OCR Text |
Show DERKS FIELD: Utah's professional baseball home, named the best in the nation by USA Weekend, Week-end, may be crumbling, but the Pioneer League's Salt Lake Trappers are still ready, willing and i able to provide local enthusiasts with solid entertainment on the diamond. The Trappers are the defending league champions. n's play ball for Salt Lake Trappers, Derlcs Field By DIRK FACER Sports Editor V SALT LAKE CITY Derks Field may be deteriorating, but the Salt Lake Trappers keep rolling along. Faced with the dilemma of having 1 ,200 prime seats condemned condemn-ed by the city, the Trappers are moving forward and seemingly taking it all in stride. "We've got a lot of support in the community,' said Trappers ticket manager Eric Sawyer. "We've taken a hard hit, but we are trying to turn it into a positive and trying to have fun with it." On opening night, the Traps handed out 500 hard hats and the team's souvenir shop sells "I Sur- 1 1 JUNE 15 at Billings 13 at Lethbridge 1 7 at Butte 1 6 at Billings 1 4 at Lethbridge i 1S at Butte 17 at Billings 15 at Lethbridge 19 at Butte 18 at Billings 16 at Medicine Hat 20 IDAHO FALLS 1 9 at Great Falls 17 at Medicine Hat 21 IDAHO FALLS 20 at Great Falls 18 at Medicine Hat 22 IDAHO FALLS 21 at Great Falls 19 at Medicine Hat 23 HELENA 23 IDAHO FALLS 21 HELENA 24 HELENA 24 IDAHO FALLS 22 HELENA 25 HELENA 25 at Helena 23 HELENA 26 HELENA 26 at Helena 24 at Helena 27 at Idaho Falls 27 at Helena 25 at Helena 28 at Idaho Falls 28- at Butte 26 at Butte 29 at Idaho Falls 29 at Butte 27 at Butte 30 at Helena 30 BUTTE 28 BUTTE JULY 31 BUTTE 29 BUTTE 1 at Helena AUGUST 0i .Sf 2- IDAHO FALLS 1-BUTTE 31 ld3h Fa"S 3 IDAHO FALLS 2 BUTTE SEPTEMBER A at Idaho Falls 3 at Idaho Falls 1 at Idaho Falls 5 at Idaho Falls 4 at Idaho Falls 2 at Idaho Falls 7 BILLINGS 5 LETHBRIDGE 3 IDAHO FALLS 8 BILLINGS 6 LETHBRIDGE 4 IDAHO FALLS 9 BILLINGS 7 LETHBRIDGE 5- IDAHO FALLS 10 GREAT FALLS 8 LETHBRIDGE 11 GREAT FALLS 9 MEDICINE HAT Horn. GamM Played at 12 GREAT FALLS 10- MEDICINE HAT ER"S FIEL0 13 GREAT FALLS 11- MEDICINE HAT (ipsuny,) vived Derks Field" T-shirts. In addition, ad-dition, fans are being permitted to sit on the outfield warning track whenever it becomes necessary. "We love putting people on the warning track," Sawyer said. "But, we are also trying to send a message that something needs to be done. ' ' Salt Lake City mayor Deedee Corradini has pledged to build a new facility by the start of the 1994 campaign. In the meantime, the city has installed safety nets throughout the decaying complex as well as blocked off the unsafe seats. "We were concerned with it on the onset," Sawyer admits. "But, our general manager Dave Baggott coined the phrase "If it's a seat, it's safe." With the proper safety precautions precau-tions in place, the Trappers are eager to accommodate the public. "It's been our little pun on the thing," he said. "To let people know that it's safe to come out to the ball park and do the things they have always done. We've had such a positive response that we have sponsors for all but two nights." Support has become the hallmark for this group of baseball castaways. Last season in 35 home dates, Salt Lake drew a short-season record 200,599 fans. Despite being an independent rookie league team with no major league affiliation, the Trappers managed to outdraw three Triple A teams which play 71 home games. Salt Lake may be hard-pressed hard-pressed to break last season's record year now that the Derks Field capacity has been reduced to 8,900. In an effort to circumvent the loss, the Trappers have once again produced a summer full of promotions promo-tions to draw fans to the ball park. Fireworks and give-aways are among the more popular events. On the field, the Trappers, best known for their 29-game winning streak in 1987, have enjoyed a bevy of success in winning four Pioneer League championships since 1985. Comprised of players not drafted or signed by the major leagues, baseball's misfits have rarely failed to please, as evidenced at the box office. Players from coast-to-coast comprise com-prise the makeshift Trapper lineup. Salt Lake's roster also includes a Canadian. Pitcher Barry Parisotto, a resident of British Columbia, should feel right at home in the eight-team Pioneer League which includes two stops north of the border-Medicine Hat and Lethbridge in Alberta. In addition, franchises are located in Butte, Billings, Helena and Great Falls, Mont, as well as Idaho Falls, Idaho. The Trappers expanded 76-game 76-game season began June 17 in Butte and concludes Sept. 5 at home against Idaho Falls. All home games begin at 7 p.m., with Sunday contests slated for 1:30 p.m. |