my hands on an absolutely fantastic soft pretzel, so it wasn’t a total loss on the food front.

The real treat was the game itself. This wasn’t just a regular Bees game—the team was playing as the Malmo Oat Milkers as part of Oatly’s promotional campaign. Every minor league team gets one night a season to take on this alter ego, and tonight was our turn. And apparently, the Oat Milkers are a force to be reckoned with. They shut out the Sacramento River Cats and racked up six runs in the process. One highlight: Ben Gamel, a former Yankee now playing for the Bees, launched a home run. It was a fun little nod to our Yankee-loving hearts.

Madeline did amazingly well throughout the game. We stayed all the way through the bottom of the 8th inning before she hit her limit, which for a baby is practically extra innings.

Saturday brought us back to the ballpark for Superhero Night. I obviously had to dress the part. Before the game, we stopped by a baby shower for one of our neighbors, which turned out to be a lovely backyard picnic with other young families from the neighborhood. The weather was perfect—sunny, warm but not hot. Classic summer bliss.

But by the time we were headed to the stadium, the wind had rolled in, and temperatures dropped fast. It got chilly. Still, we made our way over. Alison had been chatting with Kristin just before game time and convinced her to come too. There were no available seats in our section, but we assured her she could snag one nearby. Turned out our section was more full than usual due to a Snow College alumni night (go Badgers!), but Kristin still found a spot right in front of us, next to Alison and Madeline.

Madeline got a little fussy early on, so Alison and Kristin took her for a stroll around the stadium. Meanwhile, the Bees weren’t having their best night—they were down 4–1, and the energy wasn’t quite there. By the fifth inning, the wind was really howling. The dust kicked up from all the construction around the ballpark didn’t help either. My grandparents decided to call it a night in the sixth inning, and shortly after, we did too. We walked out during the seventh inning stretch, singing Take Me Out to the Ballgame as we exited, which honestly felt pretty on-brand. The walk home was a little dicey thanks to the gusty wind, but we made it home safely and called it a night.

Sunday was the final game of the homestand, and it was a day game—though you wouldn’t have guessed it by the temperature. It felt more like late spring than mid-summer, so we bundled up and made our way back to the stadium.

This game was part of Minor League Baseball’s Copa de la Diversión, a celebration of Hispanic and Latino culture and its connection to baseball. The Bees played as the Abejas (Spanish for Bees), wearing special jerseys, and the whole park had a festive, lively vibe. There were mariachi bands, Latin music playing between innings, and a real sense of joy in the crowd. Madeline absolutely loved the music. She was dancing nonstop—little arms waving, feet kicking, a full-on baby fiesta. It was one of those moments that just made your heart melt.

The game itself was a blast too. The Abejas came out swinging and put up 9 runs in the first two innings. They coasted to an easy 11–1 win. We treated ourselves to snacks—popcorn and another giant pretzel (we’re developing a soft pretzel problem)—and Mads was a big fan of both. We also met Bumble in his Abejas jersey and swung by the new team store. Alison was hoping to find a cute summer Bees shirt, but the women’s selection was a little disappointing. Better luck next time.

We stayed for the full game, soaking in every last bit of sunshine and good vibes.

After the game, we took a leisurely walk around Daybreak Lake and headed to Harmons to grab a few groceries. We picked up food for a picnic and found a shady spot by the lake—away from the pushy geese, though a few did wander over to investigate. Madeline was fascinated by them. We ate, relaxed, and enjoyed the moment.

That evening we hung out in our loft as a family—just decompressing from a busy, baseball-filled weekend. It was one of those days where everything felt simple and good. Sunshine, snacks, and a sleepy baby. Honestly, what more could we ask for?