By Ryan Moxon – What do you get when you combine the ’90s cult classic baseball movie “Summer Catch” with a game-day atmosphere that’s more about what’s happening outside the lines than inside them?

Welcome to Hippos baseball.

The Lake Norman HarborHippos debuted in 2025 as a team in the Old North State League, a summer wooden-bat league in North Carolina featuring college players from programs across the country. Games are played at Huntersville Athletic Park, branded by the team as “The Harbor.”

Similar to minor league baseball, games are built around a rotating slate of theme nights designed to attract families, kids and casual fans. Each game features entertainment, mascot appearances, giveaways and contests.

Game experience

On a warm night in June, the home team’s starting lineup ran onto the field with members of a Lake Norman Little League all-star team, followed by the national anthem and a well-timed American Airlines jet that provided a free, impromptu flyover.

After the first batter reached first base and stole second, the announcer informed everyone that they got to “steal a shirt” from a team sponsor.

Later, after a swing sent a foul ball down the left-field line, the announcer reminded fans that kids who return foul balls receive a coupon to a local batting cage.

The mascot, Normie the Hippo, has become the face of the franchise, appearing throughout games for photo opportunities, skits and crowd-participation moments aimed squarely at younger fans. The team will celebrate Normie’s birthday during its final regular-season home game July 18.

Building a team

Team owners Mike and Kris Viruso, Huntersville residents, combined Mike’s business experience with Kris’ role in community engagement, branding and operations to build the team’s identity and local presence.

That branding leans heavily into a family-friendly identity, with a game-day atmosphere closer to minor league entertainment than traditional summer collegiate baseball.

Tickets are affordable and concessions follow a classic ballpark model. Beer and wine are available in designated areas during evening games.

You might even see Kris working the grill on occasion.

“I do so many things,” she said. “Last year, to get the park ready, I was cleaning and painting the bathrooms and concessions.”

Near and far

The roster includes players primarily from the Carolinas, but it spans 12 states and two countries. HarborHippos pitcher Cullen Barbee of Cornelius attended Langtree Charter, pitcher Ross Pearn of Davidson attended Hough High School, and several other players attended nearby high schools.

HarborHippos players live in the Lake Norman area during the summer, often with host families, and compete in a schedule designed to mirror a condensed professional-style season before returning to their college programs in the fall.

In it to win it

On the field, the HarborHippos’ inaugural season established them as a competitive expansion club. The team advanced to the second round of the playoffs last summer and currently sit in second place in the standings.

While wins and losses matter, the HarborHippos’ early identity has been defined as much by atmosphere as by results. Their launch reflects a broader shift in collegiate summer baseball toward entertainment-first experiences.

You’ll see the players throughout the community all summer, interacting with the team’s six nonprofit partners, which are also active on game days.

“We want to create something that’s affordable, welcoming and fun for everyone,” Mike Viruso said. “But we’re also developing young men to be part of a community.”

For families looking for an inexpensive night out close to home, the combination of baseball, entertainment and themed programming has quickly become a fixture on the summer calendar.

As the franchise looks to the future, the focus is on expanding that footprint — building attendance, deepening community ties and keeping The Harbor a consistent destination for summer nights.

“We work hard to make this something that even a person who isn’t a baseball fan wants to attend,” he said. “We have a cool vibe, and it’s a lot of fun.”