Batter up! The Hudson Valley’s newest minor league baseball team — the Rockland Boulders — kicks off its first season with a home game on June 16.
The Boulders are the latest addition to the Can-Am League — that’s the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball — which features eight independent teams from nearby states (such as New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts) and Canada.
Manager (and former New York Yankee) Dave LaPoint leads the team. A native of Glens Falls, LaPoint pitched for the Yanks from 1988-91. He began his managerial career with the Adirondack Lumberjacks (Northeast League) in 1995, and most recently managed the Long Island Ducks (Atlantic League) during their 2010 season.
Home games take place at Ramapo Ballpark in Pomona, which overlooks the scenic Ramapo Mountains. This brand-new stadium, with seating for approximately 4,000, features a state-of-the-art sound system, a scoreboard with video transmission to show off instant replays, and a kids’ area. On Opening Day, the Boulders — along with their newly appointed mascot, the Boulder Bird — take on the Brockton Rox of Massachusetts, with a fireworks display following the game.
Tickets range from $8-$16 — that’s a fraction of what it costs just to park at Yankee Stadium these days — and can be purchased by calling 845-364-0009 or online at www.rocklandboulders.com.
Other home games this month:
June 17-19: vs New Jersey Jackals
June 20-22: vs Brockton Rox
June 24-27: vs New York Federals
