Well, maybe. The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors' recent vote approved a 5,500-seat baseball stadium on the Kinkora property, located near the intersection of Routes 7 and 28. What the vote didn't actually do was approve Kinkora proper, a proposed mixed-use "commerce center" of office and professional space, proceeds from which will help fund the stadium. That vote comes later. So, just maybe, the cart was put before the horse but, hey, at least there's a cart!

Only a few years ago, Loudoun County was clamoring for a real-life, Major League Baseball (MLB) team. Given that the team in question turned out to be the Nationals, it's possible that D.C.'s gain was no loss at all for Loudoun. But, all kidding aside, the fact that baseball may finally be making its way to Loudoun is, in this reporter's humble opinion, pretty exciting. And the fact that the baseball that just might be winding its way Loudoun-ward is small, affordable, Atlantic League baseball rather than big, overpriced Major League baseball makes it even better.

Have you been to an MLB game recently? Did you take your family? Were you anywhere near the field while you were there? When you left, did you get the feeling that some unseen force had picked you up by your ankles and given you a good shaking until every last nickel had spilled from your pockets? Well, that's the beauty of Atlantic League 'ball! The stadiums are tiny, relatively speaking. (Did I mention the 5,500-seat capacity of the newly approved stadium at Kinkora?) Tickets are supremely affordable. The players are good, and they do, indeed, play real baseball. The stands are jam-packed with families, and the teams foster a family-friendly vibe.

Don't believe me?

Let's find out just what the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball really is then. According to the League's website (http://www.atlanticleague.com/), "The mission of The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Clubs, Inc. ("AL") is to bring a high level of professional baseball and affordable family entertainment to selected communities not presently being served by Major League or Minor League teams."

The Atlantic League has "family entertainment" in its Mission Statement! Good luck even finding a Mission Statement for MLB; I couldn't.

Currently, the league is comprised of eight teams: the Bridgeport (CT) Bluefish, the Camden (NJ) Riversharks, the Lancaster (PA) Barnstormers, the Long Island (NY) Ducks, the Newark (NJ) Bears, the Somerset (NJ) Patriots, the Southern Maryland (MD) Blue Crabs, and the York (PA) Revolution.

Teams play a 140-game split regular-season format, April-September, with first- and second-half division winners playing a best-of-five Divisional Series, and those winners advancing to a best-of-five Atlantic League Championship Series. Weekday and Saturday games typically start around 6:30 or 7 o'clock at night, though plenty start earlier in the day during the summer; Sundays are reserved for day games almost exclusively. The family vibe I was talking about? At Campbell's Field, where the Riversharks play, boasts not only a Picnic Pavilion, but also the Acme Kids Fun Zone (complete with rock wall!) and a carousel! The Blue Crabs play in a stadium that has the requisite Picnic Pavilion and Kids' Play Area and a Birthday Zone and Lawn Seating! Lawn Seating! How cool is lawn seating?!?!

Oh, and price-point? Check this out.... A quick rip through the various teams' websites led me to the conclusion that the most expensive seats you can get, League-wide, are $18. That's dollars, not Euros or Pounds or anything. Real dollars! And most tickets are way less than that, all the way down to ZERO! Yup, some teams offer children, say 5 years old and under, free admission. You can't beat that with a stick, as someone near and dear to me is fond of saying.

Most teams have kids clubs and special on field activities for children after games. And those stadiums that only get used 70 or so days a year make great venues for concerts and other cultural events.

And, in case all of that wasn't enough, Kinkora promises community uses of the stadium including Little League, school and other organizations' tournaments, and camps and interactive programs for kids.

So, yeah, I'm psyched baseball is getting a second chance in Loudoun. Easy cheese over the heart of the plate doesn't usually come around twice in one at-bat.

For more information on the Kinkora development and its baseball stadium, please visit http://www.kinkora-va.com/