River City Rascals: Enjoying a Summer Evening in O'Fallon, Missouri

Living outside of Saint Louis, many people often wonder what there is to do. Those that live in the city often scoff at us that live out in the suburbs, or-even worse-Saint Charles County. What is there to do without the thriving metropolis and culture of the city?

My whole life I have been a suburban girl. And, I've always been able to find plenty to do. Suburbs often have museums, sporting events, cultural events, just like the city. And, guess what? They're usually cheaper!

One such option exists in O'Fallon, Missouri in Saint Charles County. About a 45 minute drive from downtown there is a cost effective alternative to going to a Cardinals game. Now, I love the Cardinals as much as the next St. Louisan, but going to a game often means dealing with traffic, expensive parking, expensive snacks, and hordes of scalpers and drunks. It's great every once in a while, but not somewhere I'd want to frequent (nor would my bank account allow me to frequent).

So, recently, my husband and I ventured to a different kind of baseball game. The River City Rascals are a team in the Frontier League, an independent professional baseball league. It is not affiliated with the MLB, but the players are considered professional athletes. At times, players will make the transition to the MLB, and occasionally you'll see older players who are no longer able to garner a contract in the MLB make the switch to an independent league like the Frontier League.

The River City Rascals play in T.R Hughes Ballpark in O'Fallon, Missouri. The facility is fairly neat and very clean. Parking is free, though there is some walking involved. However, it is probably less walking than you would do at a Major League park after having paid twenty dollars to park.

The great thing about going to a Rascals game is the price. After free parking, tickets range from six dollars to thirteen dollars (if you pre-order. If you buy at the door, add one dollar to the price). This means you can get some of the best seats in the house for, at most, fourteen dollars a piece. So far, you've gotten through the door spending under thirty dollars.

One of the first things you notice going into the ballpark is the family atmosphere. Kids have plenty to do, including a lawn area practically right on the left field line that allows kids to roam, play catch, or just run around. My husband commented on how, when he was a kid, if they had that option he would have liked baseball a lot better! They also have a whole back area behind center field with a playground, basketball hoops, and inflatable games. This is great for kids who might get a little antsy after an inning or two of sitting still.

But, don't let the family atmosphere fool you. My husband and I do not have children and still had a good time. If you want to avoid the kids, I'd recommend avoiding the bleacher seats, as this is where most of the games are located. Instead get an actual seat and you won't have to deal with children running around.

The food is reasonably priced and on Wednesday nights the ballpark offers one-dollar hot dogs. There are various promotions throughout the year that involve special pricing and giveaways. They have all the ballpark essentials such as hot dogs, nachos, dip 'n dots, and so on. Might I suggest the Hawaiian shaved ice stand. The sno-cone I had was delicious and, though it was $4.75, I was impressed with how much flavoring they put on the sno-cone. Usually you get to the end of a sno-cone and it's just plain ice, but the whole thing was flavorful and delicious and well worth the money on a hot night.

As for the game itself, if you're an MLB fan you'll note that the games do follow a slower pace. There are little promotions between each inning, although an incredibly cute one involves a dog bringing out a basket of balls to the umpire. The pitching is not of the same caliber and you'll probably see more hits than a Cards game. Still, the defense is great and though the pitching isn't top-notch, it's not exactly little league either.

Overall, I enjoyed my first experience with independent baseball. There were options for couples, friends, and families. It was easy and stress free. We saw a good baseball game at very reasonable prices. It's something I could easily do on a weekly basis without breaking the bank or getting bored. So, when I'm asked what is there to do out in the 'burbs, a Rascals game is one of the things I suggest first.

For more information about the Rascals, the Frontier League, and promotions, check out the Rascals website at http://www.rivercityrascals.com/index.php