San Bernardino County transit service Omnitrans has a post reminding folks you can take the bus to see Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and Inland Empire 66ers games, “Take Omnitrans Out to the Ballgame”

Omnitrans is proud to be part of the tradition of baseball in San Bernardino County. This season, we are teaming up once again with both the Inland Empire 66′ers and the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. Throughout the season, you will find Omnitrans and Buster at many games at both teams’ home stadiums.

Buster is Omnitrans’s mascot — check out that blog post for a list of appearances at various of both team’s games this season.

I commute on Omnitrans most workdays and have found both their buses and drivers to be awesome. The organization has also done a good job of reaching onto the Internet and social media platforms. Check out the top of their blog for links to Facebook, Twitter, etc.

Well, that’s a big ol’ bummer interrobang at the end of a long, bummer season. The Dodgers announced today that they have signed an agreement with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, making them their High-A affiliate in the California League. And while this probably isn’t a big deal to other folks, it does move the team 20+ miles farther away from the Trolley Dodger compound.

On the plus side, the Quakes have quite possibly the most excellent stadium name (the Epicenter) and a nice view of the mountains. I’m sure it’ll be great, just will take some getting used to. :)

The first thing we noticed after getting parked was a more pronounced police presence than usual.

There were also cops and security personnel cruising around the stadium. But that’s to be expected when you get a world-famous athlete playing in your park. We didn’t see anything untoward going on, apart from one fight in the 4th inning that was quickly squelched, so it seemed to be working.

It was noticeably more crowded getting around the entrance and food vendor areas, although I’ve seen it similarly crowded on big promotion nights or holidays.

While waiting in line for our first Dodger Dog and local Hangar 24 beer, we caught a couple readying themselves for the game with a final dreadlocks adjustment.

There were a ton of the Manny dreadlocks wigs being worn, including by Bernie, the 66ers’ mascot (see below).

Once we got seated, this gentleman was good enough to stand in front and remind us of why we were all there. ;)

A crowd was standing at the third-base-side railing trying to strain for a view into the dugout. When Manny made his first appearance, running onto the fields for warmups, he also got the first of several ovations of the night. Somebody even broke out a beach ball for the occasion, just like at Dodger Stadium. :)

Partway through warmups, Manny jogged over to the railing and signed autographs in the middle of this mob.

Big cheers for Manny’s introduction and him running on the field. No boos were heard anywhere near us. A few were reserved for San Bernardino Mayor Pat Morris, who threw out the first pitch. ;)

Much like a pro soccer game, the players were accompanied onto the field by kids. Here’s Manny with a couple of children and 66ers mascot Bernie.

Bernie also engaged in a bit of pre-game meditation on the third-base line.

I’m a sucker for mascots, especially talented ones. Bernie has some great routines, and the kids adore him. Here he is rocking the dreadlocks and the cowbell.

In Manny’s first at-bat, batting leadoff, he drew a walk from the understandably nervous Rancho Cucamonga Quakes pitcher, Alex Torres. The starter settled down, later striking Manny out twice.

After the walk, Manny went from first to third on a double by DH Elian Herrera, but was stranded there.

Winner for best headgear of the night was this fellow, with a Dodger cap atop his sombrero.

Manny had a pretty good average thanks to the home run the night before. Kind of surreal seeing his name out there on the old scoreboard.

Shouts of “Manny!” and “I love you, Manny!” and “Hey, Manuelito!” as he came off the field. Cellphone cameras filled up with pictures.

Preston Mattingly, son of Dodger pitching coach Don Mattingly, pinch-hit for Manny in the 6th inning, then stayed in at LF for the 7th and the rest of the game — which, by the way, the 66ers won, 4-1, after a great eight innings by starter Timothy Sexton.

Manny’s name at the top of the lineup board. All of those guys will have quite a story to tell, no matter how far they go in their baseball careers. I wonder who will be making it to the bigs someday.

Here’s the starting lineup transcribed (see box score):

• LF Manny Ramirez
• DH Elian Herrera
• CF Trayvon Robinson
• 3B Pedro Baez
• 1B Steven Caseres
• RF Scott Van Slyke
• 2B Adolfo Gonzalez
• C Alex Garabedian
• SS Christian Lara
• P Timothy Sexton

I imagine writing that name on the board must have been fun. :)

Lastly is this sign located just outside the entrance, with mileage to the various Dodger facilities around the US and Caribbean. If only we knew what units the distance to Albuquerque were in! ;)

A few other articles and related whatnot about the night:

• ie66ers.com: “Ramirez causes stir in San Bernardino”
• ie66ers.com: “Sexton Steals Spotlight from Manny”
• mlb.com: “Quiet night for Manny with Inland Empire”
• San Bernardino Sun: “Dodger fans flock to see Ramirez”
• San Bernardino Sun: Photo gallery
• LA Times: “Manny Ramirez’s minor league tour coming to end”
• Manny’s minorleaguebaseball.com page
• Box Score