It’s time for the smell of leather and fresh-cut grass… the taste of popcorn and hotdogs. And the sound of two of our favorite words here on the Open Road: play ball!

Welcome to McNair Field, home of the Forest City Owls. This is summer league baseball. Heard of it? Every May, small towns across America welcome the best players in collegiate baseball for about two months of all-star action. They come from major universities like Georgia, Carolina, Tennessee, and other regional favorites like Western Carolina and App State, living with host families and touring the southeast for a taste of barnstorming baseball.

In 2008, the quaint town of Forest City joined the ranks of those welcoming these players for the summer. The Owls are in the Coastal Plain League with other teams like the Boone Bigfoots, the Florence Flamingos, and probably my favorite team name, the Macon Bacon.

During our visit, the Owls squared off against Kingsmen Baseball. These games are a great opportunity for these student athletes to hone their skills and play in front of a lot of major league scouts. Over the years, former Forest City Owls have gone on to play for the Cubs, the Dodgers, the Red Sox, and many more.

And for the fans, it’s a fun and affordable way to come out and spend a summer evening enjoying America’s pastime. The Owls and the entire support staff here do a great job on and off the field providing top notch entertainment and a first class fan experience.

And did we mention the food? Come on out and feed the family with those ballpark classics that are somehow even better when you’re sitting at the game. It’s a taste of Americana.

Ingles is proud to sponsor local sports from little league to the pros, and has been partnering with the Forest City Owls since 2018. It’s a game where everyone wins – especially our local communities.

So, go and find some fun at the diamond this summer. And take yourself out to the ballgame.