There was plenty of action at Felch Memorial Field on Saturday, as the facility adjacent to the Felch Township Community Center hosted a three-team, round-robin tournament of local American Legion baseball teams, including the Dickinson County Greens, Kingsford Blues and Niagara. The event also included a busy concession stand and 50/50 drawings with all proceeds going to support the Felch Township Volunteer Fire Department. Above, Dickinson County reliever Sawyer Pugh (4) looks to sneak a pitch by Niagara’s Blake Holmes (17) while preserving the Greens’ 2-1 win in the second game of the day. Niagara got the action started Saturday with a 8-5 win over Kingsford. (Dennis Mansfield/Daily News photo)

For yours truly, life here in Dickinson County and at The Daily News is still a world of firsts.

Remember, the Mound and his lovely girlfriend (after she read my last column, I was told this is her new moniker … and she really is lovely) only moved to the area late last year. We still come across news faces and new places almost daily.

That was the case Saturday as I journeyed out to Felch Township for a three-team, round-robin baseball tournament between American Legion teams the Dickinson County Greens, Kingsford Blues and Niagara.

Here’s the first first of the day. Before Saturday, I had not traveled east of North Dickinson County High School. I really didn’t know where Felch proper was or what I’d find.

And, yes, I was starting to wonder as I traveled by the high school on 69. There were trees, as well as a few farm fields. But I was looking for a baseball diamond (and a hotdog … again, with mustard).

Kingsford Blues starter Gavin Trevillian (10) can’t come up with the ball and stop Greens’ slugger Beau Kralovec (17) from scoring in the third and final game on Saturday at Felch Memorial Field. But the Blues got their revenge by winning the contest 8-7. (Dennis Mansfield/Daily News photo)

Happily, I stayed the course and there it was — the Felch Township Community Center and behind it Felch Memorial Field. And, as far as first impressions go, I was in love.

OK, not saying the field and facilities are perfect. After all, I didn’t see a parking spot marked “Reserved for The Mound” or a chair immediately next to the dugouts for me to rest at when not taking photos. Though, I’m sure those issues will be tackled in the future.

But, seriously, my eyes were drawn to the grandstand that shaded spectators while also giving them a great view of the action. There’s a separate concession stand and one of the dugouts has a second level.

Oh, and the field looked pretty darn nice, too.

I’m not saying there aren’t other nice athletic facilities in Dickinson County and in The Daily News coverage area. Frankly, I was impressed by Marion Park, the home fields for the Norway baseball and softball teams. Niagara also has a cozy home for its baseball games.

Dickinson County shortstop Chase Carlson (19) stops a bal from reaching the outfield but couldn’t stop Niagara’s Logan Bath (99) from advancing to third on the play. Bath would later come around to score. (Dennis Mansfield/Daily News photo)

I’d be remiss to say I didn’t enjoy the U.P. Track and Field Finals at Kingsford High School.

Still, I guess Felch Memorial Field just caught me by surprise. After more than three decades of doing this job, that doesn’t happen very often anymore.

Then, there was the baseball. However, I’m not talking about the games that people were watching. Nope. Not that.

One of the great parts of this job — and one I probably abuse, from time to time — is access to the dugouts and the players.

I love to listen to them chatter, both in support of each other and, yes, some good-natured ribbing. OK, some of the language I probably can’t repeat, at least not in this column.

Kingsford second baseman Garrett Brown looks on as Blues’ first baseman Nic Novara (27), who had lunged to cut off a potential hit, throws to cut down a Dickinson County base runner while on his backside during the baseball action Saturday. (Dennis Mansfield/Daily News photo)

However, it’s an “experience,” to say the least, to have a chance to interact with these young people. They are almost always polite to this relative stranger in bibs carrying a camera. They even allow me to join the banter and I think I got off a zinger or two.

Before Saturday, I didn’t know that the Greens’ Ian Popp was the brother to Averie Popp, the starting catcher for Norway’s district champion softball team. In a stroke of honesty, Ian even admitted that his sister was probably the better hitter.

Then, there was the education of Dickinson County teammate Riley Juneau. Apparently, he didn’t know who Spencer Torkelson was until I mentioned that he looked a lot like the rookie first baseman of the Detroit Tigers.

And did anyone know that Michael Peterson is a shutter bug? I now do. After all, I had to listen to him beg for about five minutes to take a photo using my camera. Finally, I relented. News flash: Peterson isn’t bad and has been tasked with taking a few shots of Norway sports once the new school year begins.

No, Michael, I’m not letting you off the hook on this.

I also got some validation. While getting out of the sun for a few in the Kingsford dugout, I must have mentioned how impressed I was with the field. A player — I think it was Dakota Woodward — piped up and said that, in his opinion, it was the best in Dickinson County and “top five in the U.P.” Nice.

So, again, my journey continues and on Saturday led me to a diamond in the rough, one I’m told will hopefully be used more in the future. Organizers of the tournament are hoping to make the July 4th weekend event a six-team, two-day tournament next year.

Besides good conversation, good baseball and a great backdrop, I found something else on Saturday — some of the best bratwursts I’ve had to date at a local sporting event. With mustard.

After all that, I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Dennis Mansfield can be reached at dmansfield@ironmountaindailynews.com.