This week Team Living90045 welcomes a guest post from Catherine Galanti. Would you like to write for us? More info here.
Major League Baseball is almost here. The teams have reported to spring training, and it’s only a matter of weeks before Opening Day. Here in LA, we’re pretty lucky to have two MLB teams. You can pick who to follow, but it’s often difficult to see a game in person. What if you can’t make it out to Arizona for spring training? Who wants to struggle through traffic to get to Dodger Stadium, or make the trek to Anaheim to catch an Angels game?
Why not take advantage of the baseball program that’s right in our own back yard? Loyola Marymount (LMU) baseball offers a local alternative, with all the fun of a big league game. You get awesome games without the stress of crawling along the 10 or the 5. Don’t miss out on a hidden gem … a diamond, if you will. 😉
LMU games are a great way to experience Division 1 baseball. Not only is the team hardworking and fun to watch, this year they play teams like USC, UC Santa Barbara, Michigan and conference rival, Pepperdine. Seeing a game at LMU is also a great opportunity to watch college players before they get drafted to MLB teams. In the last five years, LMU has had 11 players drafted into major league organizations, with a total of 111 in the program’s history. Among those, 21 players have made it to the majors.
One of the more recent Lions, David Fletcher, was drafted as a sophomore by the Angels in 2015. Fletcher is working his way through the minor leagues, with an invite to Spring Training this year. He is currently listed as the Angel’s no. 8 prospect and is expected to make his major league debut next year.
Two Lions were drafted last season. 2016’s ace pitcher, junior J.D. Busfield, went to the Tampa Bay Rays in the 7th round as the 210th pick overall. Catcher Cassidy Brown was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 12th round as the 348th pick. Pitcher Michael Silva went undrafted, but signed with the Kansas City Royals as a free agent. It will be fun to follow them and future Lion players as they begin their professional careers. Watching LMU baseball is an opportunity to witness and get to know the future of professional baseball.
LMU’s George Page Stadium has a seating capacity of 1,000 and I have to say that there’s not a bad seat in the ballpark. You’ll get a great view of the game, closer than any of what you could get at a Major League park. There are a variety of activities for kids to participate in like the popular Frozen T-Shirt Race and Steal Third Base Contest, along with the Dizzy Bat Challenge. Local businesses like Tony P’s, Tower Pizza and Togo’s are big supporters of the team and frequently give away gift cards as prizes. How awesome is that?
In case all this isn’t enough, adult single game tickets are only about $8, and season tickets cost $40-$80. You certainly don’t find season ticket prices like that in the MLB. For the kids, the Little Lions Club only costs $20, and gives admission to all home baseball games, along with other special events. The Little Lions Club also offers a range of games, summer camp discounts, and more. Get ticket information here.
The Lions’ next home game is this Wednesday, March 1st at 6:00 PM. They play Michigan for one game before an away series at Arizona State University this weekend. Coming back from that series, the Lions will return to Page Stadium Tuesday, March 7th to face UC Irvine. Get the full schedule here.
If you’re a baseball fan and live in Westchester, Playa del Rey, the Marina or surrounding areas, it’s totally worth it to come out with the family. It’s cheap. It’s fun. You’ll get to watch quality collegiate baseball. Come over and watch a game or two. The team will love the support.
Follow the Lions on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @lmulions. I hope to see you at a game. Go, Lions!
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