BASEBALL

On a warm summer night, there's nothing better than watching baseball under the lights. It's a family time, when youngsters are first introduced to the sport. There have been teams in the Granite State since the 1860s. America's first after supper baseball league, the Concord Sunset League, was founded in 1909, and is still active today.

Over the past century, a number of New Hampshire towns have fielded minor league teams - including Concord, Dover, Epping, Fremont, Kingston, Manchester, Newton, Portsmouth and today Nashua and Manchester - carry on the tradition.

In 2004 Manchester welcomed the Toronto Blue Jays' Double A affiliate as the New Hampshire Fisher Cats franchise joined the Eastern League.

You can try to spot tomorrow's major league stars at Keene's Alumni Field, where the Keene Swamp Bats play.

While some players are from New Hampshire, many of these boys of summer come from as far away as California, Illinois, Florida and Canada, lured by the high standard of play and the opportunity to be seen by major league scouts.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Keene Swampbats - NECBL Baseballf