Take Yourself Out to a Minor League Game

Eager to see someone like Andy Owen play ball? You don’t have to travel to Elmira, N.Y.

Minor league baseball, with all its folksy charms, unaffected players and affordable ticket prices, can be found less than an hour’s drive from Dodger Stadium.

Five of the 10 teams in the Class A California League--three levels below the majors--are based in Southern California: the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, the San Bernardino Stampede, the Lake Elsinore Storm, the Lancaster Jethawks and the High Desert Mavericks, who play in Adelanto.

Those who want to see a higher caliber of play will have to travel a little farther. The Fresno Grizzlies and Las Vegas Stars are part of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, one rung below the majors.

Among the Southland-based California League teams, the defending league champion Stampede is affiliated with the Dodgers and the Storm with the Angels.

California League games are played in a family-friendly atmosphere in clean, newer facilities that are much more intimate than Dodger Stadium. The largest of the Southern California stadiums, all of which have been built in the last 10 years, is at Lake Elsinore and seats only about 7,000.

The season runs from early April through the first weekend in September, followed by about two weeks of playoffs.

Ticket prices range from $4.50 to $8.50, with discounts on some children’s tickets. Each team also offers group discounts and other promotions.

More information is available on the teams’ Web sites:

https://www.rcquakes.com

https://www.stampedebaseball.com

https://www.hdmavs.com

https://www.stormbaseball.com

https://www.jethawks.com

https://www.lasvegasstars.com

https://www.fresnogrizzlies.com