As a former resident of Alexandria, I wish there was a team earlier! The closest I had to pro ball when I first moved there was the Potomac Cannons which were about an hour away in traffic. I can see that team drawing pretty well.

The closest I had to pro ball when I first moved there was the Potomac Cannons which were about an hour away in traffic.

The Cannons [now the Potomac Nationals] started out as the Alexandria Dukes, but moved decades ago at least in part because their revenue stream was crippled by not being allowed to sell beer, since they played in a city park. Quaint custom.

However, the Aces appear to be a college summer league, which supposedly isn't quite "pro ball".

I recall going to a few Alexandria Dukes games. Four Mile Run is a nice little park, perfectly situated for the Valley League, although culturally Alexandria is a long way from Front Royal, Waynesboro, Luray and New Market.

Will this be an expansion team, or is one of the current Valley League teams moving to Alexandria? And if it is the former, will the league operate with an odd number of teams in '08, or will there be another expansion team to complement the Aces?

Terpnats, it's undisclosed information at this point. The Valley League is operating with 11 teams this year, by the way. Makes for interesting scheduling. I think you're right- room for 2,200 makes for a nice little park for a summer league squad.

I went to a few Dukes' games at Four Mile Run, too. They had a few decent players go through there the last two years. Bonilla hit 11 homeruns in '83, and Rich Renteria led the league in hitting in '82. Joe Orsulak was on that '82 team that won the Carolina League. After the Dukes left, T.C. used the park as well as our American Legion team.

The folks at digitalballparks.com are not too impressed with Four Mile Park, at least not for a professional team. (Keep clicking through the pictures for shots of an authentic Dukes pennant and cap!)

That's going to be some awful travel if this is a Valley League team. I played for Front Royal in 1988, schedule alternated home games and away games, 3 of each per week. From Front Royal it was a good hike down 81 to Harrisonburg and New Market and Waynesboro.

Of course, our 30 year old repainted school bus might have made those trips seem much longer than they should have been, but going to or from Alexandria 3x per week will be some long nights.

It is kinda odd that the municipal stadium is in such poor shape. It isn't like Alexandria is a town without money.