The outside of Dutchess Stadium in Wappingers Falls, N.Y. The stadium is only a couple of years old. Nice wide seats and cup-holders in the reserved areas. Metal bleachers along both sides. Large food court. Comfortable but not as charming as the older parks.

Looking from the ticket line across Interstate 84 at the NY State juvenile prison. Down Route 9D from Dutchess County Stadium is a maximum-security state prison for adults.

Generic rock blasts from this gimmick trailer for the Renegades radio station sponsor. That's me next to the truck, waiting in line and wishing the line would move faster.

Mahoning Valley (OH) first baseman B. Munoz warms up before the game.

The grounds crew prepares home plate. Our seats, costing $16 for two tickets, were 16 rows back, right behind home plate. Note the safety netting.

The crew hoses down the base paths around home plate. Note the little girl in the grounds crew shirt. She won a raffle to be an "honorary member" of the crew for this game.

It was cap night and the first 4000 fans got these fine lids.

Looking in toward the grandstand from the left field picnic area. Note no roof on the stadium -- they're raising money to build one.

Looking over the home dugout toward right field. Note the photographer's shadow in the lower left.

Mahoning Valley players warm up on a beautiful summer evening. Note the large, modern scoreboard and the variety of advertising signs along the outfield fence.

The view down the third base line, through the backstop netting. Note the picnic area way down the line. Mahoning Valley players warm up in the foreground.

The view from our seat, almost game time, as Mahoning Valley players finish their warm-ups.

A fan with her Renegades hat on watches warm-ups.

One of the three Renegades mascots -- this one a female raccoon named Rene -- signs autographs. There's also her "husband" Rookie and their "cub" Rascal.

Hudson Valley manager Dave Howard (right) and Mahoning Valley manager Dave Turgeon (left) exchange lineup cards.

The game is now underway, with Hudson Valley's Brian Lockwood pitching.

Lockwood fires a strike in.

Darkness descends and the lights come on as Hudson Valley bats.

The moon rises behind the right field bleachers.

Hudson Valley bats late in the game. Note the moon in the upper left.

Another ideal night to watch minor league baseball.