Take me out to the ballgame - Owls season begins May 30

The boys of summer will make their return to Rutherford County when the Forest City Owls kick off the season on Monday, May 30 at McNair Field. We recently caught up with Owls owner Phil Dangel to catch up on what fans can expect this year from the home team.

This year is Dangel's first year as team owner, but both he and his wife, Becky, who is co-owner, have been in the business world for years. A love of baseball brought the couple to ownership of the Owls, which is a member of the Coastal Plains League.

Dangel, who is a self-described "fanatical Boston Red Sox fan," had always dreamed of owning a baseball team. His son, Boomer Dangel, served as a broadcaster for the Owls. During a visit to see him, the Dangels were introduced to former Owls owner Ken Silver and "one thing lead to another."

"I always tell the story about my wife who thinks I have completely lost my mind for buying a baseball team," Dangel said. "On our first date we went to an Atlanta Braves game. It was a big game against the Dodgers, and for baseball fans, it was the first time Fernando Valenzuela was pitching in Atlanta. After three innings she asked 'When will this game be over? This is so boring.' Now she is a fan like the rest of us."

The Dangels, to put it simply, fell in love with the area and are excited about the upcoming season, which Dangel promises will bring "everything new and everything old will be local."

"We are adding Fat Tracy's barbecue this year," Dangel said. "We are adding wings, we are adding Ruff'ton Brewhouse craft beer and Mainstreet Ice Cream."

This year's team will also be more local.

"We have five or six high school All-Americans," Dangel said. "We have a young man who has already hit 10 homers this season and two pitchers who are five and one. This is going to be a good team."

Baseball won't be the only entertainment to take center field this season, Dangel continued.

"The Owls are sponsoring the Charlie Daniels Band on June 25, a Star Wars night on June 4, a Faith Night, Barney Fife night and Girl Scout and Boy Scout nights," he said.

McNair Field will also be a place for folks to enjoy July 4 with a fireworks show.

It's more than just the field, the players and the game that make the Owls organization special, Dangel explained. It's the community who supports all of this that make the organization unique.

"The best part of owning the Owls has been the people," Dangel said. "Seriously, I know this sounds trite ... Kiva, Denise, Town Council, the Mayor ... each one of them has been really helpful. The people of Forest City do not realize how good this group is."

Season tickets and single game tickets are still available and can be purchased online at forestcitybaseball.com. For more information on games, themed nights and sponsorships, contact the Owls at 828-245-0000.