The games of this summer may be the Olympics in Atlanta, but in Tucson, Toros' minor league baseball is where the action is.

Located at Hi Corbett Field, 3400 E. Camino Campestre, near El Con Mall, Toros baseball has been an institution during Tucson summers for the past 25 years. (Hi Corbett is also the Colorado Rockies spring training home, but the Toros are the AAA affiliate of the Houston Astros.)

If you haven't made it to a game, definitely try to. Not only are they inexpensive, but they are also a lot of fun.

Ticket prices run anywhere from $6 for box seating to $5 for reserved seating, $4 for adult general admission and $3 for child/senior/military/student general admission. Children five and under are free. It's a reasonable night out.

The stands seem to be a hangout, especially the general admission seating. If you are an avid baseball fan, the box and reserved seats are your best bet, though anywhere in the stadium is comfortable for watching a game.

What will cost you are the concessions. Food can range anywhere from $2 for a large Eegee's to $2 for nachos, $2.50 for soft ice cream in a helmet and so on. These are typical for food at a game, but there are other options.

On Wednesday nights, the Toros usually offer 25-cent hot dogs and $1 admission. Thursday nights feature $1 beers from the first pitch to 9 p.m., which usually means about an hour and a half. And on Monday nights, Circle K offers free tickets to the game, which you can pick up at any of the convenience stores in the Tucson area.

But the games are worth every cent.

First is the team itself, which most people go to watch.

The Toros have been Pacific Coast League champions twice in the 1990s - in 1991 and 1993. Players such as Kenny Lofton, Jim Lindeman and Mike Brumley, as well as many current Houston Astros, have all played for the Toros at some point in their career.

With a 5-4 win on Saturday, the Toros bested their second half of the season record to 2-4.

Yet, don't judge the team by its record.

On Saturday night, the Toros parked three Tacoma Rainiers' pitches over the fences, including a Melvin Mora homer to tie the game. Toros' baseball is exciting to watch and a joy for the fans, but don't expect it to be that way all the time because of Hi C orbett's large dimensions.

If you do take a trip to Hi Corbett, you will also find more than just a game. Events such as the "Dizzy Lizzy" bat race, the "dash for cash," the picnic area on the right field line and the "Dugout Spa" are all fun additions to an evening of baseball.

To explain the "Dugout Spa," just go by the name. It is a spa behind the Toros' dugout you pay $12 to sit in. It seems like a unique way to watch a game, and a great place to hang out with your friends.

Also unique to Hi Corbett is "Tuffy the Toro." Tuffy is the Toros' mascot, and one of the better mascots that I've seen. Tuffy is definitely a kid favorite too.

What I really recommend is going when there is a theme night. Saturday was "70s" night, and it was a great time. Not only did the fans see a baseball game, but they also took the field after the game and enjoyed a free concert by the Boogie Knights (which are a story by themselves).

So if you are trying to find something to do in Tucson, keep an eye out for when the Toros come to town. It is a cheap solution to the summertime blues, and a great way to enjoy the national pastime.

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Wildcat Web Link: Tucson Toros

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