Archives for March 2017

ANNUAL FREE YOUTH BASEBALL CLINIC SET FOR SATURDAY, MAY 13

SPRINGDALE, Ark. – The Northwest Arkansas Naturals will partner with Great Day Farms once again on the tenth annual FREE Youth Baseball Clinic that will take place at Arvest Ballpark from 2 p.m. until 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, May 13 in advance of that night’s 6:05 p.m. game against the Tulsa Drillers, the Double-A Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Youth Baseball Clinic is open to children ages 6-12 and will cover instruction of key baseball fundamentals, including hitting, fielding, pitching, and base running. All kids that register will receive a complimentary 1B/3B Reserved ticket to that night’s game that features a Salvador Perez ‘Gold Glove’ Bobblehead Giveaway for the first 2000 fans in attendance courtesy of CCF Brands. Perez, an illustrious 2011 alum, is a four-time Gold Glove winner, the 2016 Silver Slugger winner for catcher in the American League, and was the 2015 World Series MVP. In addition, all clinic participants that attend the game that night will be recognized on the field prior to first pitch.

Instruction during the clinic will be given by select members of the Naturals’ team and coaching staff. Following the instruction portion of the clinic, an autograph session will occur on the concourse on the 1st base side for approximately 15 minutes before the ballpark is cleared in preparation for that night’s game against Tulsa.

There is a registration form titled YOUTH BASEBALL CLINIC REGISTRATION FORM located on the Naturals website, nwanaturals.com, under the TICKETS & PROMOTIONS tab that interested parents can fill out to register their son or daughter for the clinic. The FREE Youth Baseball Clinic is also open to local youth coaches as they may also fill out the form for their respective players. The deadline to register for the event is Friday, May 5 but participants are encouraged to sign up quickly, as previous events have filled to capacity prior to the deadline. Check-in begins at Arvest Ballpark at 1:30pm on the day of the event so we ask that you arrive early as participation is limited to the first 500 children. Participants are asked to only bring their glove and wear proper baseball attire.

Following the FREE Youth Baseball Clinic, Arvest Ballpark will be cleared and then the gates will re-open at 4:35 p.m. for the Naturals game against the Tulsa Drillers that is scheduled to begin at 6:05 p.m. If you have any questions regarding the clinic or game, please call (479) 927-4900 or email streetteam@nwanaturals.com.

In 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.

BlueClaws Charities Luxury Suite Raffle Winners

The BlueClaws and BlueClaws Charities would like to congratulate the winners of our BlueClaws Charities Luxury Suite Raffle. The winners were drawn on Monday.

CWR Electronics – Bayville
Susan Avazier – Brick
Michael Dileo – Tinton Falls
Brian Cook – Brick
Vincent Desimone – Toms River
Brian McGuire – Toms River
Nancy Golle – Toms River

If you’re intersted in an outing in a BlueClaws Luxury Suite, click here.

These private boxes are perfect for entertaining clients, corporate team building events, or just sharing exciting baseball action with good friends.

We have just one suite available for rent on a nightly basis. Each suite includes:

  • 20 tickets
  • Wait service
  • Cable television
  • Climate control
  • Indoor and outdoor seating
  • Access to Upstairs Club

Click here to download a Luxury Suite Menu.

– BlueClaws –

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

Drive and Blood Connection Team Up on Thursday

The Greenville Drive and The Blood Connection are teaming up to host a blood drive at Fluor Field on Thursday, March 30th between 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM. The Blood Connection buses will be set up at the Main Street gate.

Those who donate will receive complimentary rewards, including a Drive/Blood Connection t-shirt, a pair of vouchers good for any Sunday-Thursday Drive home game in 2017, and a hot dog plate with chips and a drink.

Every time you donate blood, you could save up to three lives, so come on out to Fluor Field on March 30th to support The Blood Connection.

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

Quakes partner with Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital for Quakes25

Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes are celebrating 25 seasons in 2017 and long-time partner Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital will be title sponsor of the team’s “Quakes25 Celebration”.

The festivities begin Thursday, April 13th at LoanMart Field with Opening Night presented by Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, when the Quakes will debut teal and pinstripe jerseys resembling the Quakes uniforms in the inaugural 1993 season. The team will then wear the specialty uniforms and commemorative teal and black on-field caps as part of a once-a-month Saturday series, resulting in a jersey auction benefiting the Loma Linda University Children Hospital’s Vision 2020 Campaign.

“We’re excited to support our community with the Quakes for what will be a spectacular 25th Season,” said Jillian Payne, Assistant Vice President of Philanthropy for Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital. “We’re truly grateful for the Quakes’ generosity and know that together, we can build hope for our community.”

Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital is located just 21 miles from LoanMart Field and is the only dedicated Children’s Hospital in the Inland Empire. Among its initiatives, Vision 2020 will provide funding for a new Children’s Hospital tower by the year 2020.

“The Quakes are proud to partner our organization, passionate fans and wonderful support with Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital and the impact they have in our community,” Quakes Vice President/General Manager Grant Riddle said. “We are honored to have the fans we do, a history of success and receive such outstanding support from the City of the Rancho Cucamonga. The Quakes are excited to recognize and celebrate our franchise, community and partners throughout our 25th season.”

The “Quakes25 Celebration” Saturdays presented by Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital are April 15th, May 20th, June 17th, July 15th, August 26th and September 2nd and will include appearances from former Quakes players, pre-game recognition of 25-year season ticket holders, partners and other special guests.

In addition to the Saturday festivities and firework shows, the “Quakes25 Celebration” theme will anchor the 2017 promotional schedule and marketing efforts. The first 1,500 fans through the gates on April 15th will take home a retro replica jersey, courtesy of LoanMart. Each of the five Quakes bobblehead giveaways will include a teal base to recognize the 25th season and the U.S. Bank hat giveaway on July 1st will utilize the teal pinstripes and the original Quakes logo from 1993.

The teal and black commemorative hat from New Era, complete with a “Quakes25” patch and embroidered bill, will be available in the Quakes Team Store at LoanMart Field and online, along with other “Quakes25” merchandise.

Don’t miss any of the Quakes25 Celebration! Season tickets and mini-season tickets are still available at rcquakes.com. Individual game tickets will go on sale Tuesday, March 28th at 10am. Keep up with all Quakes 2017 news using #Quakes25 and follow the Quakes on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram under @RCQuakes.

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

Shuckers and March of Dimes team up for fundraiser

BILOXI, MS – For their April 22 game against the Jackson Generals, the Biloxi Shuckers will trade in their usual uniforms for a good cause. Special coast-themed jerseys will be worn during the game, then auctioned off with the proceeds benefitting March of Dimes.

WATCH THE FACEBOOK LIVE UNVEILING 

The jerseys, designed by local tattoo artist Matt Stebly, showcase the beauty of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The custom design features a redfish, a pelican and the iconic Biloxi lighthouse in a watercolor style. The game worn jerseys will be auctioned during the game in a silent auction with proceeds benefiting March of Dimes. After the game, winners will have the opportunity to meet the player or coach who wore the jersey after the game and get it autographed.

“The March of Dimes is thrilled to partner with the Biloxi Shuckers and Matt Stebly for this unique fundraising opportunity,” said Jennifer Parker, Executive Director of Market Development for March of Dimes, Gulfport and Biloxi. “Our mission supporters look forward to having a great time at The Shuckers game on the 22nd and sharing the important work of the March of Dimes all the while having a great time at the ball field.”

The March of Dimes funds lifesaving research and works to end premature birth, birth defects and infant mortality. In addition to this jersey auction, the Shuckers organization will be sponsoring a team in the South Mississippi March for Babies on April 29.

The Saturday night game will also feature the second Post-Game Fireworks Extravaganza of the season. The Shuckers will launch fireworks after every Saturday home game this season, as well as a special show on Tuesday, July 4 against Pensacola.

“This is something I never thought I would have the opportunity to do,” said Stebly on designing a jersey that players could wear on the field. “I wanted to come up with a design that would look good on a jersey and that fans would want to purchase for a great cause. One of my goals was to give baseball fans around the country a vibe of our Mississippi Gulf Coast.”

Matt, Jenna and Anderson Stebly pose with the design after the Facebook Live reveal in Matt’s shop, Twisted Anchor Tattoo in Ocean Springs.

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW

Opening Day for the 2017 season is Thursday, April 6 at Montgomery. The Shuckers will open their third season at MGM Park on Wednesday, April 12 at 6:35 p.m. against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. Season tickets, mini plans, group tickets and single-game tickets are on sale now. To purchase a ticket package or book a group outing this season, call 228-233-3465. Single-game tickets for all regular season games at MGM Park are available at biloxishuckers.com/tickets.

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.

AutoZone Park Sprouts Miracle-Gro® Rooftop Garden

MEMPHIS, Tennessee – The Memphis Redbirds are proud to announce the Miracle-Gro® Rooftop Garden, a one-of-a-kind addition to AutoZone Park that has wide-reaching benefits for community health, education, and environmental sustainability.

The Miracle-Gro® Rooftop Garden will be built on the 3rd Floor landing at AutoZone Park, which overlooks the plaza inside the front gates at the corner of B.B. King and Union.

“When the Memphis Redbirds approached Miracle-Gro with a plan to repurpose the third level deck at AutoZone Park, we were thrilled to partner with them and bring this project to life,” said John Sass, Vice President and General Manager of Miracle-Gro. “The soil and plant food we provided will help create a space that educates and inspires all who visit this iconic urban space.”

“As we continue to prioritize connectivity within the Memphis community, we are proud to build the first urban rooftop garden in all of Minor League Baseball,” said Redbirds Principal Owner Peter Freund. “And to have an opportunity to partner with Miracle-Gro on this project, one of the most innovative corporations in America, will ensure its long-term success and opens the door for an exciting evolution of how the garden can grow.”

The applications of the ballpark’s Rooftop Garden are numerous and cross multiple segments of the community. The Redbirds are planning to use a portion of the food and herbs grown in the garden in food served at the concession stands during games. Local and sustainable food is a major push in Memphis’ culinary culture, and the Redbirds have recognized the movement with the ability to use some of the most local and sustainable food seen anywhere.

In addition, during the Redbirds’ annual Education Days, school children in attendance could tour the garden, learn about nutrition, and see how they could grow a garden of their own in whatever space they have at their home. Additional garden tours on gamedays and during special events are being planned as well.

The community will be able to access information about the garden, watch videos, and get gardening tips through the Miracle-Gro® Rooftop Garden webpage located at www.memphisredbirds.com/miraclegrogarden.

The components of the Miracle-Gro® Rooftop Garden are constructed with over 3,200 linear feet of Cypress lumber. The footprint of all raised beds is about 1,200 square feet, which is one-quarter of the entire landing area, and the beds hold 80 cubic yards of soil.

The Redbirds will be able to grow many different varieties of fruits, vegetables, and herbs, such as broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, lettuce, onions, peppers, spinach, tomatoes, basil, cilantro, dill, mint, oregano, and many more. More varieties will be added throughout the growing seasons.

The 2017 season begins on Thursday, March 30 against the St. Louis Cardinals in a “Battle of the Birds” exhibition game. The regular-season home opener is Tuesday, April 11 against Colorado Springs. For more information on single-game tickets and mini-memberships, visit www.memphisredbirds.com/tickets. For more information on “Battle of the Birds,” visit www.memphisredbirds.com/battleofthebirds.

About Scotts Miracle-Gro

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company is the world’s largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care. The Company’s brands are the most recognized in the industry. In the U.S., the Company’s Scotts®, Miracle-Gro® and Ortho® brands are market-leading in their categories, as is the consumer Roundup® brand, which is marketed near worldwide by Scotts and owned by Monsanto. In the U.S., we maintain a minority interest in a joint venture with TruGreen®, the largest residential lawn care service business, and in Bonnie Plants®, the largest marketer of edible gardening plants in retail channels. In Europe, the Company’s brands include Weedol®, Pathclear®, Evergreen®, Levington®, Miracle-Gro®, KB®, Fertiligène® and Substral®. For additional information, visit us at www.scottsmiraclegro.com.

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

Outstanding Students Program returns in 2017

(Reading, Pa) – The Reading Fightin Phils have announced schools can register for the Capital BlueCross “Live Fearless” Outstanding Students Program this season. There is absolutely no cost to the school to participate, and in fact the school receives money through the program.

The Capital BlueCross “Live Fearless” Outstanding Student Program is a unique incentive-based program designed to recognize and reward hard-working students. Each school decides their own method of distributing the tickets to their “Outstanding Students”. Through the program, the students are given an opportunity to celebrate their achievements with their families at a designated Fightin Phils home game. Each student recognized by their school as an “Outstanding Student” receives two FREE tickets to a Fightins game, receives an Outstanding Student Medal from a Fightins player, and gets to high-five the Crazy Hot Dog Vendor and has their photo taken with him during a special pre-game Outstanding Student Ceremony.

For each free ticket that is used, and for any additional tickets that are purchased through the Capital BlueCross “Live Fearless” Outstanding Student Program, the participating school receives $1 back.

In 2016, as part of the Capital BlueCross “Live Fearless” Outstanding Student program, the Reading Fightin Phils donated $3,073 back to participating schools in the club’s surrounding community. The Fightins hope to donate even more money to schools during the 2017 program. The more schools that sign up for the Outstanding Student program, the more money that the Fightins can donate to those schools. With the funds received, schools will be able to support students’ needs and contribute to the educational process.

The Capital BlueCross “Live Fearless” Outstanding Student Program is extremely easy to sign up for, and again, it is FREE for the schools. The person that signs up can be a school teacher, administrator, or PTO/PTA representative. Schools can sign up now for the 2017 season by contacting the Fightin Phils Director of Educational Programs, Music, & Game Presentation Todd Hunsicker at 610-375-8469 x.206 or by e-mail at thunsicker@fightins.com. Dates are available in May. The program is easy to implement, and your school receives a check from the Fightin Phils.

America’s Classic Ballpark is proud to be a part of Pennsylvania’s Americana Region. Season tickets for the 2017 season are available online at Fightins.com, by phone at 610-370-BALL, and in-person at FirstEnergy Stadium. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter at @ReadingFightins and like them on Facebook via www.facebook.com/fightins.

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

Authentic, Game-Worn TinCaps Jerseys Up For Auction

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Ever wanted to have the jersey of a Major Leaguer? Or the jersey of one of baseball’s top prospects before they make it big? Maybe you just want a jersey with your favorite number on the back. Either way, now’s your chance.

 

The Fort Wayne TinCaps are auctioning off authentic, game-worn jerseys that fans can bid for online, with proceeds benefiting the TinCaps CARE program.

 

The auction is now live on TinCapsJersey.com and will run until Friday, March 31 (5 p.m.). Bidding for each jersey begins at $50 and goes up by $5 increments.

 

The jerseys being auctioned are the team’s previous green alternate tops, featuring the apple logo on the front and uniform number on the back. These jerseys were also worn regularly during batting practice from 2013-2016.

 

Over the past four seasons, current big leaguers like Trea Turner, Joe Ross, Mallex Smith, Zach Eflin, and Hunter Renfroe wore these jerseys – not to mention Pitching Coach Burt Hooton and former manager José Valentín. The same goes for rising prospects such as Anderson Espinoza, Cal Quantrill, Jake Nix, Luis Urias, Eric Lauer, Michael Gettys, Jake Bauers, and Max Fried. (Information on who wore each jersey – numbers 1 through 35 – is also available at TinCapsJersey.com.)

 

The TinCaps are committed to being a positive force in the community. The mission of TinCaps CARE (Community, Activity, Recreation, and Education) is to give back to citizens around the region through outreach, programs, events, fundraising, and partnerships with local charitable organizations. Perhaps the most impactful of the TinCaps CARE programs allows members of the Fort Wayne community that would otherwise not have the opportunity to attend a game to come out to Parkview Field. During the 2016 season, more than 2,000 tickets were donated through the TinCaps CARE program, including tickets for Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Boys & Girls Club, and many other deserving community organizations.  

 

As in the past, the TinCaps will also have several auctions for specialty jerseys worn on theme nights during the 2017 season.

 

The TinCaps will don their new batting practice jerseys when they warm up for their 2017 home opener at Parkview Field on Saturday, April 8 (6:05 p.m.) against the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Tampa Bay Rays). Tickets to Opening Day and all 2017 home games are available online at TinCapsTickets.com, by calling 260-482-6400, and at the Parkview Field Ticket Office. 

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

Tickets available now for Let’s Move Blair County Day with the Curve

ALTOONA, Pa. – Let’s Move Blair County Day is set to take place at Peoples Natural Gas Field on April 30 as the Altoona Curve face the Harrisburg Senators. The event begins when the ballpark gates open at noon and features a free health and wellness fair during the game, which starts at 1 p.m.

Tickets are available now for company groups who wish to sit together and area residents interested in attending. Deadline for groups to purchase tickets is April 16.

The day is sponsored by Let’s Move Blair County and the Healthy Blair County Coalition, two organizations whose mission is to help residents engage in healthy eating and more physically active lives while enjoying family fun. The Let’s Move Blair County effort is aimed at reducing the community’s health risks, such as diabetes, obesity and sedentary habits.

UPMC Altoona, Nason Hospital, and Tyrone Regional Health System lead this wellness effort along with area YMCAs, recreational centers and businesses. A free health and wellness fair will be on the ballpark’s concourse level.

The day’s festivities include a trophy presentation to the businesses who participated in the Corporate Wellness Challenge, a three-month, team-oriented weight loss effort involving 38 Blair County businesses and 819 people.

For more information on how to purchase tickets, contact Corey Homan at CHoman@AltoonaCurve.com or call 814-283-3122.

The Curve open the home slate of their 2016 schedule at Peoples Natural Gas Field against the Akron RubberDucks on April 13 at 6 p.m. Single-game tickets are now on sale online at AltoonaCurve.com, by phone at 877.99.CURVE or in person at the PNG Field offices.

-CURVE-

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

Whitecaps Community Foundation to Donate 1,900 Books to Area Schools to Encourage Reading

COMSTOCK PARK, MI – The Whitecaps Community Foundation will donate 1,900 books to five Grand Rapids Public Schools this week in an effort to encourage children to read during March is Reading Month and beyond.

The books were selected by GRPS educators and will be delivered as a surprise to Brookside Elementary, Mulick Park Elementary, Ken-O-Sha Park Elementary, Cesar Chavez Elementary and Burton Elementary on Wednesday, March 22 and Thursday, March 23. These five schools were selected to receive the free books because of their designation as high priority elementary schools in the GRPS system; many of their pupils do not have access to resources such as books. With this donation, every child at these five schools will receive one free book.

This is the second year of the book donation. Last year, the Whitecaps Community Foundation donated a book to every child at Dickinson Elementary School in Grand Rapids (300 in total).

The book donation is a part of the Whitecaps Community Foundation’s Reading Program, which helps area school children enjoy Whitecaps baseball while promoting reading. Children from area West Michigan schools who read a 15 minutes a day, during the month, can attend a Whitecaps game for free in April through June. The Foundation delivers all support materials, such as reading tracking calendars and posters, to all participating schools at no cost. Last year’s Reading Program had more than 70,000 K-6 area children participate from 268 schools. Nearly 20,000 complimentary tickets were given this season to children and their families in West Michigan.

The Whitecaps Community Foundation, the nonprofit extension of the West Michigan Whitecaps, is a 501c3 organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children and their families by providing them with access to social, educational and recreational programs that will have a positive impact on their futures. With the help and generosity of community partners and members, the Whitecaps Community Foundation continues to strive to make the West Michigan area a better place to grow, learn, and thrive.

In 2016, through a combination of donations and fundraising efforts, the Whitecaps Community Foundation gave more than $555,000 to local children and their families through programs such as the reading program’s book donation and many others.

For more information on the book deliveries please contact Mickey Graham at (616) 726-7067 and for information on the Whitecaps Community Foundation, including how to volunteer and/or donate, please visit www.whitecapscommunityfoundation.org.

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

2017 Baseball Camp

The Rome Braves will host our annual Baseball Camp this year on June 13-15. The cost is $150 per camper and the camp is open to children ages 4-14. Each camper will receive:

  • Instruction by members of the 2017 Rome Braves Baseball Team and Staff
  • One ticket to the game each night of camp
  • On-field recognition prior to the June 8 game
  • Official camp t-shirt and lunch served daily
  • Certificate of Achievement

Call the Rome Braves ticket office at 706-378-5144 for more information. Be sure to register your child as soon as possible to ensure a spot. Click HERE for registration form.

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

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Cougars Announce 2017 Charitable Partners

GENEVA, Ill. – The Kane County Cougars have announced a community partnership for the 2017 season in which four local organizations will receive a portion of the in-game 50/50 raffle proceeds through the Kane County Cougars Foundation, Inc. The four organizations will be Alive Naperville (April-May), Holiday Heroes (June), Fox Valley Wildlife Center (July) and Food for Greater Elgin (August-September). In addition, through a partnership with Acres Group, the Cougars have announced that DuPage PADS will be the recipient of the charitable proceeds from this year’s Pitch-In for Charity promotion in which fans can purchase and toss numbered tennis balls at a target on the field to win a prize following select games.

Alive Naperville (alivenaperville.com) – Alive is a teen-led, teen-driven center that works to empower local youth to become leaders through after school and summer programs, classes and events that build confident and resilient teens.

Holiday Heroes (holiday-heroes.org) – In partnership with hospitals and businesses throughout the Chicagoland area, Holiday Heroes works to provide parties and celebrations for children who are suffering from critical or chronic illnesses.

Fox Valley Wildlife Center (fvwc.org) – Located in Elburn, Ill. the Fox Valley Wildlife Center serves the sick, injured or orphaned animals throughout Kane County and the surrounding areas.

Food for Greater Elgin (www.foodforgreaterelgin.org) – The largest client-choice food pantry in the areas of Elgin, South Elgin and East Dundee, Food for Greater Elgin strives to combat hunger by providing fresh and nutritious food for their clients.

DuPage PADS (dupagepads.org) – Committed to the promise of ending homelessness in the local community, DuPage PADS is the largest provider of interim and permanent housing as well as support services to assist individuals who are working towards a life of self-sufficiency.

“The Cougars organization has consistently strived to give back to our surrounding community and these initiatives allow not only our organization, but our fans to give back in multiple ways,” said owner Dr. Bob Froehlich.

Added owner Chery Froehlich, “We have been very fortunate with the support that the community has shown us for the last 27 years and it’s important that we continue to show our thanks by contributing to these wonderful organizations.”

For more information about the 2017 season, which begins on April 6 against the Clinton LumberKings, visit kccougars.com.

Follow the Cougars on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all the up to date promotional information.

About the Kane County Cougars

The Cougars, Class-A Minor League affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, have been at the forefront of family-friendly entertainment since 1991. In 2015, the franchise became the first Class-A team in Minor League Baseball history to welcome 11 million fans through the gates. A total of 152 former Cougars have reached the Major Leagues including Miguel Cabrera, Nelson Cruz, Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez and Kyle Schwarber.

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

Prevention Night / Alcohol-Free Event Announced

Binghamton, NY – The Binghamton Rumble Ponies, the Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets, are pleased to announce a partnership with Broome Opioid Abuse Council (BOAC) Drug Free Communities to provide a Prevention Night at NYSEG Stadium on April 19. In order to create an environment where families and community members can enjoy a fun-filled night and create lasting memories, no alcohol will be served during the Rumble Ponies’ game that evening. This is part of this year’s “We Care Wednesdays”, which will be announced separately.

“Being a part of the community with outreach efforts aimed at helping families achieve FUNN experiences is something we will always strive to do,” stated team owner John Hughes. “Getting involved with an organization that is working hard on critical issues which are impacting friends and families across the Southern Tier is the kind of effort the Rumble Ponies can stand behind and contribute to.”

April is Alcohol Awareness Month and coincides perfectly with the Rumble Ponies/BOAC Prevention Night.

“We aim to highlight underage drinking prevention, and provide an alcohol-free family-fun activity,” said Kara Skellett, Drug-Free Communities Coordinator. “With the assistance of the Rumble Ponies, we will put the focus on community education, outreach and prevention, and substance abuse treatment.”

Gates open at 5:30 PM for the April 19 game against the Portland Sea Dogs. Details of the event will be provided at www.bingrp.com with additional sponsors mentioned during the game.

All questions can be directed to John “JB” Bayne, the Rumble Ponies’ Assistant General Manager and Director of Community Relations, at (607) 722-3866 or by email at jb@bingrp.com.

The Rumble Ponies open the 2017 season on the road in New Hampshire on April 6 before celebrating their home opener at NYSEG Stadium on April 13 against Erie. Individual tickets for the 2017 season are on sale now.

##RUMBLE PONIES##

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

Garrard student wins Hit the Books design contest

Aubree McIntosh accepts the framed poster of her winning bookmark design from the Lexington Legends’ Big L. (Lexington Legends)

  (WHITAKER BANK BALLPARK, Lexington, Ky.) Aubree McIntosh, a seventh-grade student at Garrard Middle School, was the winner of a bookmark design contest that is part of the Lexington Legends Hit the Books reading incentive program sponsored by Waffle House.

Aubree received a Legends prize pack, including Legends merchandise and a framed Hit the Books poster featuring her artwork. She also will be invited to throw a ceremonial first pitch at a 2017 Legends game. Bookmarks featuring her artwork will be distributed to students at every school that participates in the Hit the Books program. More than 48,000 students from 119 central Kentucky schools are expected to take part in the program, which runs through April 1.

                Runners-up in the bookmark design contest were Des Hanley, a fifth-grade student at Stonewall Elementary School in Lexington;  Wesley Sizemore, a third-grade student at Hazel Green Elementary in East Bernstadt; and Paisley Gay, a fifth-grade student at Stanford Elementary School.

  “Hit the Books has been an important part of the Legends’ education and community outreach programs since 2001,” said Sarah Bosso, Legends Vice President of Business Development. “The bookmark contest adds an element of fun and competition, and it’s really great to see the students do even more reading as a result of the Hit the Books program with the ticket incentive.”

            In Hit the Books, a baseball diamond is used to record credit for reading. For every book a student reads, a teacher places his or her initials on a base. When the student has all three bases and home plate initialed by the teacher, the student may bring a Hit the Books bookmark to the Legends’ box office at Whitaker Bank Ballpark to exchange it for two tickets to a Legends home game during the 2017 season.

  The 2017 season is the 17th for Legends baseball, and also marks the 17th year that the Legends have been associated with Hit the Books. About 285,000 students have participated.

  The Legends, a class A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, open the home season Thursday, April 13 at Whitaker Bank Ballpark against the West Virginia Power, an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. For more information, visit www.lexingtonlegends.com.

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

“Dancing with the Students” comes to Lexington

WHITAKER BANK BALLPARK (Lexington, KY) – Students at Crawford Middle School will put on their dancing shoes and take a new approach to Physical Education as well as Arts and Humanities curriculum through a new community partnership with the not for profit “Dancing with the Students,” based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Dancing with the Students comes to Lexington via Lexington Legends Secretary and Principal Sue Martinelli Shea, as she founded the non-profit organization in 2005. The students involved will be at the sixth, seventh and eighth grade levels and will compete in 10 weeks of dance class; 9 weeks of instruction with the 10th week culminating in a grand finale competition. The students will be taught by Arthur Murray trained dancer teacher Rae Mickelwait and will learn four dances: Waltz, Tango, Merengue, and Swing. “My dream is to have these talented students dance at Whitaker Bank Ballpark during a Legends’ game this summer” says Martinelli Shea. “Mickelwait was also Andy’s dance partner for Dancing with the Stars-Lexington, so it’s wonderful to have this community partnership come full circle!”

Andy Shea, President and CEO of the Lexington Legends, is just as vested in this partnership as his Mother. “I am so proud and honored of what my Mother has created and her ambition to begin Dancing with the Students classes in Lexington. There are so many life lessons that are learned through ballroom dancing and not to mention, it’s so much fun!”

This partnership would not have been possible without the support of Crawford Middle School Principal Mike Jones. Jones readily accepted by stating “I’m excited about this new and unique partnership with “Dancing with the Students.” Some of our Crawford Middle School students are going to be given the opportunity to learn four different ballroom dances as well as the etiquette that goes along with this art form. The 10-week program will be incorporated into 2 different Physical Education classes. The movement requirements used in dance can be found in PE as well as Arts and Humanities curriculum. I want to personally thank Andy Shea and Sue Martinelli Shea for allowing us to partner with the program. We hope to build it to include more students in the future.”

For more information, about Dancing with the Students, visit www.dancingwiththestudents.org or contact Sarah Bosso at sbosso@lexingtonlegends.com or 859 422-7855.

The Legends, a class A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and a member of the South Atlantic League, will open the season Thursday, April 13 at Whitaker Bank Ballpark against the West Virginia Power, an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

For ticket information, call (859) 422-7867 or visit lexingtonlegends.com.

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