Just in time for the opening of the Major League Baseball season is "National Pastime," through April 19, Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope.

The musical comedy is about a baseball team that's not really there.

And, no, it's not about the Chicago Cubs, or the 2015 Philadelphia Phillies.

The game, er, story gets underway in 1933 in Baker City, Iowa, when Karen (Janine DiVita) shows up at Radio Station WZBQ and tells Barry (Spencer Plachy), station manager and half-owner, she wants to sell the 50 percent station ownership she inherited from her dad.

Faster than you can say "play ball," a scheme is hatched for the radio station to broadcast baseball games of the Baker City Cougars. The, ahem, catch is that they're all away games, far, far away games, like, overseas away games.

Things are going winningly until a Life magazine reporter shows up to interview the players for a story.

The two and one-half hour show (including intermission) scores laughs in the book by Tony Sportiello and hits with music and lyrics by Albert M. Tapper.

It's "Guys & Dolls" meets "Damn Yankees" meets "The Music Man."

The show is segued with vocal and dancing visualizations of radio commercials by the Jingle Girls (Meredith Beck, Danielle Mia Diniz and Alexandria Van Paris in fine Andrews Sisters style three-part harmony, stylish costumes and perky choreography).

DiVita is in lovely voice for "Life Is Selection" and duets beautifully with Plachy on "The Setup" and "When-That's What Love Is."

Joe (Andrew Kober), Vinnie (Abe Goldfarb), DiVita and the company play to the bleachers with "It Wasn't Me."

Michael Dean Morgan (Lawrence) and Will Blum (Marty) are fantastic and funny in "Luck"

Kelli Maguire (Mary) has several fine numbers, especially in "One More Time," her duet with Morgan.

Matthew Bauman (Timmy) is a bundle of energy, hitting all the bases with his dance moves.

Stephanie Gibson (Betty Lou) finally gets her moment with the Jingle Girls in the show stopper, "Watch Me Shine," and she does.

Director Hunter Foster and Choreographer Lorin Latarro keep the show moving at a fast pace. Costume Designer Jennifer Caprio captures the 1930s styles sportingly.

Scenic Designer Jason Sherwood makes use of the recently restored stage turntable to great effect, displaying a detailed radio station exterior, studio and manager's office. Lighting Designer is Jake DeGroot. Sound Designer is David A. Thomas.

The acting, songs and staging of "National Pastime" are over-the-top in the best sense. The Bucks Playhouse 2015 season-opener is sweetly sentimental and sentimentally sweet.

"National Pastime" makes a convincing case that the musical, and not baseball, is America's national pastime.