The MLB lockout continues to hold baseball hostage, and fans have been going through withdrawals during the long, quiet offseason. To everyone’s disappointment, little headway has been made in recent weeks towards Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association establishing a new Collective Bargaining Agreement after the old one expired on December 1, 2021.

Spring Training has already been delayed until at least March 8, and 2022 regular-season games are in danger of being canceled one game at a time. This has prevented many people from making their annual pilgrimage to Camelback Ranch to see their beloved Boys in Blue play. As a result, fans have had to resort to getting their baseball ‘fix’ in other ways.

What does one do in the interim, you might ask? Get creative and seek out baseball any way one can.

Friday night, February 25, was opening night for the California State University Long Beach Dirtbags baseball team against the California State University Sacramento Hornets at Blair Field in Long Beach, California, with the stands packed for the home opener.

It was a pitchers’ duel through nine scoreless innings before going into extras. The Hornets eventually struck first blood, scoring the game-winning and only run on a home run in the top of the 10th inning.

The game was exciting, however, especially for the many Dodgers fans in attendance. On hand was Dodger Stadium’s renowned organist Dieter Ruehle, who had just returned from playing at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games currently underway in Beijing, China. Those in attendance on Friday evening were treated to many of the songs they have come to know and love from Dodger Stadium.

Ruehle even led the crowd in the seventh-inning stretch, playing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” twice through, just as he does at Chavez Ravine.

Game-lovers cheered on the teams throughout the matchup, joining in on the many familiar chants masterfully led by Ruehle. There were many smiles around the ballpark.

Rumor has it that Ruehle will be playing at future Dirtbags home games this season, depending, of course, on what happens with the current MLB lockout. As such, baseball fans can get their fix and enjoy a little slice of Dodger Stadium’s famous music while enjoying a highly-competitive college baseball game.

While fans not so patiently await the return of the game they love, Friday night’s Dirtbags game was a bright spot after the long winter.

For love of the game!

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