Archives for February 2017

Meijer Baseball Academy Registration Now Open

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

SOUTH BEND, IN – Four Winds Field, the home of the South Bend Cubs, will transform into a training ground for young baseball players this July when Cubs players and coaches become instructors for the 2017 Meijer Baseball Academy.

There will be two academy training sessions to help keep the camp size smaller and allow more interaction with the players and coaches. Session one will be held July 12 through July 14 and session two runs July 26 through July 28. Registration is open to children from 6 to 12 years of age. Instruction from players and coaches will be based on the age and skill level of each participant. Throughout the three-day session participants will learn about hitting, pitching, fielding (infield and outfield), catching, and base running.

“This is a great opportunity for young players,” South Bend Cubs President Joe Hart said. “We’re excited to provide an opportunity for aspiring players to learn from pro ball-players within the Cubs organization.”

The registration fee for one, three-day session is $125.00 per child. All attendees will receive a Meijer Baseball Academy t-shirt, a South Bend Cubs hat, lunch after each day of camp, and four (4) tickets to a South Bend Cubs game where all academy campers will participate in a pre-game recognition on the field.

“One of our team slogans is ‘The road to the World Series starts in South Bend,'” Hart said. “We want to bring that slogan to our Baseball Academy so hopefully one day we’ll see a few of these youngsters playing professional baseball.”

Check-in for the first day of each session will begin at 8:30 a.m. ET. Camps will run from 9:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., with lunch at 11:50 a.m.

To register, visit the Meijer Baseball Academy webpage and download the application form. Forms must be emailed to Marketing@SouthBendCubs.com and payment must be made at time of registration. For additional questions, call Stephen Cabe at (574) 235-9988 extension 262.

About the South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs are the Class A minor league affiliate of the World Series Champion Chicago Cubs. Over the past 29 seasons, the team has won five Midwest League titles, most recently in 2005, and has captured 12 division titles. In 2015, the team was named Ballpark Digest‘s Team of the Year and received the John H. Johnson President’s Award, the highest award in minor league baseball. The team is owned and operated by Swing-Batter-Swing, LLC whose sole shareholder is Andrew T. Berlin of Chicago, Ill.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Tides to renovate Surry County youth field

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After nearly 7,500 votes were cast on the Norfolk Tides Facebook page, Surry County Pony Baseball has won a contest in which the Tides organization will renovate their baseball field. This field makeover will include an upgrade to the playing surface and an improvement to existing dugouts, with the renovations taking place in mid-April.

Surry County Pony Baseball received nearly 2,000 votes to win the contest, which consisted of nine local youth fields. Tides groundskeepers and front office staff will visit Surry to assist in renovating their field.

“We’re thrilled to offer our assistance to the people of Surry, as they demonstrated a remarkable amount of support for this contest” said Tides General Manager Joe Gregory. “The number of votes cast shows how important youth baseball is to families in the Surry community, and our entire organization can’t wait to get started.”

2017 is the sixth consecutive year in which the Tides are renovating a field in Hampton Roads. Over the first five years of the program, the Tides have renovated eight local fields: Ocean View Little League (Norfolk), Smithfield Recreation Association (Smithfield), Bennett’s Creek Little League (Suffolk), Phoebus Little League (Hampton), Shore Little League (Nassawadox), Cradock Little League (Portsmouth), Little Creek National (Norfolk) and Gloucester Youth Baseball (Gloucester).

The project is made possible thanks to the Tides Youth Baseball Fund, a program established by the Tides in 1990 as a way to raise money for youth baseball and softball programs in Hampton Roads. In addition to assisting with field renovations, the Youth Baseball Fund also helps local teams and leagues with travel expenses. The Youth Baseball Fund is partially financed by scoreboard announcements at Harbor Park throughout the season, and those wishing to make a donation directly to the Youth Baseball Fund can do so via norfolkides.com under the “community” section.

Volunteers from Safelite AutoGlass will join the Tides staff in assisting with the field renovation efforts, with the exact date of the renovation being announced at a later date.

The Tides will play their first game of 2017 at Harbor Park on Friday, March 31st in an Exhibition Game against the Baltimore Orioles. Norfolk will then open its regular season on Thursday, April 6th with a 7:05 contest at Charlotte before kicking off the home portion of its schedule on Monday, April 10th with a 6:35 game vs. Gwinnett.

Season Tickets, group tickets, picnics and patios are currently available for the 2017 season. For pricing and additional information, visit the Harbor Park box office or call (757) 622-2222.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Sea Dogs Community Week March 6th-10th

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Portland, Maine- The Portland Sea Dogs have designated the week of March 6th-10th as Sea Dogs Community Week. Throughout the week, the Sea Dogs will donate a portion of the ticket sales to local non-profit organizations.

The Sea Dogs have teamed-up with five local non-profit organizations for the week. Each day throughout the week will benefit one of the five non-profit organizations. The Sea Dogs will be donating $3.00 from every ticket sold to that day’s selected non-profit organization.

Tickets can be purchased at the Hadlock Field ticket office, by phone at 207-879-9500, or online at www.seadogs.com. Individual tickets, group tickets, and new season tickets are all eligible as part of the offer, but must be paid in full that day.

“This is an excellent opportunity for our fans to get tickets and support a local charity at the same time,” stated Sea Dogs Executive Vice President & General Manager Geoff Iacuessa. “The Sea Dogs are committed to being an integral part of the community and are happy to give back to those organizations that do so much to help the communities in which we live.”

The Sea Dogs open the 2017 season on Thursday, April 6th at 6:00 PM at Hadlock Field against the Reading Fightin Phils.

San Jose Giants Helping Local Flood Victims

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San Jose, CA– The San Jose Giants in conjunction with the city of San Jose and Silicon Valley Community Foundation are offering a way for the community to aid in providing relief for victims impacted by the recent flooding in San Jose. Thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate their homes because of unprecedented rainfall this month and subsequent severe flooding. Over 400 people have been rescued via boat as water levels reached several feet deep. Complete assessment of damage has yet to be determined, however it is certain that many families will need aid and relief in the weeks and months ahead.

The San Jose Giants are calling for community support and generous contributions for the recent flood victims. Donations can be made to the through Silicon Valley Community Foundation: San Jose Flood Relief Fund. These donations will go towards administering relief for families most in need. Families in the Franklin McKinley School District have been hit especially hard. Gift cards for clothing and food to the Franklin McKinley School District can be sent or delivered to 645 Wool Creek Drive, San Jose CA, 95112, c/o Student Wellness and Support Services Office. A GoFundMe page has also been set up to assist these hurting families.

“As a proud member of the San Jose community, we deeply empathize with the flood victims and their families,” said Juliana Paoli, Senior VP of Communications and Chief Marketing Officer. “We applaud our friends at Silicon Valley Community Foundation and are determined to do all we can to provide relief for those in need.”

The San Jose Giants fan-favorite mascot, Gigante, made a community appearance at the emergency shelter at James Lick High School for the victims of the flooding. The Giants also donated shirts to families in need of fresh clothing at the shelter. In addition, at the San Jose Giants home opener on Thursday, April 13, the organization will be offering fans the opportunity to donate or to “round-up” on their purchases at the ballpark, with the remaining balance to be donated to Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

More Information:

For the latest updates, news and information, residents should go to the City of San Jose Emergency Services.

The City of San Jose, led by District Seven Councilmember Tam Ngyuen, have set up a command post at the corner of Senter Road and Phelan Avenue, in the parking lot of Marisco’s restaurant. Volunteers are encouraged to check in at the location tomorrow, February 23, to help with the initial cleanup of the area. Clean up begins at 9:00 AM.

Additionally, our partner, Happy Hollow Park and Zoo, is requesting support for the animals and keepers who were impacted by the flood. Happy Hollow anticipates a number of expenses resulting from the flood. Donations can be made through the Happy Hollow Park and Zoo website.

San Jose State Baseball games have been cancelled through Monday, February 27, 2017 at Municipal Stadium. Please visit the San Jose State Baseball website for updated information.

NATURALS, WHATABURGER TEAM UP ON FIELD OF DREAMS PROGRAM

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SPRINGDALE, Ark. – The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are excited to team up with Whataburger again on the Field of Dreams program for the 2017 season, which will begin at Arvest Ballpark on Thursday, April 6 at 6:25 p.m. for Opening Day.

The Naturals Field of Dreams program presented by Whataburger is one of the most popular programs offered at Arvest Ballpark and is seen as an integral part of the Naturals baseball experience. The program gives kids a unique game day experience and is offered at all 70 home games. More than 2,200 kids have participated in the program over the past three seasons as the Naturals Field of Dreams program is open to all youth teams, not just baseball, softball and T-ball teams.

Whether it is for a pre-season or post-season party or just an outing during the year, the Naturals invite youth teams from across the region to take part in an action packed day at Arvest Ballpark. Before the Naturals game begins, teams will take an exclusive VIP behind-the-scenes tour of Arvest Ballpark, be introduced on the field, recognized on the HD videoboard and given the opportunity to take the field with their favorite Naturals prior to the game for the National Anthem. Each player will also receive a coupon courtesy of Whataburger that is redeemable at any of their Northwest Arkansas locations.

“We’re excited to partner with the Naturals to make it an extra special season for some of our youth teams,” said Whataburger Director of Operations Mark Wallace. “There’s nothing better than seeing the smiles on all the kids’ faces and we’re proud to bring the community together for a fun ballpark experience.”

The Naturals encourage all coaches, players, family and friends to take advantage of the Field of Dreams program through discounted group tickets and food combos that are offered as part of the experience. The Naturals guarantee that groups will be seated together in the best available section as group rates start as low as $7 for seats within the seating bowl.

To reserve your team a spot for a game during the 2017 season, please visit our website www.nwanaturals.com and download the Field of Dreams flyer located under the Groups and Events tab. Fans can also contact Brad Ziegler with the Naturals at (479) 927-4069 or brad@nwanaturals.com for more information about the program and date availability throughout the year.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals will host the San Antonio Missions, the Double-A Affiliate of the San Diego Padres, on Thursday, April 6 at 6:25 p.m. for Opening Day of Season 10 of Naturals Baseball at Arvest Ballpark.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Naturals play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Ark. For more information, including statistics, ticket options, and more, please visit NWANaturals.com, and follow us on Twitter @NWANaturals and Facebook.com/Naturals.

-Naturals-

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

WALMART, NATURALS JOIN FORCES ON MILITARY APPRECIATION SUNDAYS

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SPRINGDALE, Ark. – The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are extremely proud to join forces with Walmart on our Military Appreciation Sundays. Military Appreciation Sundays presented by Walmart were created to honor the men and women that serve or have served in the United States Military by giving them special recognition in advance of every Sunday home game.

Military Appreciation Sundays presented by Walmart will take place at all 11 Sunday home games this year. The nominated men and women that are selected for the program will be recognized and honored with an on-field or videoboard recognition during a special pre-game ceremony, four (4) complimentary Super Premium tickets, and a special certificate of recognition.

Whether it’s to honor a friend, relative, or to reunite a recently returned home veteran with their family, we ask that interested fans visit our website www.nwanaturals.com and fill out one (1) of the forms located under the Community tab titled Walmart Military Appreciation Nomination Form or the Printable Walmart Military Appreciation Form. If you’ve selected the printable form we’d ask that you fill it out and email or fax it to the Naturals at the contact information listed on the nomination form. You may also drop it off at our Administrative Office located at Arvest Ballpark between 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday.

On Memorial Day 2013, Walmart introduced the Veterans Welcome Home Commitment which guaranteed a job offer to any eligible, honorably discharged U.S. veteran who was within 12 months of active duty. The initial goal was to hire 100,000 veterans by the end of 2018. In May 2015, Walmart announced the expansion of this projection with a new goal of hiring 250,000 veterans by the end of 2020. The company also changed the eligibility from within 12 months of active duty to any veteran honorably discharged since we announced the original commitment. Since Memorial Day 2013, Walmart has offered jobs to more than 150,000 veterans through the Veteran Welcome Home Commitment and more than 19,000 have been promoted to roles of higher pay and greater responsibility. To explore career options with the company visit walmartcareerswithamission.com.

In addition to Military Appreciation Sundays, the Naturals will continue to offer a Military discount at every home game. A Military ID, when shown at the Arvest Ballpark Box Office, is valid for a $1 discount off the regular ticket price to home games.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals will host the San Antonio Missions, the Double-A Affiliate of the San Diego Padres, on Thursday, April 6 at 6:25 p.m. for Opening Day of Season 10 of Naturals Baseball at Arvest Ballpark.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Naturals play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Ark. For more information, including statistics, ticket options, and more, please visit NWANaturals.com, and follow us on Twitter @NWANaturals and Facebook.com/Naturals.

-Naturals-

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Redbirds, MLB Make Donation to Memphis Public Schools

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(Roger Cotton/Memphis Redbirds)

PHOTO GALLERY

MEMPHIS, Tennessee – The Memphis Redbirds Community Fund, in conjunction with Major League Baseball, has made a donation to Pitch In For Baseball to benefit Memphis Public Schools as part of MLB’s biennial RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) Institute held this week in Memphis.

The donation will provide $25,000 worth of baseball and softball equipment to help 460 students get on the field, benefitting 24 baseball and softball teams at 16 schools in the Memphis area.

“We are very proud to be able to make this donation to Memphis Public Schools through the Redbirds Community Fund,” Redbirds President and General Manager Craig Unger said. “One of our main missions is to help better our community, and the Redbirds Community Fund is one of the leading vehicles for how we can use our position to do so. We look forward to being able to do more to benefit our community and the Mid-South as a whole.”

The week culminated today with a free PLAY BALL event at AutoZone Park, where area children were able to play on the field and have fun learning skills and celebrating the love of the game. Event participants also received a PLAY BALL t-shirt and a bat and ball set to continue the play at home.

The RBI Institute covers topics such as league operations, players’ health on and off the field (i.e., Pitch Smart, anti-bullying and drug-free lifestyles), educational programs, best practices, coaches training, league finances, equipment procurement and more.

The Redbirds have hosted an RBI site since 1998, where boys and girls ages 6 through 16 join with children from their own community to form teams which travel throughout the city to play each other. Memphis RBI began with six locations and has grown to serve 12 communities and over 1,000 participants.

The mission of the Memphis RBI program is to increase participation and interest in baseball and softball among underserved youth through instructional and competitive play, while encouraging youth to achieve academically, demonstrate good sportsmanship, and contribute positively to the community.

Pitch In For Baseball provides new and gently-used baseball and softball equipment to boys and girls in the United States and around the world who want to play ball but lack the equipment to do so. PIFB reduces barriers to play and promotes youth development by providing equipment directly to leagues, schools and organizations around the world to start, continue, and/or expand their programs. Over the past 10 years, PIFB has donated more than $5 million worth of equipment to 500,000 under-resourced kids in nearly every state and 80 different countries.

For more information on Pitch In For Baseball, visit www.pifb.org.

Schools Receiving Equipment

American Way Middle School (Baseball)

American Way Middle School (Softball)

Bellevue Middle School (Baseball)

Colonial Middle School (Baseball)

Colonial Middle School (Softball)

Grandview Heights Middle School (Baseball)

Hamilton Middle School (Baseball)

Hamilton Middle School (Softball)

Havenview Middle School (Baseball)

Havenview Middle School (Softball)

Hickory Ridge Middle School (Baseball)

Hickory Ridge Middle School (Softball)

Highland Oaks Middle School (Baseball)

Kate Bond Middle School (Softball)

Kingsbury Middle School (Softball)

Kirby Middle School (Baseball)

Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory Charter School (Baseball)

Memphis Scholars Raleigh-Egypt Middle School (Baseball)

Memphis Scholars Raleigh-Egypt Middle School (Softball)

Oakhaven Middle School (Baseball)

Oakhaven Middle School (Softball)

Raleigh-Egypt High School (Softball)

Raleigh-Egypt Middle/High School (Baseball)

Riverview Middle School (Baseball)

About the Redbirds Community Fund

The Redbirds Community Fund benefits area youth organizations by offering outreach programs, providing baseball instruction, giving opportunities for children to attend professional baseball games and to interact with professional players and personnel, providing and refurbishing area facilities for youth activities, and providing financial support to many worthy area Section 501(c)(3) organizations that effectively and efficiently serve the needs of children in the community.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

PawSox Introduce “Paws for a Cause” Community Initiative

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The PawSox today announced a 2017 community initiative to give Rhode Island charities the opportunity to raise awareness at the club’s home games.

“Paws for a Cause” invites area nonprofits to be featured on the field in pre-game ceremonies, to have their key message delivered over the stadium’s communications system, and to have their spokesperson visit the PawSox broadcast booth for an inning during the game. The club plans to welcome a charity at each of its 71 home games.

Mascots Paws and Sox will also participate, and where applicable, will wear the clothing and logos of the charity. The organizations are also invited to distribute literature and address fans’ questions at a table on the Main Concourse at McCoy Stadium.

“We enjoy discovering new ways for baseball to provide a service to our community,” said PawSox President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg. “And as we encounter so many charities that seek to raise awareness, we are pleased to shine our spotlight on them at PawSox Baseball games.”

All accredited 501(c)3 organizations in the PawSox community are welcome to apply. The slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Requests can be submitted to the PawSox’ head of community relations, Joe Bradlee. His email is jbradlee@pawsox.com.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Helping Hands: 2016 Power Donation Review

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The annual Trick-or-Treat at Appalachian Power Park saw record attendance in 2016 with over 3,000 in attendance for the free event.

CHARLESTON, WV (February 16, 2017) – The West Virginia Power strive to build stronger relationships within the Kanawha Valley and surrounding communities. During the 2016 calendar year, the Power made donations totaling $93,800 through monetary, stadium events at Appalachian Power Park and in-kind contributions.

 

“We believe it is important to support the people in the community who support us,” said Ken Fogel, the Executive Vice President of the West Virginia Power. “We have the unique opportunity to work with a captive audience at the ballpark during the season and also help organizations raise funds through their own events.”

 

The most sizable donation was made to the American Red Cross in September. In response to the June floods, the Power worked with fans, vendors, sponsorship partners and the Pittsburgh Pirates to raise $51,115 for relief efforts. The club also made financial donations to a variety of charitable efforts like Thomas Health System’s Keys for Healthy Kids. Walks, charity functions and similar events are held at Appalachian Power Park each year, including the Polar Plunge, benefiting Special Olympics West Virginia, the Alzheimer’s Walk and Autism Awareness Day. The

Power once again hosted the BridgeValley Community and Technical College Pumpkin Drop, where 1,200 students from 38 schools converge through a fun engineering project. The club also hosts an annual trick-or-treat event each Halloween with the 2016 version being the most successful to date.

 

The West Virginia Power also fulfill a multitude of requests for donations throughout the each year. The club has donated items for auctions and raffles to organizations like Charleston Montessori School, Read Aloud WV, FestivALL, and the March of Dimes. The Power donated hundreds of game tickets in 2016, including 285 free tickets to veterans of the United States Armed Forces. Autographed items or merchandise are also popular donation requests and are used in raffles or auctions to raise money for a variety of charities.

 

Charitable organizations interested in receiving items for auctions or raffles must fill out a donation request form, available online by clicking here or submit their written request to the Power front office. For more information, call 304-344-BATS.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Crawdads & Barkley Baseball Camps

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Hickory, NC- The Hickory Crawdads and Barkley Baseball School are partnering once again to provide fans with both a free, one-day clinic and a four-day, paid camp this season at L.P. Frans Stadium.

The Free Clinic is scheduled for Saturday, April 29th from 2:50 pm -5:00 pm. Kids ages 5-14 will receive training from both the Barkley Baseball School instructors and Crawdads players, while also taking home a free ticket to that night’s ‘Dads game.

The four-day, paid Baseball Camp will run from Tuesday, July 18th through Friday, July 21st. Attendees will receive in-depth instruction from Barkley teachers and Crawdads players every day from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, while also getting a baseball camp t-shirt, a free meal each day, a ticket to every ‘Dads game during the camp, and a pre-game parade around the field on July 21st.

Registration for the Baseball Camp is only $80 for all Claw Club members and $99 for non-members until June 30th. The fee rises to $115 from July 1st – July 17th, and is $130 if paid the day of the camp. Registration forms for both the Free Clinic and 4-day Baseball Camp are available online or at the Crawdads front office.

For more information or to register for either the Free Clinic or paid Baseball Camp, contact the Crawdads front office at (828) 322-3000.

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This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

PawSox Deliver Roses and Spread Cheer to Local Seniors

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For the second consecutive year, the PawSox delivered roses to local senior citizens in an effort to spread cheer surrounding Valentine’s Day. This year, the PawSox visited the North Attleboro Senior Center, St. Elizabeth Manor in Bristol, and the Darlington Assisted Living Home in Pawtucket.

“Paws made everyone’s day a little brighter,” said Rose Carreiro, Activity Director at St. Elizabeth Manor in Bristol, RI. “The residents were so thrilled with the roses, and we’re excited to see a baseball game at McCoy Stadium this spring.”

“What a joy it is to open hearts, lift spirits, and elicit smiles with something as simple as a flower from a polar bear,” said PawSox President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg. “We are continually amazed and inspired by the power of baseball to enhance the lives of the members of our community.”

In a week where the PawSox mascots have made nearly fifty rose deliveries to fans in the area, the embraceable polar bears once again elicited bright smiles from some of the team’s most passionate fans.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Good Grades Mean Great Seats at a 2017 Keys Game

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FREDERICK, MD -Students who get good grades can look forward to an exciting treat this season. The Frederick Keys are launching the Report Card Program, sponsored by Miss Utility. During the month of April, K-12 students who bring in a report card showing an “A” or a letter grade improvement will receive two FREE tickets to a Keys game.

“We are always excited to award students for their academic achievements,” said Keys Assistant General Manager for Marketing, Bridget McCabe. “This incentive will encourage youngsters of all ages to hit the books and be the best they can be in the classroom.”

Students will have 14 games to choose from, while an entire list of redeemable dates is available here. To participate, youth need to bring their report card to the Nymeo Field box office on the day of the game they wish to attend. Youngsters can then choose any seat, based on availability. There is a limit of two tickets per report card, per transaction. This offer is not valid online or over the phone.

Some of the days students can choose from are Opening Day (April 6), Kids Takeover Day (April 8), Daniel Tiger appearance (April 12), Mystery Bobblehead Giveaway (April 21), Meet the Team (April 23), Mighty Ducks Night (April 28), Star Wars Day (April 29) and the Candy Drop/Halfway to Halloween Day (April 30).

The 2017 season begins on Thursday, April 6 against the Carolina Mudcats at Nymeo Field. A full promotional schedule can be found here. Single game tickets go on sale on Friday, March 31, while ticket plans are currently available. Any fan who purchases or renews a ticket plan can choose between a Jonathan Schoop bobblehead or a Dylan Bundy gnome. For ticket information fans can call 301-815-9900 or visit frederickkeys.com.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Shuckers launch “Hit The Books” Reading Campaign

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BILOXI, MS – The Biloxi Shuckers, in partnership with Walmart, unveiled Tuesday their plans for the “Hit the Books” reading program, which aims to teach local students the importance of literacy. The incentive-based drive will reward students who reach their reading goals with a ticket to a Shuckers home game this season.

Over the course of the next six weeks, beginning this Friday, Schooner the Seagull and other Shuckers representatives will lead pep rallies and classroom visits at 19 local schools with a message stressing the benefits of reading. At these visits, students will receive a special “Hit the Books” bookmark with a reading log on its reverse side. Once a student has read six books and their list is verified by a teacher, the bookmark can be redeemed at the MGM Park box office for a ticket to a pre-determined Shuckers home game this season.

Qualifying students will also be invited to participate in an on-field parade before their scheduled game. The parade, led by Schooner, will allow Shuckers fans to honor “Hit the Books” participants for their commitment to reading. This year just over 10,000 students will be receiving a bookmark.

“This program is a great way for young Shuckers fans to reap the rewards of hitting the books,” said Jenifer Truong, Community Relations Coordinator for the Shuckers. “Reading is already a fun thing for students to do, but the added incentive to see their hard work recognized by the Shuckers should only serve to enhance that experience.”

The “Hit the Books” tour schedule is as follows:

Friday, February 17                             North Bay Elementary School
Friday, February 17                             Coast Episcopal School
Friday, February 17                             Bayou View Elementary School
Wednesday, February 22                    Vancleave Upper Elementary School
Thursday, February 23                        Gaston Point Elementary School
Friday, March 3                                   Gorenflo Elementary School
Friday, March 3                                   Nativity BVM Elementary School
Thursday, March 9                              Anniston Elementary School
Wednesday, March 15                        Harrison Central Elementary School
Wednesday, March 15                        Singing River Academy
Friday, March 17                                 North Woolmarket Elementary/Middle School
Friday, March 17                                 Hancock North Central Elementary School
Friday, March 17                                 West Hancock Elementary School
Friday, March 24                                 St. Martin East Elementary School

ABOUT THE BILOXI SHUCKERS:
The Biloxi Shuckers are the Double-A Affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Shuckers play at MGM Park in Biloxi, Mississippi. For more information please visit biloxishuckers.com and follow us on Twitter @biloxishuckers and at facebook.com/biloxishuckers.com.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

RoughRiders donate to Jerry Walker Fund

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The RoughRiders Foundation presented a $3,000 check to the Jerry Walker Fund on Tuesday in Little Elm. (Frisco RoughRiders)

FRISCO, Texas (February 14, 2017) – The Frisco RoughRiders today donated $3,000 to the Jerry Walker Fund in a check presentation alongside the Little Elm Police Department.

Little Elm Chief of Police Rodney W. Harrison and several officers attended the event at the Little Elm Public Safety Building, with the check presented on behalf of the RoughRiders by Breon Dennis, Executive Director of RoughRiders Foundation.

“On behalf of the Little Elm Police Department, I would like to thank the RoughRiders Baseball organization for their support of the Walker Family and LEPD,” Chief of Police Harrison said. “We sincerely appreciate the entire baseball community for their contributions to the Jerry Walker Fund and the care they have shown to the men and women of our police force. We could not ask for better neighbors.”

Funds were raised during the Texas Rangers Winter Caravan at Dr Pepper Ballpark on Jan. 28.

Walker died in the line of duty on Jan. 17. He left behind a wife and four children.

About the Jerry Walker Fund

Donations can be made to the Assist the Officer Foundation, Attn: Jerry Walker Fund, 1412 Griffin St. East, Dallas, TX 75215.

About the RoughRiders

The Frisco RoughRiders are the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers and play their games at beautiful Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, Texas. The team was founded in 2003 and has finished first among all Double-A franchises in attendance in each of the last 12 seasons (2005-2016). In August 2014, the RoughRiders were purchased by an ownership group led by Chuck Greenberg and Scott Sonju. The new ownership group, together with the city of Frisco, has spearheaded numerous major franchise improvements over the past two seasons, investing more than $7 million in a wide array of facility upgrades and improvements, including a new state-of-the-art HD video board, sound system, Bull Moose Saloon, InTouch Grille, Riders Outpost Team Store, and the newest and biggest creation, the 174-foot Choctaw Lazy River. The upgrades made prior to the 2015 season earned the Riders and the City of Frisco “Best Ballpark Renovation” of 2015 by Ballpark Digest. The same publication also honored the Choctaw Lazy River as the best ballpark improvement over $1 million for the 2016 season. More than 140 former RoughRiders players have gone on to play Major League Baseball, including All-Stars Chris Davis, Adrian Gonzalez, Ian Kinsler, and Nelson Cruz, as well as current Rangers stars Elvis Andrus, Rougned Odor, and Nomar Mazara. For more information on the Frisco RoughRiders and Dr Pepper Ballpark, please visit RidersBaseball.com or contact Art Garcia at AGarcia@RidersBaseball.com or Ryan Rouillard at RRouillard@RidersBaseball.com.

Bandits donate $5,000 to American Legion

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River Bandits owner Dave Heller (left) presents check to American Legion Post 26

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Furthering the traditions of giving back to the local community and honoring the United States military, the Quad Cities River Bandits and Main Street Baseball have donated $5,000 to the Davenport American Legion. River Bandits owner Dave Heller presented a check for the full amount to Post 26 Monday evening during the post’s member meeting. The donation will be used by the Legion for building repairs and roof improvements.

The grant continues the River Bandits dedication to honoring and helping those who have served our country. The Bandits currently provide ticket discounts – sometimes as low as $1 a ticket – to current and former military members, honor military and civilian personnel by giving them four free tickets to sit in the Lane Evans Patriot Seats during each home game, host the patriotic Red, White and Boom celebration every July 3 and work with military programs, such as Honor Flight of the Quad Cities, to raise money for the organizations that serve, protect and honor our service men and women.

“We at the River Bandits appreciate more than words can express the selfless dedication of all of the men and women who have proudly worn our nation’s uniform,” said Heller. “We are delighted to make this grant to fund the necessary building and roof repairs that our local Legion Post required, and even more excited to welcome Quad Cities’ veterans, guardsmen, reservists and active duty military to the ballpark all season long. Our great country was built on the strength of our veterans, and we are so grateful for their sacrifices to ensure our freedom.”

Post 26 is one of the largest American Legion branches in the state of Iowa and has been chartered since 1920. The American Legion is a national, community-service organization that has served as a patriotic, mutual-help, war-time veterans organization chartered by congress nearly a century ago.

“American Legion Post 26 wants to thank Mr. Dave Heller for his generous donation to Post 26,” said Commander Mike Matson. “His kindness will go a long way in helping the American Legion in Davenport help serve our local Veterans.”

In 2016, the River Bandits gave over $320,000 in charitable contributions to the Quad Cities community and seek to improve upon that number in 2017. The River Bandits season begins on Thursday, April 6, at 6:35 p.m. against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Modern Woodmen Park. Group packages are available now by calling (563) 324-3000 or visiting riverbandits.com.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.