07.25.09 #19 Green Bay Bullfrogs vs Wisconsin Woodchucks

After a week long family vacation, I was set to finish the week with a quick run up to Green Bay, Wisconsin for a summer Lambeau Field Tour (topic of another post) and a Northwoods League college wooden bat league game between the Green Bay Bullfrogs and the Wisconsin Woodchucks from Wausau.

From the very start, this trip was shaping up to be a true classic. In fact it calls for the gimmick of a Top 10 list. Presenting the "Top 10 Ways you know you are in Wisconsin for a baseball game":

1. Tailgating starts more than an hour before the start of a minor league game.

2. A scalper drives by on a motorized beer cooler, yes a cooler with and actual engine on it. First scalper of the year, I might add.

3. Players warm up by playing catch with a football.

4. Pulled Pork sandwiches are ordered "Hold the bread!"

5. The familiar quest to drink a beer an inning starts with 3 pre-game beers.

6. More people are sitting in the All-You-Can-Drink section than the rest of the stadium.

7. Loudest cheer of the night is for 1/2 price beer when a designated visiting batters strikes out.

8. Not one, but two bachelor parties start up an impromptu sing-a-long to the Beach Boys "Iko-Iko"...and no one thinks this is odd.

9. Discussion of their hatred for the Chicago Bears is topic of many conversations.

10. Bloody Mary's at the bar after the game are made with bacon-infused vodka. Quite tasty I must add.

The pre-game tailgating was going hot and heavy when we arrived. There was actually another lot that was completely full of tailgaters. I think they consider this tailgate training camp getting ready for football training camp tailgating.

We opted for the All-You-Can-Eat-and-Drink Party Deck tickets. $25 got you a choice of three types of Leinie's beer or Miller Lite, brats, hot dogs, hamburgers and pulled pork and the usual sides. They were doing brisk business in this section. Let's just say they like beer and brats in Wisconsin.

Steve hitting the meat line. I'll have a brat...and a hot dog...and some pulled pork...and a hamburger.

Pre-game warm-ups include throwing a football and running deep patterns. Must be a two sport athlete.

A very poor Jimi Hendrix wanna-be playing the National Anthem on his electric guitar. Noble attempt, but there was nowhere to hide when the wrong chords started springing up. For those that have been to concerts with me before, no I did not buy his CD.

View from the Party Deck in right field. We had good seats and the rain ponchos we bought came in handy during the brief storm.

Ah, my pulled pork sandwich, hold the bread, as suggested by some of the regulars. They just claimed the bread got in the way. Pretty good sandwich I must say.

Play ball! The Frogs at bat

View from behind home plate.

It was also St. Patrick's Day at the park and the celebrated with lots of Drop Kick Murphy's music and green bases. There was even green beer, although we stuck with the untinted variety.

Here I am getting to know Jeremiah. Apparently he was a bullfrog.

Closer view of the Frogs at bat.

The intrepid right fielder sporting his special St. Patricks jersey which was available in a silent auction.

What would you expect as a between inning promotion at the Bullfrogs game, but a rousing round of leapfrog. This is always funny when the people participating have been on the party deck all game.

Steve and I posing for pictures. No explanation necessary.

Sun set over the Jo. Joannes Stadium was a nice little community field, similar to the Single A facility in Beloit.

The Bullfrogs held on for arousing 5-3 victory, mainly be committing fewer errors. A big second inning put it away.

The jersey auction was big with the families, girlfriends and the local groupies. Here the players are shedding the jerseys right off their backs.

Tonight's attendees and the host and hostess for the weekend, Steve and Beth Siebert. Beth finished the weekend off with a fantastic egg casserole on Sunday. Highly recommended.

Steve and I found a Valparaiso player, Bryce Shafer, on the opposing team and had to get our picture taken with him. I think Bryce was somewhat confused by the whole thing. I am guessing there are not a lot of Valpo baseball fans travelling around the Northwoods League. Hopefully it didn't throw him off as he was starting the next game for the Woodchucks.

Nice tri-color hat with the GB frog logo. One of the more colorful and unique hats of the summer.

After the game we stopped at the Titletown Brewery for a sampler, which in Wisconsin means 9 beers. Quite good, although it made for a rough finish after the beer an inning at the game.

On the drive home on Sunday, the trusty GPS located a winery not too far off the highway. Oh course I had to stop. Once I got there, I realized it was beyond my wildest dreams. Not only was it a winery, it was the Branch River Trout Hatchery and Winery. My very first combination trout hatchery and winery. What a fitting end to a weekend in Wisconsin.