Two area mayors are stepping up to the plate for their minor league baseball teams.

The Lake Country DockHounds, based in the city of Oconomowoc, is the area's newest sports team. It has spent years building a stadium and team, and its inaugural season in the American Association of Professional Baseball finally gets underway tonight, with an away game.

For that game, they'll travel a short distance to play on the road against the area's other AAPB team: the Milwaukee Milkmen.

More:What you need to know for the Lake Country DockHounds inaugural season

In what will surely become a battle of the I-94 teams, the mayors of the two cities have decided to kick off the rivalry with a "friendly wager."

“We were originally going to wager a lifetime supply of lip balm for Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers but Mayor (Bob) Magnus wouldn’t have it,” Mayor Steve Olson said in a news release.

The "Wizard of Oz" reference is a nod to one of Oconomowoc's best-known claims to fame: It hosted one of the first preview showings of the "Wizard of Oz" movie in August 1939.

The lip balm refers to Carmex, one of Franklin's biggest exports.

In the end, the two leaders settled on a more dignified bet.

“Instead, we’ve agreed on the dunk tank challenge,” Magnus said. “If the Milkmen win the weekend series, which they’re not, I’ll get in some team gear and get in the dunk tank the next time the two teams play at Franklin Field. If the DockHounds win, Mayor Olson will rep Lake Country and get dunked.”

Clearly, bragging rights are also on the table.

“I’m excited to show Mayor Magnus why the city of Franklin is a great place to live, work and play,” Olson added. “I’m also confident that I won’t be getting in the dunk tank anytime soon.”

The rivalry begins Friday at Franklin Field in Franklin. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

Drew Dawson can be reached at ddawson@jrn.com or (262) 289-1324.