Council subcommittee approves Inspector General framework, CBU women defend WAC title as UCR men energize home opener and August rains bring Riverside’s own tumbleweed species.
The Riverside Smudge Pots have found a new home for their 2025 vintage baseball season, securing Arlington Heights Sports Park at Van Buren and Victoria for their home games.
The two-time Southern California Vintage Base Ball League champions had been seeking a new venue after losing access to their previous home field at California School for the Deaf due to changing insurance requirements through the city.
Arlington Heights Sports Park is a well-maintained facility that serves local youth leagues throughout the year. The venue will provide the Smudge Pots with a quality playing surface for their brand of vintage baseball, which uses 1886 rules and period-appropriate equipment and uniforms.
Reader interest in the team has grown since the Raincross Gazette’s previous coverage of the Smudge Pots’ season-opening comeback win over the Temecula Dear Bros, when they rallied from an 8-1 deficit to win 17-10. The team currently stands at 1-1-1 this season and looks to build momentum with their home opener.
The team plans to make their first home game at Arlington Heights a major community event, complete with family-friendly activities and a festive, old-time atmosphere.
“One thing that our team’s known for compared to other teams in the league is that we really try to make it an old-timey event,” said player-manager Johnson, “to really enhance the experience for families and people from the city.”
The Smudge Pots’ home opener is scheduled for Aug. 16 at 10 a.m. at Arlington Heights Sports Park.
