Like being a vampire, playing baseball involves keeping the body well-quenched, spending lots of time in a wooden box, and frequently whispering to your favorite bat. Observe un-Transylvanian athletics with today's Groupon: for $6, you get an opening-weekend game package for the Potomac Nationals at Pfitzner Stadium, located in Woodbridge. The package includes a Grandstand ticket (up to an $8 value) and a hot dog (a $4 value) for a game against the Lynchburg Hillcats (a $12 total value). Choose from the following dates:

• Friday, April 8, at 7:05 p.m.
• Saturday, April 9, at 6:35 p.m.
• Sunday, April 10, at 1:05 p.m.

As a minor-league affiliate and identical name twin of the Washington Nationals, the Potomac Nationals' roster induces ecstatic peanut and crackerjack tossing with inspired fielding and slamming of stitched spheroids. The 2010 Carolina League Champions will defend their diamond-shaped conquest all season long, beginning with an orb-slugging match against the Hillcats on opening weekend. Swing a free hot dog at a foul ball and knock it back into fair territory or yank off the beard of blue-furred mascot Uncle Slam to reveal the real Uncle Sam underneath.