Carl Gutelius was just sitting around the offices at Falcon Park trying to think of a way to add some more excitement to the season when an idea popped up.

“We play Batavia a thousand times a season, so it's become a rivalry,” he said. “We wanted to spice it up somehow.”

From this was born the “Jailbird Series.”

Actually, the Doubledays and Muckdogs square off 12 times this season, and new for 2007 the rivalry will be jazzed up beginning on Opening Day, Tuesday, when the Muckdogs visit Falcon Park for a 7 p.m. contest.

The game will mark the beginning of a best-of-nine series with the winner receiving the “Jailbird Trophy.”

The loser of the series will have to complete several tasks: The loser's front office staff will spend a night in the winner's bullpen, the loser's general manager will sit in a dunk tank at the winner's stadium and the loser's mascot will be jailed in the winner's stadium.

Fans can do their part, on Aug. 17, when they can out-draw the Muckdogs in Batavia. Fans are encouraged to show up in their Doubledays gear to cheer on the Doubledays.

The two teams square off for the last time in a three-game series Aug. 25-27.

If you go

What: Doubledays Opening Day

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Falcon Park, North

Division Street, Auburn