|
Belle Plaine Musketeers
Owner/GM/Manager: Eliot Marcum
Belle Plaine, "beautiful plain" in French, is a rural town of 93,000 situated in north central Ruthlandia on the Central Plains in a region known as the "Breadbasket of Ruthlandia". The plains stretch all across the country from east to west and includes the towns of Rocky Rapids, Wynnamac, Elnora and Marston. It is a region known for wheat, oats and corn products, large graineries and grain processing plants and dairy, poultry and meat processing industries. The LeBat factory is located in Belle Plaine as well. It manufactures most of the bats used throughout the Islands.
Belle Plaine was first inhabited by Frenchmen seeking religious freedom. Both English and French are officially spoken here, with French spoken the most. The town is famous for its Mardi Gras or "Fat Tuesday", a time of parades, carnival and costume balls just prior to Lent. It is a time for the kids to enjoy a multitude of great rides, games, cotton candy, candied and caramel apples and sweets on the carnival midway and enjoy the wonderful parades. Visitors come from all over to attend the fun and festivities at the two-week long event.
It is also the home of the Belle Plaine Musketeers of the Ruthlandian Union's East Division. The team is named for the elite guard of King Louis XIII. They were excellent shots with the musket, but because a musket had to be reloaded, were also excellent swordsmen. It is a tradition at Musketeer Field for the Belle Plaine Can-Can Girls, all lovely young ladies, scantily clad in their cute little outfits, to draw their swords and to use them to rally and to spur on their beloved Musketeers by raising them skyward and shouting in unison, "en guarde... en guarde... charge...charge...charge" with a decided French accent. Every time the Musketeers score a run, the Can-can Girls strut their stuff with their famous can-can dance on top of the dugouts.
Fans can win $10,000 at Musketeer Field, compliments of the LeBat Company. If a player hits the sign ("Hit It Here"), located in center field 420 feet from home plate, it will ring a bell and the lucky ticket holder will win the prize.
Musketeer Field is a big ballpark to hit in, especially for righthanded hitters, who have to deal with huge distances of 363' feet down the line, 380' to straightaway left and 415' in the left center alley. Lefthanded batters love it though... a very short 318' down the right field line, only 340' to straightaway right and just 375' in the power alley.
At the concession stands fine French cuisine can be savored: hot beignets (hot doughnuts with powdered sugar...pronounced "ben-yays"), cafe au lait (strong, flavorful coffee with chicory and steamed milk) and melt-in-your-mouth, sweet and tasty eclairs. Plus the traditional ballpark foods: hot dogs, cokes, peanuts and crackerjacks.
Belle Plaine's original owner and manager was Boo Ladreau (pronounced Lah-dro), the proprietor of the finest restaurant in town. A fine shortstop and manager in the company leagues in his early years. When it looked like Belle Plaine might not get a franchise in the PBA, he stepped up and bought a spot in the league. "Tee Boo" ("Little Boo" in French) , was only 5'4" in height, but he really stands tall and was a bigtime favorite in Belle Plaine because of his community spirit.
Musketeer Field (1999)
Capacity: 11,650
Dimensions:
LF Line 363
LF 380
LCF 415
CF 400
RCF 375
RF 340
RF Line 318
|