Baseball could be returning to Old Orchard Beach Ballpark in 2011, as the City Council last night voted to allow the city manager to negotiate a lease with the Lowell All Americans (summer collegiate; NECBL).
If all goes well a lease could be in place in October.
The return of regularly scheduled baseball to the ballpark is an amazing story. The ballpark was built as the home of the Maine Phillies/Guides (Class AAA; International League), who bailed on the Maine market after five seasons. The ballpark was left for dead, with the field overrun with weeds. After a fire took out part of the grandstand, the city deliberated whether to tear it down. A group of volunteers took things over and restored the ballpark with lots of elbow grease and love. It played host last summer to college tournaments as well as a Can-Am exhibition game.
RELATED STORIES: College tourney caps comeback for Old Orchard Beach ballpark; Old Orchard Beach Ballpark opens for business; Rox, Capitales to play exhibitions at Old Orchard Ballpark; Good news! Old Orchard Beach Ballpark off Endangered List; Preservation of Maine Guides ballpark continues
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