Jul 17, 2013 4 min read

In 2005, the Washington Wild Things hosted the Frontier League’s premier event, the all-star baseball game, at Consol Energy Park.

On July 17, the 3,200-seat gem of a ballpark will do it again.

“The all-star game has grown every year, and it’s become our showcase event. The game years ago was almost like, ‘Who gets the short straw and has to host the game?’ said Frontier League Commissioner Bill Lee. “But that started to change in about 1998, and it seems like each team wants to top the previous city. It’s great to have that competition among teams who want to host, and we’re thrilled to come back to Washington.”

The Wild Things, who are located the farthest east of the 14-team independent league, beat out two other cities for the right to host the all-star game this year, which features the league’s top players.

Wild Things owner Stuart Williams said the Wild Things, with help from the Washington County commissioners and the Chamber of Commerce, along with Consol, Mylan, Washington Financial and Coury Financial Group, lobbied hard for more than a year to get the nod for the game.

It’s a boon for the Wild Things, who have been responsible for more than $100 million in construction of buildings and infrastructure related to restaurants, hotels, medical and professional buildings at the Wild Things complex in North Franklin Township since 2001 and created more than 1,000 new jobs, according to Steve Zavacky, Wild Things assistant general manager.

The all-star week, too, is projected to have a large economic impact on the Washington area, with an estimated 200 hotel nights earmarked just for league officials and players who will visit restaurants and area sites.

“The competition for the all-star game is always very brisk, and once you have an all-star game, among the owners in the Frontier League, you don’t really ask for it again all that soon,” said Williams. “We haven’t had it for a while, and Washington County is looked at as the best place to come in the Frontier League. Teams love coming here. The field is beautiful, the players are treated royally when they come here, and everybody in the league knows it. They know that we know how to put on a game and how to throw a party.”

The appeal of the Wild Things is apparent to season ticket holder Don Oles of Moon Township.

“I love the family atmosphere, that kids and families come out to watch and that the kids who are playing ball will give 100 percent,” said Oles. “I grew up going to Forbes Field as a youngster, and I was at the World Series against the Orioles at Three Rivers Stadium. I’ve had a lot of exposure to baseball, and this brings me back to those kinds of times.”

Williams said plans for this year’s three-day Midsummer Classic event called for “a week full of showing off the city of Washington to players and visitors.”

All-star week included a luncheon for all-star players and Frontier League personnel at The DoubleTree Hotel in Meadow Lands featuring Pittsburgh Pirates broadcaster and former pitcher Steve Blass; a trip to The Meadows Racetrack & Casino that included a bowling competition, and an afternoon luncheon and shopping at the Tanger Outlets. On July 16, the Wild Things hosted a home run derby followed by a softball game between the all-stars and the Akron Racers of the National Pro Fastpitch women’s professional league. The Racers also conducted a clinic for youth softball players.

The Wild Things provide a top-notch facility that includes turf, which replaced the grass field about two years ago. Marketing director Christine Blaine and Kate Billings, the community outreach and merchandise manager who organized the all-star events, and a hard-working staff continually come up with ideas to involve the fans and the community, like Bark in the Park, where fans can bring their dogs to the ball game. Ticket and concession prices – the cheapest ticket is $5 – enable a family to come out for a night of fun without going broke.

Fred and Sue Olaharski, minor league baseball junkies from Pittsburgh who have visited about 30 other minor league parks, attend a couple of Wild Things games each year and give the organization high marks for providing affordable entertainment.

“It’s just a fun night out. It’s a lot cheaper than going to a Pirates game, and it’s a lot more fun,” said Sue Olaharski.

For the all-star players, the most important part of the week is the game itself. Dozens of scouts from Major League teams will be in the stands to watch the ball players – the best of the Frontier League – play.