Pocono News Section

Final Opening Day Preps at PNC Field

Final Opening Day Preps at PNC Field - Thursday, April 8, 2010 at 04:07AM EST

Reported by: Mark Hiller
Thursday April 08 2010
MOOSIC, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - B aseball fans will notice many new features at Thursday night's Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees home opener at PNC Field.

When fans show up, they'll see something different on the field and throughout the stadium itself. Workers gave the seating area at PNC Field gets an opening day wash Thursday morning.

Crews usedhoses in getting an early start to clean the stadium hours before the scheduled 7:05 p. m. first pitch of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees 2010 season.

"You go basically six months with no baseball and now, bam, it's back again and you crank it back up," said SWB Yankees Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations Mike Vander Woude. "It's a lot of fun right now to be a baseball fan."

A baseball fan is a good way to describe the voice of the Yankees. Vander Woude begins his 15th season working behind the mic -- and his 3rd with the Yankees top minor league team.

He likes what he sees before the players take the field. "In terms of improvements, amenities at the ballpark you know, everybody's done a great job as far as getting everything ready to go," he said.

Problems with drainage in the outfield last season turned a field of dreams into a field of streams. But more than a million dollars was spent to make improvements to the drainage system and the playing field in general. The new grassy field installed in the off-season couldn't be greener. On top of the stadium, crews were putting the finishing touches on a new electronic sign.

Also new, Bo Brothers at PNC Field takes over the restaurant space previously known as "Legends" and "The Stadium Club". "We're proud to be a part of Legends. It's very exciting to be part of the Yankees," said Bo Brothers at PNC Field co-owner Jim Ruby.

The new restaurant specializes in Kansas City Barbecue. It's equipped with a huge outdoor smoker that can prepare 2,000 pounds of everything from chicken to pork to ribs. Non-barbecue fare like burgers and pizza are also on the menu.

"We're just anticipating a large crowd tonight," said Jeannie Suchocki who's another co-owner of Bo Brothers At PNC Field. "We're hoping we get a large crowd but it's just very, very exciting."

It's a shared goal among players, staff and restaurant personnel to satisfy a season-long hunger for baseball and more at PNC Field.