Kids playing baseball in the backyard dream of becoming pro sluggers, just as garden gnomes in the backyard dream of becoming bobble heads sold in the stadium gift shop. Keep dreaming with this deal to see two Joliet Slammers games at Silver Cross Field. Gates open one hour before the game. Choose from the following options:

• For $10, you get two reserved seating tickets to the opening day game against the Traverse City Beach Bums on Tuesday, May 22, at 7:05 p.m., $5 in Slammers loot, and one ticket to any other home game on the schedule (a $35 value).
• For $19, you get four reserved seating tickets to the opening day game against the Beach Bums, $10 in Slammers loot, and two tickets to any other home game (a $70 value).
• For $27, you get six reserved seating tickets to the opening day game against the Beach Bums, $15 in Slammers loot, and three tickets to any other home game (a $105 value).<p>

In 2011, the Slammers capped their inaugural season by rising from the ashes of the now-defunct Joliet JackHammers to claim the Frontier League championship. This year, the team begins its quest for a second title by playing their rivals, the Traverse City Beach Bums. 2011 All-Star Game MVP Erik Lis swings for the fences in hopes of topping last season’s 20 home runs and 77 RBI. Similarly trustworthy at the plate, infielder Hector Pellot led the team last year with a .319 batting average. Before the opening day game, the team will take to the field for a ring ceremony commemorating last season’s championship. The celebration provides a perfectly good excuse for the post-game fireworks display, which is intended to entertain fans and trick a local parliament of owls into thinking the sky wars have begun. In addition, attendees receive a magnet schedule to stay apprised of the Slammers’ upcoming games as well as Slammers loot, which can be used as cash inside Silver Cross Field or aboard any pirate vessels docked in the parking lot.