Archives for April 2014

Dragons Team Up With Cohen Recycling to Recycle Used Electronics

April 23, 2014

The Dayton Dragons and Cohen Recycling will be teaming up to help Miami Valley residents recycle unwanted electronics for free. Cohen Recycling will be collecting unwanted electronics on August 2 on the Fifth Third Field Plaza.

Recycle your old computers, cell phones and other unwanted electronics! Bring them to the plaza at Fifth Third Field on August 2 from 2pm – 6pm and Cohen will do the rest. You can meet the Dragons mascots, Heater and Gem, and the Green Team! Kids can play some inflatable games, get balloon animals and glitter tattoos. Each car will get a FREE Dragons t-shirt and an entry to win a “VIP Experience”, which includes a behind-the-scenes tour, an opportunity to throw out a first pitch at a game, or a trip for two for an amazing vacation. For a list of items that you can recycle, visit daytondragons.com.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Dayton Dragons. Click here to view the original story.

Fifth Third Bank (Georgia) Partners with the Augusta GreenJackets to Launch Annual Strike Out Hunger! Food Drive

April 22, 2014

Today, Fifth Third Bank (Georgia) announced it is going to bat with the Augusta GreenJackets – to launch Strike Out Hunger! This community food drive will run from April 18 through May 3 (“Fifth Third Day” on 5/3) and is aimed at collecting enough products to feed 5,300 families in the Atlanta Metro area.

Members of the community are encouraged to donate non-perishable food items – such as canned fruits and meats, peanut butter and boxed cereal – to participating Fifth Third Bank financial centers. While supplies last, the bank will give baseball game tickets to those who make a contribution to the food drive, courtesy of the Augusta GreenJackets.

“We believe that a continual investment in our community can make a meaningful impact. Each year, the bank recognizes its employees, customers and the communities it serves on the third day of the fifth month – or 5/3 on the calendar,” said Randy Koporc, president of Fifth Third Bank (Georgia). “We’re proud to be working with top-notch organizations like the Augusta GreenJackets, the Gwinnett Braves, Kennesaw State University, the Atlanta Community Food Bank and the Golden Harvest Food Bank to help families and children in need throughout the Atlanta area.”

After the month-long food drive, the bank will deliver food donations to the Golden Harvest Food Bank, which will in turn feed thousands of families.

“The need for food in our community continues to grow, and the donated items will directly help people right here in our own backyards,” said Rebecca Hersey, Chief Advancement Officer for the Golden Harvest Food Bank. “Last year, we distributed more than 16.2 million pounds of food through our network of more than 300 agencies – translating to more than 438,000 families who benefit from our efforts annually. We are grateful that Fifth Third Bank has once again focused on contributing to our mission to fight hunger and provide hope.”

“We are proud to be able to partner with Fifth Third Bank on the Strike Out Hunger! food drive,” said Tom Denlinger, General Manager of the Augusta GreenJackets. “As we continue to build on our community impact here in the CSRA for 2014, we look forward to seeing the community support this great initiative and be rewarded with a ticket to our Saturday, May 3 game at 7 p.m.”

To take part in fighting hunger and receive tickets to the Augusta GreenJackets vs. Greenville Drive on Saturday, May 3, 2014 at 7 p.m., residents can drop off food donations at financial centers in Martinez and Augusta from April 18 through May 3.

** Disclosure: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Offer available only at participating Fifth Third locations. Offer valid April 18, 2014 – May 3, 2014. Donations may be made during regular business hours. Limit one ticket per donated item with a maximum of four tickets per person. Offer good only while supplies last.

Food collection bins are set up at all 32 Fifth Third financial centers in the following counties: Columbia, Richmond, Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Walton, and Cobb. Location addresses are available at 53.com.

About the Golden Harvest Food Bank
Golden Harvest Food Bank is a volunteer-driven, non-profit organization that provides quality food and other grocery products to those in need. We do this with local community support through direct service programs, food pantries, and community education about hunger. The Food Bank was founded in Augusta, Georgia, in 1982, and now operates from three distribution centers – Augusta, GA and Aiken and Liberty, SC. Golden Harvest is a locally-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides grocery products to the hungry through direct service programs and a network of more than 300 food pantries and soup kitchens. Golden Harvest distributed more than 16.2 million pounds of grocery products to those in need in fiscal year 2013.

Golden Harvest Food Bank is a member of Feeding America. For more information on how you can help eliminate hunger in our community, visit www.goldenharvest.org. You can also find Golden Harvest on Facebook and Twitter.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Augusta GreenJackets. Click here to view the original story.

Silver Hawks to provide a Peanut Free Suite

April 22, 2014

Your South Bend Silver Hawks on Sunday, May 18th will provide a peanut free area located in the Home Plate Suite in recognition of Food Allergy Awareness Week. Food Allergy Awareness Week helps educate the public about food allergies, a potentially life-threatening medical condition.

Allergy to peanuts appears to be on the rise in children; more than 3.5 million Americans suffer from it. There are 8 types of food that are responsible for more than 90% of allergic reactions, peanuts being one of those 8 foods.

“I am excited that we are able to do this again in 2014. Last year’s event was a huge hit and we were able to provide a fun day at the ballpark that many people were not able to experience in the past. We had one family in which their son had never been to a professional baseball game before because of his peanut allergies. We want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to experience a Silver Hawks game, so we will do whatever we can to make it a reality. Because of last year’s success I expect the tickets to sell out quickly and as result, we have already started looking at dates for an additional night.” states Joe Hart, Team President.

Tickets can be purchased through the Silver Hawks’ Box Office for $17.00; space is limited to the first 50 people. Price includes a game ticket, hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and soft drinks. Call the Box Office at 574-235-9988, or stop by the Box Office, located on W. South Street to purchase tickets for the peanut free suite.

The South Bend Silver Hawks are a Class A minor league team affiliated with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The team is owned and operated by Swing-Batter-Swing, LLC whose sole shareholder is Andrew T. Berlin of Chicago, IL. To purchase tickets to a game visit www.SilverHawks.com , call the Box Office at 574-235-9988, or stop by between 10:00a.m.-5:00p.m.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the South Bend Silver Hawks. Click here to view the original story.

MiLB donates to Snohomish United Way

April 22, 2014

Contribution to help disaster recovery after Oso, Wash. landslide

Minor League Baseball™ Charities announced today that it is donating $10,000 to the United Way of Snohomish (Wash.) County’s Disaster Recovery Fund to aid in the relief efforts related to the March 22 mudslide in Oso, Wash. More than three dozen people have lost their lives and several others are still missing as a result of the devastating incident. The mudslide occurred just 30 miles from the Everett AquaSox, a Minor League Baseball club in the Northwest League.

“Through MiLB Charities, we are able to give back and offer support to the communities in which our clubs are a part, especially in times of need when natural disasters like the Oso mudslide occur,” said Tina Gust, MiLB™ Vice President of Business Development.

The AquaSox will present the $10,000 check, on behalf of MiLB Charities, to the United Way of Snohomish County on Friday. A formal check presentation will be made to the organization prior to an AquaSox game this summer.

The club is also donating all walk-up ticket sales from its June 16 game to the relief and recovery efforts.

“As we enter our 30th year in Snohomish County, this is the least we can do to try and help those affected by this tragedy,” said AquaSox Executive Vice President Tom Backemeyer. “We are very appreciative of Minor League Baseball and the support they have offered to our community through this generous donation.”

Through donations and support it receives from fans, teams and partners, MiLB Charities is able to contribute to local organizations in times of need and support causes that are important to its extended baseball family. Minor League Baseball Charities is a tax exempt, 501(c)(3) charitable organization affiliated with the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues.

Visit http://milbcharities.milbstore.com to make a tax-deductible donation to MiLB Charities or http://charities.milbauctions.com for additional opportunities to show your support.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Class A Short Season Northwest League. Click here to view the original story.

AquaSox & MiLB Partner to Assist Oso Relief

April 22, 2014

The Everett AquaSox announced today that they are dedicating their June 16 game towards relief efforts related to the Oso mudslide. All walk-up ticket sales from this game will go directly towards relief and recovery efforts caused by the mudslide that occurred only 30 miles from the AquaSox on March 22.

“So many families and businesses have been impacted locally by the mudslide,” said AquaSox Executive Vice President Tom Backemeyer, “As we enter our 30^th year in Snohomish County, this is the least we can do to try and help those affected by this tragedy.”

In conjunction with the AquaSox’s efforts, Minor League Baseball™ Charities, a tax exempt, 501(c)(3) charitable organization affiliated with the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, has donated $10,000 to the United Way of Snohomish County’s Disaster Recovery Fund for Mudslide Relief. The AquaSox will present the check to the United Way of Snohomish County on behalf of MiLB on Friday, April 25^th.

“We are very appreciative of Minor League Baseball and the support they have offered to our community through this generous donation,” said Backemeyer.

A formal check presentation to the United Way will be made prior to an AquaSox game later this summer. To donate directly to the United Way’s Disaster Recovery Fund, and to find out how else you can help, please visit www.uwsc.org.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Everett AquaSox. Click here to view the original story.

BlueClaws, CJBC Blood Drive on May 17th

April 21, 2014

All donors receive a ticket to a BlueClaws game

The BlueClaws and Central Jersey Blood Center will partner on a Blood Drive on Saturday, May 17th that runs from 7 am – 2 pm.

The drive will take place in a blood mobile located outside the ballpark, and each donor will receive a pair of tickets to a future BlueClaws game.

The BlueClaws and Central Jersey Blood Center encourage all fans to donate, as this is the time of the year when donations are in the greatest need.

To register online, click here. Donors can also register by calling 732-842-5750 ext. 225.

Don’t Forget: Please eat before donating. All equipment used during the procedure is sterile and disposable. Donors must be healthy, be at least 16 years of age and weigh at least 120 pounds. Donors must present signature ID.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Lakewood BlueClaws. Click here to view the original story.

High School Baseball Returns to Fifth Third Field on Monday Night

April 21, 2014

Arcanum and Franklin-Monroe to Play at Fifth Third Field on Monday Night

All Games Sponsored by MAC Athletics;

Double-headers scheduled for Friday and Saturday

Dayton, Ohio- Fifth Third Field and the Dayton Dragons will host high school baseball for the ninth straight season in 2014 with the action starting on Tuesday, April 8 at 4:30 p.m. Overall this spring, 30 high schools will play regular season games at the home of the Dragons.

High school baseball at Fifth Third Field also serves as a fundraiser for the participating schools. This year’s series of games will raise approximately $30,000 for the schools to help with the cost of uniforms, equipment, and bus transportation.

All games are sponsored by MAC Athletics, experts in athletic facility planning, design, construction, and equipment acquisition. Go to macathletix.com for more information on their services.

Monday evening’s game features the Franklin-Monroe Jets and the Arcanum Trojans. In the most recent Miami Valley Baseball Coaches Association poll, the Trojans were ranked as the third best team among Division IV schools. Arcanum claimed a 2013 Division IV Southwest District Championship. Arcanum and Franklin-Monroe both compete in the Cross County Conference. The game will be broadcast live on 97.5 WTGR and online on the Gem City Sports Network.

The Dayton Dragons have been hosting the Miami Valley’s best baseball teams since 2006 and are proud to continue the tradition for a ninth year. A complete list of high school baseball games scheduled to be played at Fifth Third Field can be found at daytondragons.com.

All games are free to attend and the media are invited to cover them. Gates will open one hour prior to the first game played that day. High schools may provide their own PA announcers, cheer squads, and national anthem singers. Some even bring their own radio broadcasters to the ballpark. Participating high schools sell Dragons tickets to help raise money for their programs.

–See remaining schedule below–

Day	Date	Time	Home Team	Away Team
Monday	4/21	7:00 PM	Arcanum	Franklin-Monroe
Thursday	4/24	4:30 PM	Lebanon	Piqua
Thursday	4/24	7:00 PM	Sidney	Wayne
Friday	4/25	4:30 PM	Dayton Christian	Troy Christian
Friday	4/25	7:00 PM	Vandalia-Butler	West Carrolton
Saturday	4/26	11:00 AM	Valley View	Greenville
Saturday	4/26	4:00 PM	Beavercreek	Miamisburg
Sunday	5/4	4:00 PM	Fort Loramie	New Knoxville

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Dayton Dragons. Click here to view the original story.

Pelicans team up with HTC and Backpack Buddies

April 18, 2014

Partnership renewed to bring much-needed essentials to underprivileged youth

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Texas Rangers, are working with HTC for a second straight season to bring Backpack Buddies Monday to TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. The program invites fans to bring certain essentials to the ballpark for donation on Monday home games. Those donating will receive half-price admission on their Monday game ticket.

Starting in 2004, the Backpack Buddies program aims to provide schools with nutritious, child-friendly, self-serve food designed to put in a backpack and feed a child over the weekend. The program began with a pilot program of approximately 300 children. Now, a decade later, the program provides over 1,500 meals a week across Horry County.

The Pelicans are pleased to bring back the program after a successful first year with a valued partner in HTC. To participate, fans can bring the following items to Monday night home games for half-priced admission: powdered drink mix, Ramen Noodles, Pop Tarts, individual servings of pudding, individual servings of apple sauce, fruit cups, jelly (plastic container), peanut butter (small jars), Beanie Weenies, Vienna Sausage, canned meats, cereal, raviolis (pop-top cans), mac and cheese, snack crackers, chicken noodle soup (pop top cans), and unopened containers of mustard, ketchup, and mayo.

“The Help 4 Kids organization that runs Backpack Buddies is an incredible group and we’re honored to help them in their fight to ensure that the 2400+ local children have the food and nourishment the kids need,” remarked Pelicans Vice President and General Manager Andy Milovich. “Barb Mains and her staff give these kids a chance to succeed in the classroom and life. She’s a true hero and we’re fortunate to be in a position to assist her in helping kids throughout our community.”

In 2013 the Pelicans raised nearly $400,000 for various local charities. The Backpack Buddies program saw over $9,400 of those funds. This year the Pelicans have set a goal of raising $500,000 total for local charities and $10,000 for Backpack Buddies

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Click here to view the original story.

Bisons sponsorship of Buffalo Public High School baseball program reaches 8th year

April 18, 2014

Team has contributed more than $500,000 since 2007.

As part of the sponsorship, the Bisons support the 'Junior Bisons' team that plays in the CEBA. — As part of the sponsorship, the Bisons support the ‘Junior Bisons’ team that plays in the CEBA.

As part of the Buffalo Bisons‘ long-standing sponsorship of the City of Buffalo Public High School baseball program, City high school games will return to Coca-Cola Field starting this Saturday, April 19. The Bisons wide-ranging sponsorship, which enters its eighth year in 2014, has successfully revitalized the game within Buffalo Public High Schools as well as prepared young athletes to compete at the collegiate level.

The year’s games begin Saturday, April 19 (10 a.m.) at Coca-Cola Field as City Honors hosts Nichols High School (schedule below).

Since 2007, Bisons owners Bob and Mindy Rich have contributed nearly $500,000 towards the enhancement of high school baseball throughout Buffalo’s Public High Schools.

The Bisons support for the program includes providing team uniforms, paying league and umpire fees, funding stipends for assistant coaches for each Buffalo Public High School team and the use of Coca-Cola Field’s diamond and indoor batting cages year round. Additionally, $250,000 was provided for the renovation of Johnny B. Wiley Stadium, providing the City of Buffalo a top-notch athletic facility for their teams to play in and for the community to share.

Part of the Bisons’ adoption also includes the formation of the Junior Bisons baseball team. The top players from each of the City of Buffalo high schools are joined together to compete in the County of Erie Baseball Association (CEBA) throughout the summer. The focus of the team has always been team-building, fundamentals and life skills teachings. The Junior Bisons have made the post season four times and two former Junior Bisons are currently playing baseball at the collegiate level.

City of Buffalo HS Games this week
City Honors vs. Nichols (Saturday, April 19 -10 a.m.)
South Park vs. J.F.K. (Saturday, April 19 -12 p.m.)
Olmsted vs. CSAT (Monday, April 21 -11 a.m.)
Hutch Tech vs. Roy-Hart (Monday, April 21 -2 p.m.)
McKinley vs. Maritime CS (Tuesday, April 22 -4 p.m.).

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Buffalo Bisons. Click here to view the original story.

Gwinnett Braves Set to Host Youth Baseball Camps

April 18, 2014

G-Braves announce their 2014 Baseball Camp session dates

CLICK HERE to download a Baseball Camp Registration Form!

The Gwinnett Braves are set to bring back Youth Baseball Camps for the 2014 season. The G-Braves will be holding their annual three-day baseball camps at Coolray Field in June and July.

There will be two separate three-day camps. The first session will run from June 24-26, while the second and final session will go from July 21-23. G-Braves’ players and coaches will teach kids what it takes to become the best ballplayer they can be. Campers will learn basic fundamentals like hitting and pitching and specialized skills like bunting and base running.

The camp is open for kids ages 8-14 and will run from 9 AM to 12 PM each day. Each participant will receive a T-shirt at the beginning of camp and will be served lunch at the conclusion of each session. On the final day, the players and coaches will gather for an autograph session with the kids. In addition to the instruction and player interaction throughout the three days, each camper will receive two Field Box Tickets for a Gwinnett Braves home game and will get to take the field as part of the “High Five Tunnel” prior to the game action.

Three-Day Camp registration is $100. All campers who participate in the Three-Day Camps will receive the following:

G-Braves Baseball Camp T-Shirt
Two (2) Field Box Tickets
Lunch on all three days

For more information or to reserve your spot, contact Gwinnett Braves Community Relations Trainee Alison Atkins via email at alison.atkins@braves.com.

The Gwinnett Braves, Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, return to Coolray Field on Saturday, April 19 for a 7:05 PM game against the Charlotte Knights. Tickets for all home games are available for purchase now by calling the Coolray Field Ticket Office at 678-277-0340 and by visiting GwinnettBraves.com.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Gwinnett Braves. Click here to view the original story.

Drive to Celebrate Reading All-Stars on Tuesday

April 17, 2014

Accomplishments to be celebrated with entertainment and pregame parade

The Greenville Drive and Michelin, N.A. are thrilled to celebrate the Reading All-Stars of Greenville County elementary schools and all Pickens County schools before and during Tuesday night’s game against the Asheville Tourists at 7:05.

The Drive’s seventh annual reading incentive program is designed to encourage learning and education success through reading, and the program reaches over 75,000 students year-round. To honor these Reading All-Stars for their hard work this school year, they will take part in a pre-game “Parade of Champions” around Fluor Field at 6:30 that celebrates their success in the program, and will be recognized with a Drive/ Michelin Reading All-Stars t-shirt. During the game, five schools with continued success in the program will be inducted into the inaugural Reading All-Star Hall of Fame, and top performers for the school year will be recognized. In addition, students will participate in the in-game entertainment, including a tug-of-war, shoe scramble, sack race and more!

“We are extremely pleased with the continued success of the Reading All-Stars program,” commented Eric Jarinko, Drive General Manager. “Reading skills are extremely critical to a student’s ability to succeed and stay in school, and the Upstate community has really embraced this program as a way for students to stay engaged both during the school year and the summer. With three dates on tap this season, we are excited to celebrate the success of these Reading All-Stars at Fluor Field.”

For more information about the celebration game on Tuesday, click here.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Greenville Drive. Click here to view the original story.

Drillers to Honor Local Military with Card Set

April 17, 2014

Submissions for set now being accepted

The Tulsa Drillers are proud to announce the creation of the Here’s to the Heroes Military Card Set presented by River Spirit Casino and the Folds of Honor Foundation. On Monday, June 30 the Tulsa Drillers will give away 1,000 Here’s to the Heroes Military Card Sets prior to their Independence Day Fireworks Extravaganza.

The Drillers are asking fans to submit nominations of family members or friends who are actively serving or retired from the military for possible inclusion in this great promotion.

Submissions can be made through the Tulsa Drillers Facebook page and should include:

– Name with Rank

– Military Branch

– Years of Service

– Date of Birth

– Home Town

– Bio of His/Her Military Service (75 or less words)

– Photo (head shot or full body in uniform)

Please submit your nominations by clicking HERE or visiting Facebook.com/TulsaDrillers and select the ‘Here’s to the Heroes’ tile underneath the Drillers cover photo.

Submissions will be accepted through May 15 at which time the Drillers will randomly select 15 entries for inclusion in this year’s Military Card Set. The final five (5) cards will be chosen via a fan vote from 10 randomly selected finalists. The last five cards will be chosen from a vote by Drillers Facebook followers between May 19-22.

For each submission included in this year’s card set, the person who submitted their family member or friend will receive four (4) tickets to the Drillers Monday, June 30 Independence Day Fireworks Extravaganza as well as 50 cards of their military family member or friend courtesy of River Spirit Casino.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Tulsa Drillers. Click here to view the original story.

IronPigs to Host Allentown Police vs Firefighter Softball Contest

April 17, 2014

90-minute Softball Game to Be Followed by IronPigs Game at 6:35 p.m.

The Allentown Police and Fire Departments will square off in a 90-minute softball game at 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, as the IronPigs pay tribute to local police, fire and EMS personnel with a very special, promotion-stuffed Heroes Night at Coca-Cola Park. Both the IronPigs and Pawtucket Red Sox will join in on the festivities during their 6:35 p.m. game that night by donning unique specialty jerseys that promote local Police and Fire Departments.

All gates open at 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, but fans are reminded that they must have a ticket to the IronPigs-Red Sox game to gain admittance to Coca-Cola Park for the earlier softball contest.

“We truly hope that this becomes an annual tradition at Coca-Cola Park,” exclaimed IronPigs General Manager Kurt Landes. “We owe a great deal of gratitude to local police, fire, EMS and emergency personnel in the Lehigh Valley that keep our community safe.”

The specialty jerseys will be auctioned off during that night’s game with proceeds benefitting the Allentown Police Athletic League, the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley and IronPigs Charities.

Heroes Night will also allow fans the opportunity to honor the local police, firefighters, EMS personnel, and military members who serve and protect the Lehigh Valley and the entire nation, in a pre-game on-field ceremony. As part of the Heroes Night activities, the Color Guard ceremony will be performed prior to the game by the Allentown Police.

As an added bonus to all fans in attendance on Heroes Night, there will be a special post-game fireworks show featuring patriotic music presented by Lehigh Carbon Community College.

IronPigs and Red Sox fans can bid on their favorite player’s jerseys from anywhere with the easy-to-use Qtego service that allows fans to place bids, receive notifications when outbid and check the status of their item via text messages on their mobile phones. Fans without texting access can even call in their bid after registering their phone at Coca-Cola Park.

Register your phone from anywhere in the U.S. by texting “Pigs” to 79230. Detailed instructions on how to place your bid will be made available at ironpigsbaseball.com on April 25.

Winning bidders of the IronPigs home jerseys will have the opportunity to go on the field immediately following the game to have their jersey autographed. Please note that the on-field jersey signing will only occur with the home team jerseys. Bidders not in attendance at Coca-Cola Park can either pick up their signed jersey at a later date or have it mailed directly to them.

Great seats are still available for this game and all upcoming games and can be purchased in-person at Coca-Cola Park (Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), by calling (610) 841-PIGS (7447) or online at ironpigsbaseball.com. Make sure to inquire about some of our newest seating areas, including the “Hot Corner” and the “Bacon Strip”, which offer IronPigs fans the most unique and distinctive seating and hospitality areas in all of Minor League Baseball.

Fans are reminded that there are three entry points for parking and are encouraged to use the Dauphin Street entrance when traveling from downtown Allentown. In addition to the Dauphin Street entrance, entry to Coca-Cola Park can be gained off American Parkway and Union Boulevard. Preferred/Handicapped Parking access is available via American Parkway only.

The cost of parking in Coca-Cola Park’s “Pig Tail Porking Spaces” is $3 per vehicle for all IronPigs home games.

Single-game tickets, mini-plan packages and group tickets for all IronPigs home games presented by Capital BlueCross, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Coca-Cola Park Ticket Office, online at www.ironpigsbaseball.com or by calling (610) 841-PIGS.

Don’t forget to ask about the four-person “islands” in the Red Robin Oasis located directly above the left field bullpens. Each island is covered underneath a thatched roof and includes a circular half-table, cocktail-style seating for the four fans in the party and wait service.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Click here to view the original story.

TinCaps, Longe Optical Expand Children’s Reading Program

April 16, 2014

Partnership Expands Region’s Largest Private Literacy Program

The Fort Wayne TinCaps, Longe Optical, and PBS39 (WFWA) are pleased to announce a multi-year partnership in expanding the TinCaps Reading Program, a venture that serves more than 100,000 children in the Northeast Indiana and Northwest Ohio regions. The addition of a corporate sponsor to the TinCaps Reading Program ensures that the reach of the effort will expand beyond schools and libraries, and into Longe Optical’s four retail locations, helping children improve their reading skills.

Longe Optical, now the exclusive eye care provider of the TinCaps, will make signups for the program available at all of their retail locations, meaning the TinCaps Reading Program will see an unprecedented reach throughout the region.

“The Fort Wayne TinCaps Reading Program is one of the best initiatives the team does, and one of the most impactful from any team in the country,” said TinCaps President Mike Nutter. “The focus on literacy and our youth is extremely important to the TinCaps and our mission of serving the community. To have Longe Optical involved is a great thing for the program. Longe Optical is a well-known and respected area business, and now with their involvement more children and families will be reached. Their support guarantees that a program that has been making a difference for almost 15 years will continue long into the future.”

The TinCaps Reading Program is a community initiative which encourages students to read by setting individual goals for number of books, number of pages, hours spent reading, etc. Each student “rounds the bases”, hitting benchmarks until the final goal is reached, and with that milestone comes a free ticket to a TinCaps game, a hot dog, and soft drink. Participating schools can also receive a visit from Johnny, the TinCaps mascot.

“We are tremendously excited to be the lead sponsor of the TinCaps Reading Program. It’s such a logical partnership since reading skills are dependent on great vision,” said Jeff Ostermann, President of Longe Optical. “We’ve been serving Fort Wayne’s eye care needs for 65 years, and can think of no better investment in the future of our community than helping to ensure that our children can see and read their best.”

PBS39, the northeast Indiana region’s only public television station, continues its sponsorship of the TinCaps Reading Program.

“It has been a great opportunity to pair America’s greatest pastime with America’s number one source for educational programs,” said PBS39 General Manager Bruce Haines. “As the nation’s most-trusted and most-watched TV source for kids, PBS KIDS and PBS39 are uniquely positioned to pair with the TinCaps to help families keep the learning going while they have fun together.”

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Fort Wayne TinCaps. Click here to view the original story.

Little League Day

April 15, 2014

The Tampa Yankees will host their annual Pepsi Cola Little League Day at Steinbrenner Field on Sunday, April 27^th when they take on the Lakeland Flying Tigers at 1:00PM.

The first 250 kids, ages 14 and under, that enter the stadium will receive a Collector’s Pepsi Cola Yankees pin. Gates will open at 12:00PM. All guests will receive free admission when they show up to the Box Office wearing their Little League uniform (players and coaches).

Palma Ceia Little League Challenger Teams will play a game on Steinbrenner Field after the Tampa Yankees game concludes. The Tampa Yankees actively assist youth baseball and softball programs in the Tampa area to promote the Little League Mission, developing qualities of citizenship, discipline, teamwork and physical well-being.

Tickets are $4 for general admission, $6 for reserved seating and can be purchased at the George M. Steinbrenner Field Box Office.

The Tampa Yankees are the Single A-Advanced affiliate of the New York Yankees. For more information you may contact the Tampa Yankees offices at (813) 673-3055 or visit www.tybaseball.com.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Tampa Yankees. Click here to view the original story.