 Opening their new ballpark called The Sandcastle on May 20, the Surf was defeated by the Somerset Patriots by a score of 8-5.Playing host to the first Atlantic League All-Star game on July 15, the Surf defeated the League All-Stars 6-4 and would later win the league's first Championship Series over the Bridgeport Bluefish, three games to one.The Surf made it to the post-season four times in five years (2002 and 2004–06) but were eliminated in the first round each time.