Archives for July 2018

Flying Tigers Employee Wins Florida State League/Miami Marlins Scholarship

Lakeland, FL – The Flying Tigers are pleased to announce Victoria Maskas has been selected by the Florida State League (FSL) Scholarship Committee as one of the twelve $1,500 educational scholarship winners. Maskas will be a guest of the Miami Marlins and will be recognized during a pre-game ceremony on Sunday, August 12 in Miami.

Maskas recently graduated from the Harrison School for the Arts in Lakeland and will be attending the University of Florida later this summer, pursuing a degree in Psychology.

The FSL Scholarship Committee awarded a scholarship to an individual of all twelve FSL teams. To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants had to be an employee of or the child or grandchild of an employee of the participating club. They must also be at least a high school junior by the 2018 fall term. The award was based on grades, financial need, leadership capabilities and job performance.

This is the nineteenth straight year for the program and is funded by the Miami Marlins and the Florida State League. Each scholarship has a monetary value of $1,500. A total of 228 scholarships have been awarded to qualified applicants since the inception of the program.

Since 2000, the Marlins Foundation has donated $175,000 to the scholarship program. The purpose of the program is to encourage and reward our school age applicants and send a message that an education is the key to success in life.

The Flying Tigers are the Class A Advanced Affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. For more information please visit the Flying Tigers online at www.LakelandFlyingTigers.com.

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

Fireflies and BUSH’S Beans Are Teaming Up Against Hunger

COLUMBIA, S.C. & KNOXVILLE, TENN. – The Columbia Fireflies today announced they are partnering with BUSH’S® Beans and Harvest Hope Food Bank to “Team Up Against Hunger.” In its second year, this program encourages fans to bring non-perishable food donations to Spirit Communications Park for the game on Tuesday, July 31 at 7:05pm vs. the West Virginia Power (Pittsburgh Pirates). In turn, fans who donate two cans will receive buy one, get one free Palmetto Citizens FCU All-Star seats for that game in recognition of helping to feed the local community through Harvest Hope Food Bank. Ninety Minor League Baseball™(MiLB) clubs across the country will “Team Up Against Hunger” throughout the month of July. The month is significant as it marks the middle of summer break and a crucial time when millions of children are not receiving free or reduced-price meals at their schools as they do when school is in session.

“We are honored to partner with BUSH’S Beans and Harvest Hope Food Bank to bring the issue of hunger to light using our MiLB platform,” said John Katz, Fireflies team president. “This is one great way to bring the community together to show that we are united in the fight against hunger in our hometown.”

“As a family-owned food company, it is important to everyone at BUSH’S to help hungry families,” said Mike Morris, consumer experience manager at Bush Brothers & Co. “Working with Minor League Baseball and communities nationwide helps bring attention and action to a very important topic – beating hunger.”

Individual game tickets for the 2018 season can be purchased at the Fireflies box office, over the phone at 803-726-HITS, or online at FirefliesTickets.com.

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About the Columbia Fireflies

The Columbia Fireflies are the South Atlantic League affiliate of the New York Mets. Winners of Ballpark Digest’s Best New Branding and Logo Award in 2016, the Fireflies play games across the southeast and mid-Atlantic regions, including against in-state rivals in Charleston and Greenville. The team partnered with the city of Columbia and Hughes Development to construct Spirit Communications Park, a multi-use outdoor sports and entertainment venue at the center of the BullStreet District. The Columbia Fireflies are owned by Hardball Capital, owners of the Fort Wayne TinCaps of the Midwest League and the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern League. For more information, visit www.ColumbiaFireflies.com, or follow the Fireflies on Twitter (@ColaFireflies), Facebook (facebook.com/columbiafireflies) and all popular social media platforms.

About Spirit Communications Park

Spirit Communications Park, the 2016 Ballpark Digest Ballpark of the Year, is a 365-day per year multi-use sports and entertainment venue located in the heart of downtown Columbia, South Carolina. Spirit Communications Park is the home ballpark for the Columbia Fireflies, the South Atlantic League affiliate of the New York Mets. Designed for baseball, concerts, football, soccer and a host of other activities, the venue seats approximately 9,000 for sporting events and up to 15,000 for major outdoor concerts. With 16 luxury suites and a 7,000 square-foot Club Level Lounge, Spirit Communications Park also hosts everything from business meetings to wedding receptions, and everything in between. The venue is open 365 days a year and serves as a public park, with a wrap-around concourse representing 1/3 of a mile for walkers and joggers. For more information, visit www.SpiritCommunicationsPark.com.

About Minor League Baseball

Minor League Baseball, headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, is the governing body for all professional baseball teams in the United States, Canada and the Dominican Republic that are affiliated with Major League Baseball® clubs through their farm systems. Fans are coming out in unprecedented numbers to this one-of-a-kind experience that can only be found at Minor League Baseball ballparks. In 2017, Minor League Baseball attracted 41.8 million fans to its ballparks to see the future stars of the sport hone their skills. From the electricity in the stands to the excitement on the field, Minor League Baseball has provided affordable family-friendly entertainment to people of all ages since its founding in 1901. For more information visit MiLB.com. Follow Minor League Baseball on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About BUSH’S Beans

BUSH’S® Beans are “The Official Beans of Minor League Baseball™.” BUSH’S® is all about family, friends that feel like family, and a certain Secret Family Recipe. When you enjoy our beans (doesn’t matter if they’re Baked Beans, black beans, pinto beans, great northern beans…you get the picture), you can trust that they’re the very best. Because we wouldn’t serve your family anything less. Since we got our start more than 100 years ago in Chestnut Hill, Tenn., BUSH’S® has always maintained that quality is the best policy. We pursue excellence and exceptional taste in our beans, sauces and everything we do. That’s why, from mouthwatering Baked Beans to satisfying bean recipes, you’re cooking up the best with BUSH’S BEST®. For more information, visit www.bushsbeans.com, like them on Facebook or follow BUSH’S® Beans on Instagram and Twitter.

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

Marshall Knapp Awarded FSL/Marlins Scholarship

Bradenton, FL – The Florida State League Scholarship Committee and FSL President Ken Carson have awarded twelve (12) $1,500 educational scholarships to deserving applicants from across the League. The Bradenton Marauders are proud to announce that Marshall Knapp has been selected as a scholarship recipient. Knapp is the son of LECOM Park Concessions Manager Chuck Knapp.

This is the nineteenth (19) straight year for the program and 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 228 scholarships have been awarded to qualified applicants since the inception of the program. The Committee awarded the scholarships after a review of applications submitted by each candidate. The award is based both on financial need and achievement of a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Recipients must be at least a high school junior by the 2018 Fall Term.

Marshall Knapp will be a senior at Braden River High School this fall. In additional to his outstanding academic performance in the classroom, he is the drum major for the Braden River High School Marching Band of Pirates, logging hundreds of hours of rehearsals each year. He also plays multiple instruments and performs in the Braden River High School Wind Ensemble, the Sun Coast Honor Band, and the Sarasota Concert Band. Knapp plans to study Music Education in college with the goal of becoming a high school band director.

The Miami Marlins provide a generous contribution to the program. The purpose of the program is to encourage and reward our school age applicants and send a message that an education is the key to success in life. All winners will be the guests of the Marlins at Marlins Park on Sunday, August 12, 2018 and will be recognized in an on-field pregame ceremony. Knapp will also throw out a first pitch at an upcoming Marauders home game.

For more information about the Bradenton Marauders, call 941-747-3031, visit www.bradentonmarauders.com, or email MaraudersInfo@pirates.com.

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

Blue Jays Bowling Tournament Raises Over $10,000

DUNEDIN-FL, The Dunedin Blue Jays 2018 Charity Bowling Tournament on Saturday, July 21st raised $10,370 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay. Over 200 local baseball fans participated in the event, joining the entire Dunedin Blue Jays team at Maple Lanes Countryside Bowling Alley in Clearwater for a day of bowling, raffles, silent auctions, and prizes during the team’s fifth annual tournament. Since 2014, the event has raised over $45,000 to support the well-being of local families through Ronald McDonald House Charities.

“The Blue Jays are incredibly grateful for the continued support of local businesses and their sponsorships that make this event possible each year, for our players for dedicating their time to helping the local community, and most of all for fans who helped make this year’s event a success,” Kathi Beckman, the Blue Jays Manager of Community Relations, said following the event.

For the third consecutive year, the event raised over $10,000 to help Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay care for families with children receiving treatment in local hospitals. Adding to the excitement at the tournament, local fan Teddy K. threw the first perfect 300 game in bowling tournament history. For his feat, Teddy was awarded a team-signed bowling ball and pin and the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at a 2019 Toronto Blue Jays Spring Training game.

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

Nominate a local youth field for a makeover

The Norfolk Tides today announced the return of The Youth Field Makeover Project presented by Orkin, a contest in which a local youth field will be renovated by Tides groundskeepers and front office staff.

This field makeover will include an upgrade to the playing surface, an improvement to existing dugouts, and pest prevention services courtesy of Orkin. The recipient of the makeover will be determined by a fan vote on the Tides Facebook page in September.

“Year in and year out, this is a special project that allows our staff to give back to very deserving members of the Hampton Roads community” said Tides General Manager Joe Gregory. Each time we help renovate a field, we’re just thrilled to be making a difference.”

Those interested in having the Tides make over their facility should submit a picture of their field to John Rogerson at JRogerson@norfolktides.com. Along with the photo, fans are asked to include a brief synopsis of why their league’s field should receive this enhancement. The deadline to submit this information is August 31, with online voting set to take place on the Tides Facebook page (Facebook.com/NorfolkTides) in early September.

Since the inaugural renovation in 2012, the Tides have renovated 11 local fields: Eason’s Crossroads (Gates, NC), 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), Gloucester Youth Baseball (Gloucester), Surry County Pony Baseball (Surry) and Deer Park Youth Field (Newport News). The Tides are also set to renovate Thalia/Malibu Rec Association in Virginia Beach this fall.

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 “Harbor Park” section.

For more information about Orkin’s pest control services, visit Orkin.com.

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

RoughRiders Foundation volunteers at DFW National Cemetery

FRISCO, Texas (July 3, 2018) – Frisco RoughRiders pitcher Tyler Davis and members of the RoughRiders Foundation spent Monday morning volunteering at the DFW National Cemetery.

“I, personally, think it was a great experience,” Davis said. “I saw it as a way for me to be able to go out there and show respect to the people who have given a lot for our country; past, present and future.”

The group assisted in the cleaning of headstones, a process which is necessary four times a year to help maintain the nearly 50,000 headstones on the site. With a limited number of regular employees, the DFW National Cemetery values volunteer groups like the RoughRiders to assist in keeping the cemetery in good shape.

“Without the support and time the Frisco RoughRiders and others, we could not provide the honorable and serene resting place our Veterans deserve,” Cemetery Director Larry Williams said. “What may not be thought of is this: the Frisco RoughRiders are honoring America’s Heroes with the dedication and hard work they provide here and is deeply appreciated, not only by the staff, but the families of the 59,500 resting here.”

For more information on the RoughRiders Foundation, click here.

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 13 seasons (2005-2017). In August 2014, the RoughRiders were purchased by an ownership group led by Chuck Greenberg. Since then, the new ownership group, together with the City of Frisco, has spearheaded numerous major franchise enhancements, investing over $8 million in a wide array of facility upgrades and improvements, including a state-of-the-art HD video board, sound system, Bull Moose Saloon, InTouch Grille, Riders Outpost Team Store and the world’s largest water feature in a sports facility, the massive Choctaw Lazy River. These enhancements earned the Riders and the City of Frisco Ballpark Digest’s prestigious “Best Ballpark Renovation” award for two consecutive years (2015 and 2016). More than 140 former RoughRiders players have gone on to play Major League Baseball, including All-Stars Chris Davis, Adrian Gonzalez, Ian Kinsler and Neftali Feliz, 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 Ryan Rouillard at RRouillard@RidersBaseball.com.

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