The El Paso Chihuahuas open season Thursday

[TexasTowelie]

MARK LAMBIE—EL PASO TIMES Chico the Chihuahuas mascot dances in the backstop to the delight of fans during opening night Monday.

The excitement is palpable — almost as if you can reach out and grab a handful of it — as the curtain is about to be raised on another El Paso Chihuahuas season.

Families will swarm the Downtown area, little boys and girls and grown men and women wearing their Chihuahuas jerseys and T-shirts and caps ... all waiting for those magical words, "Play ball," all waiting for the taste of peanuts and popcorn and hot dogs and such, all waiting to see and hear and literally feel the crack of the bat, the smack of ball into glove.

El Paso will take on Tacoma tonight at 7 in the Pacific Coast League opener for both teams, the beginning of a 142-game journey, the beginning of 71 home dates at beautiful Southwest University Park. Tonight's game, Friday night's game and Saturday night's game are all sold out, all with nothing but standing room only slots available. Sunday's 1 p.m. Bark at the Park affair has a few tickets left; just a few.

But tonight is special. Tonight is opening night. And there is always something special about opening night. There is a buzz in the air. No one has yet lost a game. No one has struck out. No pitcher has given up a base hit. Anything is possible and hope is a wonderful co-pilot on opening night.

Read more: http://www.elpasotimes.com/sports/ci_27876929/chihuahuas-open-season-thursday

[font color=green]Time for El Supremo to change his avatar.[/font]