Baseball Team’s Officials Pitch Good Times for South County Families

MISSION VIEJO —  Promising to provide as much of a show between innings as between the bases, Long Beach Riptide officials Tuesday announced their final decision to relocate to South County.

From wiener dog races to gathering kids in the outfield to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” Riptide officials say they are eager to show Orange County a good time, starting with the team’s first game on May 23 at Saddleback College against the Chico Heat.

“We are excited and thrilled to announce our move to Mission Viejo,” said team President Pat Elster. “Our phones have been ringing all morning with people wanting to know how they can get tickets.”

The team will begin packing up its office in Long Beach today and expects to move into temporary headquarters at the Mission Viejo World Cup Soccer Center on Thursday.

The first order of business will be choosing a new name, said General Manager Paula Pyers. Team officials are leaning toward the Mission Viejo Red Hawks, which is a raptor commonly seen in South County.

“We’ll make an official announcement next week and probably hold a contest for the public to name our team mascot,” said Pyers.

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City officials, who pushed hard to lure the team with an offer to build a $6-million ballpark at Saddleback College, were jubilant at the news.

“I think baseball fever is going to hit Mission Viejo with a passion,” Mayor William S. Craycraft said. “Youth sports are big in our community and minor league baseball will be a perfect fit.”

Meanwhile, Long Beach officials seemed resigned to losing the ballclub.

“We wish them well,” said city spokesman Gregory Davy. “We have no hard feelings towards the team, but we knew all along that we couldn’t match Mission Viejo’s offer.”

Saddleback Community College District trustees paved the way for the move Monday night when they agreed to a one-year lease that calls for Mission Viejo to replace the existing campus field and add temporary lights and bleachers at a cost of $800,000.

Plans for the proposed 4,500-seat stadium will be put on hold pending the outcome of an environmental report being commissioned by the city.

Craycraft scoffed at the idea of the environmental report becoming a roadblock to building the ballpark.

“They’ve been playing baseball there for 25 years,” he said. “I don’t think this report will be finding any gnatcatchers at third base.”

But trustees emerged from their meeting, promising to keep a close eye on the results of the environmental report.

The college Academic Senate has opposed the plans until a full assessment of the ballpark’s financial and environmental impacts can be assessed.

City officials expect the study to be completed by February.

But for at least this summer, team officials say they will provide a fun, family atmosphere with a touch of zaniness reminiscent of former major league owner Bill Veeck, who was renowned for stunts like signing a midget to boost attendance.

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Between-inning diversions include a karaoke gong show. A random fan is pulled onto the field and sings to recorded music with the audience given the option to “gong” an end to the performance.

The team also has a master of ceremonies who incites the crowd to cheer by offering pizza to the loudest sections.

“For the fans, the experience of baseball is a little impersonal at the major league level,” said Pyers. “Our show at the park is interactive. We like to involve the fans.”

The two-time Western Baseball League champions also comes with its own set of characters headed by pitching coach Brad “The Animal” Leslie. An imposing 6 feet, 6 inches tall and 300 pounds complete with a Fu Manchu mustache, Leslie has acted in motion pictures and the ex-Cincinnati Reds player’s looks made him a cult figure during a stint in the Japanese baseball league.

But most important, the team will make games child-friendly, Elster said.

“Kids will be on the field before the game, after the game. We’ll hold autograph days,” Elster said. “You look into the stands during a minor league game, and you see families.”

About three months behind in selling season tickets, Pyers said the team will start an immediate publicity blitz in South County.

“We’ll be speaking at Rotary clubs and chambers of commerce,” she said. “The first thing we need to do out of the gate is get involved with the community and tell people what we’re all about.”

* NAME THAT TEAM

First the Barracuda, then the Riptide. Will they be the Mission Viejo Red Hawks next? C11