As the US Major League Baseball season has come to an end, the season for another league has begun. Venezuela's winter baseball season is underway and it begins during a time of major economic uncertainty. CGTN's Stephen Gibbs reports from Caracas.

A little respite from this nation's problems. A baseball game in Venezuela is one of the few places where political differences are forgotten, while the teams slug it out. But still, as the winter season began, we saw constant reminders of this country's deep economic crisis.

Take the ticket price. Last week the cheapest ticket cost - in the local currency - 35 bolivars. This week it was 60. That's hyperinflation.

"Yes, of course, it's complicated to come here, but we do it to distract our minds a little."

In dollar terms, it does cost less than one dollar to enter the ground. And you will be able to watch many major league players, including - at this game - one of Venezuela's stars, Endy Chavez. He - like all the players - is paid in hard currency. And their uniforms are imported. The only way to pay for this is sponsorship.

This year the league received a 12 million dollar lifeline from Venezuela's state-owned oil company PDVSA, even though the company is close to default. The billionaire owner of a local beer firm is also a patron. Talking of beer-try buying one before the game. Few people carry the fistful of cash needed to buy one. Most pay with debit card. One beer is two days' work on the minimum wage. No one is pretending it is easy putting on games in these difficult times.

LUIS BLASINI, MANAGER VENEZUELAN BASEBALL MANAGER "It's a major challenge to put on a baseball tournament in Venezuela, given the country's situation, with all the problems that we are all facing as a people; but baseball is a healthy pastime and we hope this will be a great season."

Back inside the stadium, the atmosphere was warming up.

STEPHEN GIBBS CARACAS "Many Venezuelans that we have spoken to say the same: that 'yes', in the deepest recession in the world they have had to make sacrifices. But the one thing they won't be giving up is baseball."

The essential appeal of this game, they say, is that triumph can overcome adversity. And nowhere, perhaps, is that more true, than here in Venezuela. Stephen Gibbs, CGTN, Caracas.