BILLINGS MUSTANGS VS HELENA BREWERS

This was a rematch of the two teams we saw in Helena four days ago. Dehler Park in downtown Billings is a well designed facility. I think it's the best we've seen in the Pioneer League so far. There would be no doubt about it if they didn't have the view from so many seats blocked by safety netting.

On the other hand, they score very highly for their wide concourse which circles the entire playing field. This allows fans to watch from just about anywhere in the outfield, something most minor league parks (and some major league parks) don't provide.  Dehler Park also had the best ballpark food we've encountered anywhere in the U.S. or Canada.

The Stang Burger!

When we arrived there was an elderly couple occupying two of our seats. When advised of this, they told us they were just waiting there for the line at the nearby barbecue grill to diminish. We noticed the breeze blowing from its direction was quite delightful. They explained that the grill has something called the "Stang Burger" that we absolutely must try. It's a cheeseburger covered with thin slices of beef brisket -- kind of like bacon but beef instead of pork. We took their word for it and tried it. They were absolutely right. It was fantastic! I had mine with barbecue sauce and grilled onions (recommened by the staff) while Shannon and George had theirs plain. We all agreed it was the best burger we'd eaten at any ballpark. The other items we tried were also very good and reasonably priced. Shannon was particularly fond of the fresh squeezed lemonade.

Ah, yes....there was a ballgame. Unfortunatley for the loud and supportive fans of Billings, their Mustangs were defeated by the visiting Helena Brewers by a score of 4-2. Helena jumped out to an early lead and never relinquished it. The Mustangs had a couple of rallies in the late innings but the Brewers were able to shut them down, allowing only single runs in the seventha and ninth innings.

16 - Robert Maddox - 1B

The worst part for me occurred when my newly adopted favorite player in the Pioneer League, Robert Maddox, was run over during a play at first base. He tried to play through it but he was visibly limping and he was removed from the games a couple of innings later. I hope he's going to be okay.

The Supreme Commander and her Uncle George approach Dehler Park

A posting at the ballpark's entrance

One of two monuments at the park's entrance

This is the other monument

Another view of the second monument

...and its marker

The view from the concourse along the third base line

The temperature at the start of the game was 98 degrees. Smokin'!

Looking out to centerfield

Wide concourses make it easy for fans to move about the park

The view of rightfield from our seats behind the bullpen

A closer view of the bullpen

Looking across the grandstand on the third base side

The Mustangs take the field

Many fans arrive late

Not a full house but still a pretty good draw

High and tight

Noooo! The batter ran over my #1 player, Robert Maddox (#16)

Robert tries to walk it off

Robert is obviously still in pain

Still trying to shake it off

Two slump busters move in behind the Mustangs' bullpen

The Brewers put a runner in scoring position

A little low

Now he's on third

The Mustangs' outfielders don't seem worried

Bar tables line the concourse along the leftfield fence

A patio sits in the leftfield corner

The Supreme Commander and her Uncle George enjoy the game

The Supreme Commander shows off her new Musttangs cap

The bounce house sits in the rightfield corner

The Mustangs have a rally going

Only ninety feed from scoring

Low and inside

Tapped back to the pitcher - that won't bring the run home

Robert Maddox gives it his best

Robert's injury may be affecting his swing

Bring it up, man! My leg is killing me!

The slump busters have company

The temperature is down to 95. Yay!

The view from the leftfield concourse

In a little tighter from the same spot

I moved over a little towards centerfield

Now from left-centerfield

This residential neighborhood sits beyond leftfield

Another shot from left-center

Zooming in tighter

If I lived in Billings, it would have to be in this neighborhood

A lull in the action

The Supreme Commander and her Uncle George spotted from centerfield

From almost dead-centerfield

Now I'm in right-centerfield

Looking toward my seat from right-center. I see smoke from the grill

The pitcher comes over the top

The pitcher in mid-delivery

Now it's the Mustangs' turn

The runner is way off the bag

That's a pretty big queue for the bounce house

The grass berm in the rightfield corner

Looking toward centerfield from the first base concourse

I HATE watching the game through a net!

The most expensive seats in the house have to look through this.

Back in my seat now. No net!

The Supreme Commander tries a Stang Burger

The jury is still out....

Mmmmm...want some?

That is SO tasty!

The Mustangs are behind 2-0 but the temperature is down to 94 degrees

The Supreme Commander with Homer the Mustang

Homer is armed with a Super Soaker

Don't get my camera wet, Homer!

The kids, homer! The kids!

This big kid always enjoys the mascots

The temperature is down to 92 but the Mustangs are still losing

A pitching change

It's too hot to be standing around like this

The outfielders take a break while the new pitcher warms up

Maybe the lefty will have better success against the Brewers

The fans on the first base side are relieved to have the sun below the horizon

On the board finally but still down by 2

Out at first

It's finally below 90 degrees!

The fans are hoping for a late comeback victory

The catcher almost threw it away trying to pick off the runner

With a runner on, the potential tying run is at the plate

Forced out at second

The Mustangs lost. SIGH!

The Supreme Commander has a bag full of souvenirs and a belly full of Stang Burger

The Supreme Commander loves horses of any kind