Sports

A Saint-sational opener

By Aaron Lavinsky

May 22, 2015 at 4:58AM
Alana Hartmann, 6, wore at Saints hotdog hat before Thursday night's game while eating popcorn. ] Aaron Lavinsky • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com The St. Paul Saints hold their season opener against the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks at brand-new CHS Field on Thursday, May 21, 2015.
CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP Fans in left field celebrated a St. Paul Saints home run Thursday during the first game at CHS Field, with a picturesque view of downtown St. Paul as a backdrop. The Saints edged Fargo-Moorhead 8-7 in front of 8,592 fans; Maggie Whelan displayed the team’s logo in face paint; Saints players lined up for the national anthem; Barber Bilal Salem took a little off the top for Maxwell Cronk, 10, beyond the outfield wall. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Ballpark amenities weren't a priority at charm-challenged Midway Stadium, the former home of the St. Paul Saints, because some of the team's fans never quite made it out of the parking lot after pregame tailgating festivities. Not so with new CHS Field, a diamond gem in the heart of Lowertown.


Maggie Whelan, of Minneapolis, painted her face with the St. Paul Saints logo before Thursday night's home opener. ] Aaron Lavinsky • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com The St. Paul Saints hold their season opener against the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks at brand-new CHS Field on Thursday, May 21, 2015.
Maggie Whelan, of Minneapolis, painted her face with the St. Paul Saints logo before Thursday night's home opener. ] Aaron Lavinsky • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com The St. Paul Saints hold their season opener against the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks at brand-new CHS Field on Thursday, May 21, 2015. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
St. Paul Saints players lined up along the first base line before the start of Thursday night's home opener. ] Aaron Lavinsky • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com The St. Paul Saints hold their season opener against the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks at brand-new CHS Field on Thursday, May 21, 2015.
St. Paul Saints players lined up along the first base line before the start of Thursday night's home opener. ] Aaron Lavinsky • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com The St. Paul Saints hold their season opener against the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks at brand-new CHS Field on Thursday, May 21, 2015. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Fans celebrated a St. Paul Saints homerun in the fourth inning. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ cgonzalez@startribune.com, May 21, 2015, St Paul, MN, CHS Field, St. Paul Saints Baseball, First game at the new CHS Field
Fans celebrated a St. Paul Saints homerun in the fourth inning. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ cgonzalez@startribune.com, May 21, 2015, St Paul, MN, CHS Field, St. Paul Saints Baseball, First game at the new CHS Field (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Fans celebrated a St. Paul Saints homerun in the fourth inning. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ cgonzalez@startribune.com, May 21, 2015, St Paul, MN, CHS Field, St. Paul Saints Baseball, First game at the new CHS Field ORG XMIT: MIN1505212103341818
Fans celebrated a St. Paul Saints homerun in the fourth inning. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ cgonzalez@startribune.com, May 21, 2015, St Paul, MN, CHS Field, St. Paul Saints Baseball, First game at the new CHS Field ORG XMIT: MIN1505212103341818 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Musicians in the band "The Mouldy Fiss" performed "When the Saints Come Marching In" outside of CHS Field before Thursday night's Saints home opener. ] Aaron Lavinsky • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com The St. Paul Saints hold their season opener against the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks at brand-new CHS Field on Thursday, May 21, 2015.
Musicians in the band "The Mouldy Fiss" performed "When the Saints Come Marching In" outside of CHS Field before Thursday night's Saints home opener. ] Aaron Lavinsky • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com The St. Paul Saints hold their season opener against the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks at brand-new CHS Field on Thursday, May 21, 2015. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
From left, Kathy Berdan, Alison Jacobs and Michael Purkey took a selfie with a cardboard cutout of Bill Murray Thursday night at the St. Paul Saints home opener. ] Aaron Lavinsky • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com The St. Paul Saints hold their season opener against the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks at brand-new CHS Field on Thursday, May 21, 2015.
From left, Kathy Berdan, Alison Jacobs and Michael Purkey took a selfie with a cardboard cutout of Bill Murray Thursday night at the St. Paul Saints home opener. ] Aaron Lavinsky • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com The St. Paul Saints hold their season opener against the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks at brand-new CHS Field on Thursday, May 21, 2015. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
St. Paul Saints players hung out in the dugout before Thursday night's hope opener at CHS Field. ] Aaron Lavinsky • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com The St. Paul Saints hold their season opener against the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks at brand-new CHS Field on Thursday, May 21, 2015.
St. Paul Saints players hung out in the dugout before Thursday night's hope opener at CHS Field. ] Aaron Lavinsky • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com The St. Paul Saints hold their season opener against the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks at brand-new CHS Field on Thursday, May 21, 2015. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Barber Bilal Salem cut the hair of Maxwell Cronk, 10, in the outfield during Thursday night's game. ] Aaron Lavinsky • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com The St. Paul Saints hold their season opener against the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks at brand-new CHS Field on Thursday, May 21, 2015.
Barber Bilal Salem cut the hair of Maxwell Cronk, 10, in the outfield during Thursday night's game. ] Aaron Lavinsky • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com The St. Paul Saints hold their season opener against the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks at brand-new CHS Field on Thursday, May 21, 2015. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Fans celebrated a St. Paul Saints home run in the fourth inning.
Fans celebrated a St. Paul Saints homerun in the fourth inning. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ cgonzalez@startribune.com, May 21, 2015, St Paul, MN, CHS Field, St. Paul Saints Baseball, First game at the new CHS Field ORG XMIT: MIN1505212103341818 (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
about the writer

about the writer

Aaron Lavinsky

Photographer

Aaron Lavinsky is a staff photographer for the Minnesota Star Tribune covering news, sports and everything in between. He joined the visuals staff in 2014.

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