Sports

Day Tripper: The Bridgeton Invitational

A leisurely ride down into Cumberland County brings you to a baseball tournament rich in history.

Cumberland County and Iowa have at least two things in common: corn and baseball.

And every year, as the stalks clear six feet and every roadside stand is overflowing with sweet ears, baseball sidles in and sets itself in the batter's box at Alden Field for the semi-pro Bridgeton Invitational, now in its 45th year.

It's a style of ball and a fan experience that can only be described with adjectives ending in -y: quirky, zany; wacky. The BIT was minor-league ball before the minors went major, and still offers some of the best aspects of minor-league games: seats right on top of the action, inexpensive tickets, a homey atmosphere and both young up-and-comers and players who are like family.

Find out what's happening in West Deptfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Its speed-up rules, which limit inning breaks to 90 seconds and force pitchers to deliver within 20, move up the game’s sometimes-glacial tempo and usually make for an entertaining mistake once or twice a game.

It's also the apocryphal home of the designated hitter; old-timers will tell you that American League representatives took the idea after seeing some of the first tournament games in Bridgeton back in the late '60s, and it's still in use at the Invitational today.

Find out what's happening in West Deptfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Alden Field itself is worth the drive down; the odd little bandbox, with its towering fences and completely rebuilt field, is a hidden gem.

And with crunch time arriving–pool play ends and the playoffs begin this weekend–the baseball gets better. Doubleheaders take place Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., with the finals slated for Tuesday at 7 p.m.

You get a twinbill for $5 each night, and don’t miss out on the burgers–or any of the food, since you can get an entire meal for the price of a beer at Citizens Bank Park.

Getting there: take the scenic route down Mantua Pike to Route 77, a little less than an hour's drive through the fields of Salem and Cumberland County. After going through the Pole Tavern Circle (Route 40), it’s 11 miles to the light at Cornwell Drive.

Turn right on Cornwell and go to the next light at Old Deerfield Pike. Turn left on Old Deerfield Pike, and go through one light, then turn right at the second light on West Park Drive. At the split by Sunset Lake, bear left on to Mayor Aitken Drive, then make the first right up into the Bridgeton sports complex and take a left at the top of the hill.

Alden Field and its parking lots–a mere $1 to park–are dead ahead.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here