Brandon Muncy
Kern Valley Sun

The sights and sounds of the game are unmistakable.The crack of the bat, the lush green grass coating the field, the roar of the crowd after a home run, and of course, the feel of playoff baseball right around the corner. Taking in a Major League Baseball game is truly a euphoric experience. On Sept. 26 Kern Valley Sheriff's Activities League members experienced it all as they ventured through the levels of a ballpark known by many as simply 'The Big A'.

Kern Valley met up with other Kern County Sheriff Activities League's, East Bakersfield, Lamont, and Wasco and trekked down the 5 Freeway to Angel Stadium of Anaheim to catch the Los Angeles Angels take on division rivals, the Oakland Athletics.

Kern Valley Sheriff’s Activities League members and volunteers pose for a photo in front of Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Saturday night. A total of 8 members and 5 volunteers made their way to the park.

Moments between smiles were hard to come by once through the gates. Members were surprised to learn that it was 'Hispanic Heritage Night' and were presented with a 'Fiesta Platter' featured the Angels logo. Add the beverages, hot dogs, and the occasional 'Rally Monkey' and everyone walked out with either full stomachs or souvenirs.

The night was filled with plenty of ups and downs as the teams totaled a combined 25 runs and 29 hits in a game that took nearly 4 hours. Oakland ended up taking the game 15-10 over the Angels. “[Ashley Saffel] had a lot of fun, specifically interacting with East Bakersfield SAL,” said KV SAL coordinator Deputy Joe Garcia, who was unable to make the trip due to scheduling conflicts.

It's extremely beneficial to take SAL members on trips such as these for a few reasons. Members get to interact with the other SAL groups, and perhaps gain some knowledge of what it's like to be a part of communities in Wasco, Lamont and East Bakersfield. It's also important to take the kids out of their so-called 'comfort zone', which is letting them experience a different atmosphere and environment. “The trip is part of what our mission in the program is, we take kids out of their environment,” said Deputy Garcia.

It's opportunities such as these that make the Kern County Sheriff's Activities League so noteworthy and beneficial. For every trip taken, whether meeting Pete Carroll at USC or venturing through Downtown Disney, the event becomes a truly educational experience. Members have been seen picking up trash during Pride Day, visiting seniors, and saving rubber ducks from the Kern River. It's obvious that members openly strive to better themselves and make the Kern River Valley a better place.

The Kern Valley Sheriff's Activities League will be holding their 2nd Annual Auction and Spaghetti Dinner on the evening of Oct. 24. Tickets are only $10 and are available at either Kern River Motors or the Kern Valley Sun. Tickets will also be on sale during Friday night's Cruise Night at El Portal in Lake Isabella and on Saturday in front of Vons.