For the first time ever, the Mexican Baseball Fiesta is coming to Dell Diamond! The Naranjeros de Hermosillo are set to face off against the Águilas de Mexicali in a two-game exhibition series this weekend. The two Mexican Pacific League teams are scheduled to take the field at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 24 before a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Sunday, September 25.
Dell Diamond’s gates will open on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Both games will feature postgame entertainment as DJ Fusion will rock the United Heritage Center following the contest on Saturday. Sunday’s contest will also include a postgame concert featuring Austin-based Varonil and Energia Norteña, a six-man band that combines saxophone, accordion and bajo sexto, Mexican six-string guitar, to create a uniquely Mexican sound. Both postgame concerts are included with the price of a game ticket.
The Naranjeros de Hermosillo enter this weekend’s Mexican Baseball Fiesta as one of the most successful clubs in the league, having won 16 titles. They became the first Mexican team to win the Caribbean Series in 1976 before doing so again in 2014. Their opponents, the Águilas de Mexicali, have claimed three Mexican Pacific League titles in their history, as well as the 1986 Caribbean Series Championship. They finished second in the league in 2015.
The Mexican Baseball Fiesta began in 2011 in Tucson and was the brainchild of former professional Liga Mexicana del Pacífico and minor league baseball pitcher Francisco Gamez. Mike Feder, president of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta and the former general manager of the Tucson Padres, worked with Gamez to launch the tour, which has been steadily growing in popularity.
“The Mexican Baseball Fiesta is not just a baseball game, it’s a party. It’s quite an experience. The pitcher is warming up, ready to pitch and the music is still playing. It’s the way it’s done in Mexico. Mascots are on the field for most of the game. Players expect it. Umpires expect it,” Feder said. “Exciting is the best way to describe the Mexican Baseball Fiesta. The energy of the fans, the music and fun make this a unique experience for all baseball fans that transcends borders and language.”
The Mexican Baseball Fiesta is set to visit Round Rock following stints in Fresno, California and Mesa, Arizona. This weekend’s event marks the first time that Mexican Pacific League baseball will be played in Central Texas.
For more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter!
