This was originally written for Dane101.com.

The sun and clouds vied for position over the parking lot at Warner Park.  The occasional break from the intense rays of the sun provided momentary relief to the group that spent the afternoon tailgating.

The group started small; two people started the celebration around 1:30 p.m.  By 2 p.m. the group had doubled in size, and continued to grow.  Shortly after three, the smell of burgers and bratwursts poured from their gill.  At its apex there were over a dozen baseball fans, most clad in Mallards colors or apparel.

A local television station decided the group was newsworthy and aired them live on their broadcast.  Some members of the group clamored to the forefront, while others moved to the background and conversed among themselves.  Other media visited the group throughout the day.  A photographer for a local paper snapped the group early on, and stopped back later to enjoyed a brat.

As the gates prepared to open, the group moved the festivities into the park.  Most had waited for this day since the Mallards played their final game last fall.  After receiving their free Mallards wristbands, the group split up.  Some stopped by to sample the Great Dane beer, while others looked for solace in the shade.

The group reconvened in the stands before the first pitch.  Though there was talk of thunderstorms throughout the day, it ended up being a perfect night for baseball.  The group split again, as some decided to stand along the first base line rather then sit.

The first pitches were thrown, and the season was underway.  The beer batter struck out his first two times up, causing group members to scurry for half price beer.  For seven innings there was no scoring.  Finally in the top of the top of the eighth inning, the Eau Claire Express managed a run.  The Express lead until the bottom of the ninth inning, when the Mallards tied the game and sent it to extra innings.

By the tenth inning, the bleachers around the stadium had depleted somewhat from their initial gusto.  However, not one member of the group contemplated leaving until the game was complete.  The fans that stayed were rewarded, as a wild pitch in the bottom of the tenth allowed a run to score, giving the Mallards the win.

As the crowd disbursed from Warner Park, there was a consensus that summer had finally arrived in Madison.