Archives for August 2017

Florida State League/Miami Marlins Scholarship Winners Announced

FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 1, 2017) – The Fort Myers Miracle, Advanced-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, are proud to announce Mason Wilbanks as their 2017 Florida State League/Miami Marlins Scholarship Award winner. This is the eighteenth (18) straight year for the program, and it is funded by the Miami Marlins and the Florida State League. Each scholarship has a monetary value of $1,500 and is presented to a student employee, child or grandchild of an employee. A total of 216 scholarships have been awarded to qualified applicants since the inception of the program.

“This program is intended to encourage and reward our college summer interns by reinforcing to them that education is key to success in life with or without baseball,” stated Miracle Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer Ben Hemmen. “We thank the Miami Marlins for providing a generous contribution to the Florida State League scholarship program and hope to see this partnership continued for many years to come.”

A rising senior at Florida Gulf Coast University, Mason came to Hammond Stadium each day with a smile on his face and a willingness to help the team in every way possible throughout the summer. He has been a part of the intern team since 2015 when he worked during the Twins’ Spring Training season. The native of Fleming Beach, Florida and graduate of Fleming Beach High School is expected to graduate from FGCU in the spring of 2018 with a degree in Business Management with a Sports Concentration.

“I am blessed and grateful for the opportunities the Fort Myers Miracle have given me,” said Wilbanks. “I would like to thank the Florida State League and the Miracle for selecting me for such a prestigious award. It has truly been a beneficial experience that will be useful as I pursue future endeavors.”

All winners were guests at Marlins Park on July 30, 2017 and were recognized in an on-field pregame introduction before the Miami Marlins took on the Cincinnati Reds. Wilbanks was joined by the following 2017 winners from around the Florida State League:

Bradenton Marauders: Joseph Schneider

Charlotte Stone Crabs: Mackenna Stella Radunz

Clearwater Threshers: Cameron Soltau

Daytona Tortugas: Cameron Wood/Anderson Rathbun

Dunedin Blue Jays: Kelsey McIntosh

Fort Myers Miracle: Mason Wilbanks

Jupiter Hammerheads: Feliciano Grimaldo

Lakeland Flying Tigers: Lexi Hicks

Palm Beach Cardinals: Kyle Nagy

St. Lucie Mets: Mario Pietroluongo

Tampa Yankees: Lyndsay Kane

To stay up to date on upcoming promotional nights, follow the Miracle online at Miraclebaseball.com or through social media; Twitter: @MiracleBaseball, Instagram: fortmyersmiracle, Facebook: Fort Myers Miracle, Snapchat: ftmyersmiracle. To purchase tickets, visit MiracleBaseball.com/tickets. For information or questions regarding the 2017 25th Anniversary Season, call the Miracle offices at (239) 768-4210.

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 Friday

The Greenville Drive and The Blood Connection are teaming up to host a blood drive at Fluor Field on Friday, August 4th 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 June 9th to support The Blood Connection.

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

Florida State League Announces Annual Scholarship Winners

Tampa, FL. – The Tampa Yankees, in conjunction with the Florida State League and the Miami Marlins, are pleased to announce Lyndsay Kane as their 2017 scholarship award winner. The Florida State League Scholarship committee award 12 individuals with educational scholarships. The committee approved the awards after a review of the applications submitted by all the Florida State League teams.

Lyndsay Kane is currently enrolled at the University of South Florida where she is pursuing a degree in Nursing and has a 3.7 GPA. She previously attended Palm Harbor University in the medical magnet program for High School and then went to St. Petersburg College for one year. This is Lyndsay’s 5th season working the Tampa Yankees.

Lyndsay was honored at the Tampa Yankees home game on July 15th at George M. Steinbrenner Field. In addition, she was introduced during a pre-game ceremony at the Miami Marlins game on Sunday, July 30th along with the other Florida State League teams’ award winners.

The Miami Marlins/Florida State League scholarship program is awarded to students that are an employee of, or the child or grandchild of an employee of the participating club and must be at least a high school junior by the 2018 fall term. The Miami Marlins have sponsored this program for the past seventeen years and have contributed over $160,000 to the Florida State Program.

The Tampa Yankees are the Single-A Advanced affiliate of the New York Yankees. For more information on the Tampa Yankees visit www.tybaseball.com or call (813) 673-3055.

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

Brian Elliot Jr. to Celebrate His Anthem Home Runs for Life on August 2

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Dayton Dragons will host 13-year old Brian Elliot Jr. during the unique Anthem Home Run for Life program on Wednesday, August 2, at 7:00 p.m., when the Dayton Dragons take on the Great Lakes Loons at Fifth Third Field.

The Anthem Home Run for Life program provides children in the Dayton region who are battling serious medical conditions with a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Each honoree gets to take a lap around the bases at Fifth Third Field during a sold-out Dragons home game while the crowd cheers them on.

Brian’s Story

From the moment Brian was born, he had difficulties digesting formula. His pediatrician was concerned he wasn’t getting the appropriate nutrition he needed to thrive. The hospital ran some routine tests and quickly diagnosed Brian with cystic fibrosis (CF).

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that causes severe damage to the lungs and digestive system. An inherited condition, it affects the cells that produce mucus, sweat, and digestive fluids. These secreted fluids are normally thin and slippery. But in cystic fibrosis, the secretions become thick and sticky, which can prevent the release of digestive enzymes that allow the body to break down food and absorb vital nutrients, among other things.

When Brian was younger, he was in the hospital for severe complications a few times. Four years ago, Brian had a surgical procedure to provide him with a feeding tube that helps his digestive issues. Since then, he has done well gaining weight and receiving adequate nutrition. In addition, Brian has a daily routine that includes breathing treatments and a special vest he wears that vibrates to assist in breaking up any thick mucus in his lungs.

Brian has a form of cystic fibrosis that allows him to participate in many of the activities he loves. He loves gym class at school and playing baseball like his favorite team, the Cincinnati Reds. From the outside, you would never know that Brian has breathing and digestive challenges.

Brian is now 13 years old and will be in eighth grade at Urbana Junior High in the fall. He doesn’t allow cystic fibrosis to keep him down. “It’s scary sometimes, but I never give up and keep fighting. It doesn’t hold me back,” Brian said. One day, Brian would like to be a police officer so he can help better his community.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Dayton Dragons applaud all those who have been instrumental in Brian’s life, including his parents Kenny and Melissa, siblings Dylan and Madalene, Dr. Wolf, and his entire medical support team. Please join us in cheering on Brian as he completes his Home Run for Life at Fifth Third Field on August 2.dayton dragons

More Information:  The Dayton Dragons are the Midwest League affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and play a 70-game home schedule at beautiful Fifth Third Field in downtown Dayton, easily accessible from Interstate 75. Individuals and groups seeking information about Dayton Dragons group tickets, lawn tickets, the season ticket wait list, sponsorship opportunities or booking a Dragons speaker are encouraged to contact the Dragons by calling at (937) 228-2287, emailing at dragons@daytondragons.com, or on the web at daytondragons.com.

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

Ashley HomeStore Donates 50 Mattress Sets

CORPUS CHRISTI — Ashley Furniture HomeStore’s “A Hope to Dream” program is donating 50 Tempur-Pedic mattress sets to local children in need during August. The furniture retailer’s goodwill project is in collaboration with the Corpus Christ Hooks Baseball Club.

Each mattress set is comprised of a mattress, foundation, and comforter.

Local partnerships with The Food Bank of Corpus Christi, KIII-TV3, KRIS-TV, The Beach 96.5, Hot Z95, Post Acute Medical, Colon and Rectal Associates of South Texas, the American Red Cross, and others are providing other donated items for 50 children to help them prepare for the 2017-18 school year.

Youngsters selected to receive a new bed will be treated to an evening at Whataburger Field and special night with the Hooks on Saturday, August 12.

“This event will be our largest single-day donation with our “A Hope to Dream” program,” said Paige Streiff, Owner of the Corpus Christi Ashley Furniture HomeStore. “As a mother of two young children, I witness first-hand what having a bed of their own and a quality night’s sleep can do for these developmental years. Obtaining a great night of sleep promotes a healthy lifestyle and is an excellent way to start out everyone’s day.”

Said Dr. Craig Bennett, M.D. of Ashley’s Wellness Center: “An estimated 30 to 50 percent of children have trouble sleeping well. Getting a good night’s sleep is more important than most people realize. It helps ensure a healthy lifestyle by lowering stress and reducing the risk for illness and depression, while improving cognitive and physical performance. A good night’s sleep is especially important to help children focus academically and grow socially.”

Ashley Furniture HomeStore’s “A Hope to Dream” program was created to provide mattress sets to children with a demonstrated need.

A Hope to Dream

Ashley Furniture HomeStore believes that every child deserves a good night’s sleep. Founded in 2010 on that guiding principle, Ashley Furniture HomeStore’s “A Hope to Dream” program provides mattress sets to less fortunate children in our area. A portion of the proceeds for every mattress purchased at the Ashley Furniture HomeStores in Victoria and Corpus Christi helps pay for a mattress set for a child in need. To date, Ashley Furniture HomeStores throughout the U.S. have together provided underprivileged children with approximately 13,000 beds. Those wishing to nominate a child can visit http://www.ashleyfurniturehomestore.com/events/ahopetodream.html or request an electronic application by emailing AHopeToDream@ashleyfurniture.com. In-store applications are also available at participating locations.

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

Kettering Health Network Presents Breast Cancer Awareness Day

Kettering Health Network presents Breast Cancer Awareness Day on Sunday, August 6 at Fifth Third Field when the Dayton Dragons host the Lansing Lugnuts at 2:00 p.m. All Dragons players, coaches, front office and game day staff will be wearing pink sweatbands during the game.

The Breast Cancer Awareness Event will take place on the plaza where Kettering Health Network will be passing out pink rally towels. Kettering Breast Evaluation Centers will also have a booth on the plaza. In addition, the American Cancer Society will have information on the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk which is being held at Fifth Third Field on Saturday, October 21.

Breast Cancer fighter Jennifer Michaels will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Michaels had a routine mammogram done in July of 2013. Following, the mammogram, a biopsy was performed and she received a surgeon’s opinion. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in August of the same year.

Michaels stressed the importance of regular checkups and mammograms, “It’s better to catch it early then to wait for it to develop.”

Having undergone four years of treatment, Michaels continues her fight against breast cancer today. She sees Dr. Lavelle at the Kettering Cancer Center.

“Breast cancer is not discriminatory. It doesn’t matter if your family has a history of it,” Michaels explained. “It can even happen to the healthiest of people.”

As a part of a national fundraising effort, the 2017 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk will take place at Fifth Third Field on Saturday, October 21 starting at 8 a.m.

More Information: The Dayton Dragons are the Midwest League affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and play a 70-game home schedule at beautiful Fifth Third Field in downtown Dayton, easily accessible from Interstate 75. Individuals and groups seeking information about Dayton Dragons group tickets, lawn tickets, the season ticket wait list, sponsorship opportunities or booking a Dragons speaker are encouraged to contact the Dragons by calling (937) 228-2287, by email at dragons@daytondragons.com, or on the web at daytondragons.com.

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

Donate to the Cardinals School Supplies Drive and get $1 tickets

Springfield, MO – The Springfield Cardinals are excited to partner with the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools to host the 2017 Stuff the Bus School Supplies Drive at Hammons Field.

Running right now through the Sunday, August 6 game at Hammons Field, the Cardinals are seeking donations of new school supplies. All fans that donate from the list of needed school supplies below may purchase a discounted $1 ticket to the August 6 game for each item donated.

Below is a list of needed school supplies for the Stuff the Bus School Supplies Drive:

-Washable Markers
-Mead Composition Books
-Portfolio Folders with Pockets
-Mechanical Pencils
-Pens
-Backpacks
-Tissues
-Anti-bacterial Wipes
-Colored Pencils
-Crayons
-Glue Sticks
-Scissors

To donate, please bring your new school supplies from the above list to the Cardinals Ticket Office at Gate 1 at Hammons Field. The Ticket Office is open from 9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday, and from 9am through the game on gamedays.

First Pitch on Sunday, August 6 is 6:10pm with gates opening at 5:10pm. Sunday also features the Sysco Foods Team Baseball Card Set Giveaway (2,000) and is a Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Sunday with free ice cream for kids before the game. All kids can also run the bases after the game.

For more information, call the Front Office at (417) 863-0395 or visit SpringfieldCardinals.com.

Route 66 Super Soft Shirts, Willie McGee Bobbleheads, Dance Party Fireworks and more during August 3 – 6 homestand

The Cardinals continue the road trip in Tulsa on Tuesday at 7:05pm. Catch all the action live on Jock 98.7 FM and SpringfieldCardinals.com, and tune in 15 minutes early for the Coyote’s Sports Cafe Pregame Show.

Springfield then returns home for the next fun-filled homestand from Thursday, August 3 – Sunday, August 6. Don’t miss any of the upcoming fun, including:

-Thursday, August 3, 7:10pm – Aaron Sachs & Associates Route 66 Super Soft Shirt Giveaway (2,000) and Klement’s “Buck a Brat” Night. Gates open at 6:10pm.

-Friday, August 4, 7:10pm – AM Pyrotechnics Friday Night Fireworks featuring Dance Party Music and a Specialty Jersey Auction to benefit the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri. Gates open at 6:10pm.

-Saturday, August 5, 6:10pm – Maria’s Mexican Restaurant Willie McGee Career Highlights Bobblehead Giveaway (2,000). Gates open at 5:10pm.

-Sunday, August 6, 6:10pm – Sysco Foods Team Baseball Card Set Giveaway (2,000), Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Sunday and Kids Run the Bases. Gates open at 5:10pm.

For information about becoming a Season Ticket Holder, organizing a Group Outing, booking a Birthday Party or ordering Individual Game Tickets right now, call the Front Office at (417) 863-2143 or visit SpringfieldCardinals.com.

Click here for the complete 2017 Promotional Schedule and to order your tickets right now.

Escape to Cardinals Baseball!

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