Archives for January 2022

Black History Month – San Jose Giants History

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

 

In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are taking a look back at five of the best Black players to suit up for their club.

While some of these standout performers went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers or, in some cases, just one incredible season that went down as “a year for the ages.” In no particular order, here is a look at five of the best Black baseball players to suit up for the San Jose Giants since our affiliation with the San Francisco Giants began in 1988:

ROYCE CLAYTON

Royce Clayton was drafted out of St. Bernard High School in Playa del Rey in the first round (15th pick overall) by the San Francisco Giants in 1988. He made his San Jose Giants debut in 1989 after being called up from the Clinton Giants. In his time in San Jose, Clayton batted .243 with 17 doubles, 10 triples and 75 RBI in 151 games.

He made his San Francisco Giants debut in 1991 and would go on to play for 10 other teams in his 16-year major league career. In 1997, as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, he was selected to his first and only MLB All-Star game.

In 2011, Clayton portrayed Miguel Tejada in the film _Moneyball_, making him the first former big-league player to appear in an Oscar nominated Best Picture film. Clayton was the childhood favorite player of San Francisco Giant shortstop Brandon Crawford, and is currently the head varsity baseball coach at Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, CA.

THOMAS NEAL

Neal was drafted by San Francisco in the 36th round of the 2005 amateur draft, and signed with the Giants organization in 2006 out of Riverside Community College. After a slow start to his professional career, Neal found large success at the plate in his third year, and first full season in Augusta in 2008.

In 2009, Neal had one of the best seasons in San Jose Giants history, as he batted .337/.431/.579 with 22 home runs and 90 runs batted in. Neal was among the Cal League leaders in runs, hits, doubles, home runs, RBIs, and average. Baseball America ranked him as the best prospect in the Cal League, and as high as #9 in all of the minor leagues. He was also named to the Cal League All-Star team and helped lead San Jose to a league title.

Neal was ultimately traded to the now Cleveland Guardians in 2011, where he made his big-league debut in September of 2012. Neal retired from his playing career in 2015 and has since served as a minor-league hitting coach in the Giants organization.

FRED LEWIS

Fred Lewis was drafted out of Southern University and A&M College in the second round (66th overall) by the San Francisco Giants in 2002. Lewis made his San Jose Giants debut in 2004, and batted .301 with 20 doubles, 11 triples and 57 RBI in 115 games before being called up to AAA Fresno.

He later debuted for the San Francisco Giants on September 1st, 2006. In only his 16th appearance in the major leagues, Lewis hit for the cycle in Colorado on May 13, 2007. He was also the first player in San Francisco Giants history to hit two grand slams in a rookie season. Lewis eventually retired from Major League Baseball in 2012.

JEROME WILLIAMS

Jerome Williams was selected in the first round (39th overall) of the 1999 draft by the San Francisco Giants out of Waipahu (Hawaii) High School.

After spending the 1999 season in rookie ball, Williams came to San Jose in 2000 where he appeared in 23 games, posted a 7-6 record with a 2.94 ERA, and struck out 115 batters. His success in the minor leagues came with a Futures Game Invite during the 2001 season.

Williams made Giants’ history when he made his Major League Debut on April 26, 2003, becoming the first Hawaiian-born player in organizational history (including New York) to appear in a Giants’ uniform. He would eventually receive the same honor when he took the field as a Washington National in 2007. Williams retired from Major League Baseball in 2016, and his accomplishments were later celebrated in San Jose with his own bobblehead.

DARREN FORD

Ford, drafted in the 18th round of the 2004 draft, began his Giants career in 2008 when he was traded by the Milwaukee Brewers. He would spend the remainder of this season in San Jose, finishing the year with 62 total stolen bases. The 48 bases he stole prior to his arrival in San Jose was good for second in the entire Florida State league, despite only playing 91 games in that league.

Ford returned to San Jose in 2009 where his success on the base baths continued while enjoying one of his best career years at the plate. Ford batted .300 with 50 RBIs and added 35 stolen bases, fourth overall in the Cal League. Alongside an impressive San Jose team featuring the likes of Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford, Madison Bumgarner and Thomas Neal, Ford and his teammates brought home the 2009 California League Championship.

Ford was eventually called up to make his big-league debut with San Francisco Giants, appearing in seven games in 2010 and 26 games in 2011, before jumping between the Mariners, Pirates, and back to the Giants from 2012-2016.

Jumbo Shrimp open registration for Feb. 15 National Anthem auditions

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NATIONAL ANTHEM AUDITION REGISTRATION FORM

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp prepare to open their 2022 schedule of 72 home games on April 5, the club is inviting the talent of Northeast Florida to audition to perform the National Anthem before a Jumbo Shrimp home game during the upcoming season. Individuals and groups can now register for the club’s National Anthem auditions, to be held from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 15 at 121 Financial Ballpark.

The auditions will be held rain or shine. Interested individuals and groups may schedule an audition time by completing a registration form emailing it to director of promotions & special events David Ratz at [email protected].

Individuals or groups who performed during the 2021 Jumbo Shrimp season are not required to audition if they are interested in performing again in 2022. Such individuals or groups should still complete and email the registration form, indicating a past performance at a Jumbo Shrimp game.

“We always love listening to local individuals and groups perform to have an opportunity to open each Jumbo Shrimp game in the 2022 season,” said Jumbo Shrimp executive vice president/general manager Harold Craw. “Jumbo Shrimp games at 121 Financial Ballpark are community events, and we are looking forward to building another outstanding lineup of talent from the Northeast Florida community that will be among the highlights of each night of Affordable Family Fun.”

The Jumbo Shrimp’s full promotional schedule will be announced at a later date. Fans can secure tickets to these great dates by booking a season ticket package, mini plan or group outing – beginning at 24 people – by calling the Jumbo Shrimp’s front office at 904-358-2846.

ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp offer affordable family fun at 121 Financial Ballpark. Their inaugural season garnered the Southern League’s Don Mincher Organization of the Year, Promotional Trophy and Jimmy Bragan Executive of the Year, won by general manager Harold Craw. The club added its second Promotional Trophy in three years following the 2019 season. The 2021 season marked the return of Triple-A baseball in Jacksonville. To experience the excitement with the terrific value of ticket and group options, call the Jumbo Shrimp at (904) 358-2846 or visit www.jaxshrimp.com.

Drive Promo Team & Reedy Rip’It Tryouts February 12th

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CLICK HERE TO PRE-REGISTER FOR THE TRYOUTS

PROMO TEAM

The Greenville Drive are looking for fun, enthusiastic candidates who are motivated to represent the organization at home games and in the community. The Promo Team is an integral part of home Drive games and devote their time to energizing the fans at Fluor Field and making sure that everyone has a great game day experience!

Saturday, February 12th, 2021
Fluor Field at the West End
9:30AM – 11:30 AM

The ideal candidate will be an outgoing individual with a fun, energetic personality. Must be 16 or older, able to attend Drive home games, work nights and weekends and have reliable transportation.

You will be responsible for handing out promotional material, assisting with mascot functions, helping with sponsored promotions, pumping up the crowd and having FUN!

The Drive wants positive minded persons. You will be the fresh face of our promo team that will be responsible for interacting with fans and making sure they have a pleasant experience.

Auditions will consist of interactive group games, improv activities, and opportunities to interact with other candidates and the judges. These activities are meant to assess each candidate’s personality, enthusiasm, energy, teamwork skills and their comfort level in front of a crowd.

Candidates should wear comfortable, but active, attire INCLUDING athletic shoes

_An orientation time will be announced at a later date if you are selected to the team. _

REEDY

The ideal candidate will be physically fit and able to sustain energy throughout a Drive game. Must be 18 or older with reliable transportation. Height Requirements: 5’9″ to 6’2″ to fit into the costume. You must be a highly skilled performer with a great ability to improvise and animate. Previous experience as an animator, character, mascot, or interactive entertainer is a plus. Seeking people in good physical condition with skills in dancing, tumbling, gymnastics or acrobatics. Must be good with children and be an outgoing people person.

Saturday, February 12th, 2021
Fluor Field at the West End
9:30AM – 11:30 AM

Position requires five months of 66 home games to attend, from April through September. You will have a preset schedule of game dates and times. Most games are in the evening and dates will include weekends. Please note our mascot performs outside in summer months and must take into consideration the likelihood for high temperatures. Additional appearance requests will be all calendar year. You will be required to fulfil additional, non-gameday, appearances to be considered for gameday appearances. Compensation is on a per game basis and will be paid bi-weekly.

Those interested in auditioning will be required to have a 30 second to minute long performance/sketch prepared. This performance is at the discretion of the performer and must be appropriate for a family audience. We suggest you incorporate skits, your dancing abilities, and how you would interact with fans of any age. Tryouts will be on the dugout top. Please arrive on time. We will audition all candidates until all have had opportunity.

Please wear athletic/workout attire.

Round Rock Express National Anthem Auditions Return on February 16

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ROUND ROCK, Texas – Do you have what it takes to belt out the National Anthem at a Round Rock Express game during the upcoming 2022 season? Central Texas’ best groups under 10 performers and individual singers are invited to open auditions from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 16 inside Kilimanjaro Ballroom Suite #1 at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, located across Highway 79 from Dell Diamond.

There is no fee to perform and the general public is invited to audition. Check-in begins at 4:30 p.m. and a warmup room will be available inside Kilimanjaro Ballroom Suite #3. Due to space and time requirements, groups of 10 or more performers, including bands and choirs, can reach out directly to Express Director of Ballpark Entertainment Steve Richards via email at [email protected] to book a date to perform during the season.

Each season, hundreds of individuals and groups audition to perform the Star-Spangled Banner at one of Round Rock’s home games. While the Express are set to host 72 games this season, it is anticipated that less than 50 spots will remain at the time of auditions due to off-season bookings of large groups.

Those wishing to tryout must keep their performance under 90 seconds while using a traditional, military style with little to no creative variation. Vocal submissions must be a cappella, although instrumental auditions are welcome. Individuals and groups wishing to audition must fill out an application form and bring it with them to their audition. The form is available at RRExpress.com.

Performers will audition in front of a panel of judges, including Laurie Winckel, owner of Vocal Edge Voice Studio in Hutto. Winckel has coached several past Express National Anthem performers and has held numerous workshops leading up to the auditions. She also coaches many performers online across the United States.

All participants will be notified whether or not they have been invited to perform within two weeks of the auditions. If selected, the performer must sing the same version that they auditioned at their scheduled game. Those who cannot attend the open auditions but wish to perform can submit a video recording of their audition via email to Express Director of Ballpark Entertainment Steve Richards via email at [email protected]. Video auditions will only be evaluated after all in-person performers have been scheduled and notified.

The Round Rock Express kick off the 2022 campaign with Opening Day at Dell Diamond on Tuesday, April 5 at 7:05 p.m. as the El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego Padres affiliate) come to town. Full season and mini season membership plans are on sale now. For more information about the Express, visit RRExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Subscribe to the E-Train email newsletter and keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

Jumbo Shrimp invite non-profit organizations to fundraise at 121 Financial Ballpark

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are hosting an informational event for non-profit organizations seeking to find fun and creative ways to raise money during the 2022 season presented by FIS from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, February 9 at 121 Financial Ballpark.

The Jumbo Shrimp offer a wide variety of fundraising opportunities to help various entities such as youth sports teams, food banks, booster clubs, private schools, churches and military and civic groups to earn both money for their fundraising goals and gain added exposure for their cause at 121 Financial Ballpark. Programs include the operation of the ballpark’s concession stands and other portable ballpark food areas, as well as fundraising tickets, Launch-A-Ball and the Vystar Charity Begins at Home Program.

“This is an excellent opportunity to meet face-to-face and answer any questions about fundraising at 121 Financial Ballpark,” said Jumbo Shrimp executive vice president/general manager Harold Craw. “It has been so rewarding over the years to help a wide variety of non-profit organizations through our various programs, and we look forward to expanding our efforts for the 2022 season.”

Non-profits interested in joining the Jumbo Shrimp’s concession fundraising program should contact community relations manager Miranda Rossum at [email protected].

More information about fundraising opportunities can be found via this link.

ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp offer affordable family fun at 121 Financial Ballpark. Their inaugural season garnered the Southern League’s Don Mincher Organization of the Year, Promotional Trophy and Jimmy Bragan Executive of the Year, won by general manager Harold Craw. The club added its second Promotional Trophy in three years following the 2019 season. The 2021 season marked the return of Triple-A baseball in Jacksonville. To experience the excitement with the terrific value of ticket and group options, call the Jumbo Shrimp at (904) 358-2846 or visit www.jaxshrimp.com.

Top five Black players to dawn a Salem jersey

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

 

This February, in honor of Black History Month, Minor League Baseball will launch The Nine Program. As such MiLB teams have been asked to reflect upon past players and highlight five standouts.

Players do not need to be Hall of Famers, All-Stars or to have even played in the Major League. These are, instead, individuals who have made an impact in their community or the sport.

With that said, here is a look at five of the best Black players to wear a Salem jersey.

Mookie Betts

Born Markus Lynn “Mookie” Betts, he was drafted in the fifth round of the 2011 MLB Draft. On July 9, 2013, he was promoted to Salem where he batted .341 with seven home runs and 39 RBIs. That season, Betts received Offensive Player of the Year and Breakout Player of the Year in the Red Sox organization.

He made his MLB debut on June 29, 2014, for the Red Sox and recorded his first hit that night against Chase Whitley of the New York Yankees. After the season, he moved full time to the outfield where Betts has become a superstar in baseball.

Betts had a breakout year in 2018 when he hit .346 with 32 home runs and 80 RBIs. He was voted American League MVP, Gold Glove, Silver Slugger winner. That year he also won his first World Series title beating his current team, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

During his six seasons with the Red Sox, Betts hit .301 with 139 home runs and 470 RBIs. He also collected four Gold Gloves and All-Star appearances, three Silver Sluggers, a batting title, MVP award and World Series championship.

Jackie Bradley Jr.

Bradley was drafted in the supplemental first round of the 2011 MLB Draft. Before the start of the 2012 season, he was named to the opening day roster with the Salem Red Sox.

During the season, Bradley hit .359 with three home runs and 34 RBIs through 67 games before being called up. That year, he was named Minor League Defensive Player of the Year in the Red Sox organization.

Bradley made the Opening Day roster in 2013 and made his debut on April 1 against the New York Yankees. He had his first major hit a couple days later, on April 4.

During the 2016 season, he made it to his first and only All-Star Game appearance. Bradley hit .267 with 26 home runs and 87 RBIs.

He was also a member of the 2018 World Series team where he collected the American League Championship Series MVP after hitting nine RBIs in the series. That season, he also won his first and only Gold Glove award.

Bradley returns to Boston for the 2022 season after spending last season in Milwaukee.

*Josh Ockimey *

Ockimey was drafted in the fifth round of the 2014 Draft by the Red Sox. He made the Opening Day roster for the Salem Red Sox during the 2017 season.

That year, he played 100 games with the team and had a .275 average with 11 home runs and 63 RBIs. It was his best season in his career, as he was also called up to AA Portland where he hit .272 with three home runs and 11 RBIs.

Ockimey has spent all seven seasons in his career within the Red Sox organization. Although he has not been called up to the majors, he has spent his time the last three seasons with the Red Sox AAA organization.

In addition to his on-field accomplishments, Josh has engrained himself in the minor league communities that are part of the Red Sox farm system. This past year, Ockimey was an active member of the WooSox Foundation helping at local food pantries during the holiday season. He uses his platform to educate and raise awareness about social issues.

Dave Parker

Parker was drafted in the 14th round of the 1970 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He spent the 1972 season with the Salem Pirates, which was the inaugural season of the team.

He hit .310 with 22 home runs and 101 RBIs in 135 games. It was the most home runs and RBIs in his four-year minor league career.

During the 1973 season he was called up to Pittsburgh. Parker’s breakout season came in 1975 when he played in double the number of games as the previous year. He hit .308 with 25 home runs and 101 RBIs. That season Parker also finished third in the NL MVP voting.

After finishing in the top three of MVP voting in two of three seasons, he captured it in 1978 hitting .334 with 30 home runs and 117 RBIs. Parker fractured his jaw in late June of that season but decided to wear a face mask the rest of the season instead of sitting out. He received baseball’s first million-dollar-a-year contract after the season.

Parker decided to retire after 19 years in the majors after the 1991 season. He finished hitting .290 with 339 home runs and 1493 RBIs. Parker also had seven All-Star Game appearances, three Gold Gloves and Silver Slugger awards, two NL batting titles and two World Series titles with the Pirates (1979) and Athletics (1989).

*Tony Womack *

Womack was drafted in the seventh round of the 1991 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He made the Opening Day roster of the Salem Buccaneers in 1993.

During that season, Womack played in 72 games and hit .299 with two home runs and 18 RBIs. He made his MLB debut later that season playing in 15 games.

Womack went up and down for a couple years before becoming a mainstay in the majors during the 1997 season. That year he made his first and only All-Star Game appearance hitting .278 with six home runs and 50 RBIs while stealing 60 bases.

Womack was a member of the 2001 World Series champion Arizona Diamondbacks. He famously had the game-tying one-out double against Mariano Rivera in Game 7 of the World Series.

During his 13-year MLB career he hit .273 with 36 home runs and 368 RBIs while also stealing 263 bases. Womack led the NL in stolen bases for three consecutive years from 1997 to 1999 and is the Diamondbacks career leader in the category.

Patriots And Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 2137 Donate $9,700 For 2021 Home Runs

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Bridgewater, New Jersey – The Somerset Patriots, the New York Yankees Double-A affiliate, and their partners at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #2137 have donated $9,700 to local non-profits through the Home Runs For Charity program.

For every home run hit by the Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark during the 2021 season, the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #2137 generously donated $100 to help the community. Somerset’s offense hit a franchise record 175 home runs last season, including 97 in Bridgewater.

Eight non-profits have been selected by the team and organization to each receive $1,212.50. The benefiting non-profits are:

  • Here Alternatives, Inc
  • Easter Seals of NJ
  • Matheny Medical & Education Center
  • Hugs for Brady Foundation
  • Samaritan Homeless Interim Program
  • St. John’s Episcopal Church
  • The Beez Foundation
  • Operation Shoebox New Jersey

The Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #2137 has a long history of charitable work supporting both local as well as national causes. The motto “people helping people” is the driving force behind their efforts to help those less fortunate throughout the community. Over the years, Bridgewater Aerie # 2137 has provided monetary support for programs that assist the homeless and hungry, funded scholarships for deserving high school seniors, donated to groups that assist our veterans as well as local police, fire and rescue groups.

About the Somerset Patriots

The Somerset Patriots are the New York Yankees Double-A Affiliate and develop today’s top minor league talent into the pinstriped superstars of tomorrow for MLB’s winningest team. The Patriots compete in the Double-A Northeast League and play their home games at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, NJ, where fans of all ages and levels of baseball fandom get to enjoy the unique experience that is minor league baseball.

To learn more, visit: www.somersetpatriots.com.

Appalachian League participates in MLK Week of Service 

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Appalachian League executives participated in a Week of Service, volunteering in 11 communities across North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Jan. 17, 2022 marked the 27th annual MLK Day of Service. Tabbed as a “day on, not a day off” to celebrate the life and legacy of the Civil Rights leader, MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.

Across the league, executives volunteered at food pantries, libraries, ministries, YMCAs, book readings and educational centers assisting with preparing meals, stocking shelves, cleaning facilities, distributing books and tutoring. To see images of clubs service projects, click here.

“We appreciate continued opportunities to give back to our communities and are happy to have joined many across the country in celebrating MLK Day of Service,” said Appalachian League President Dan Moushon.

For more information about the MLK Day of Service, visit https://americorps.gov/newsroom/events/mlk-day.

The Appalachian League is a part of USA Baseball and powered by MLB. For more information on the Appalachian League, please visit AppyLeague.com.


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Spectra To Host Hiring Event At MGM Park on February 2

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Spectra Food Services, the official concessionaire of MGM Park, will host a hiring event at MGM Park on Wednesday, February 2 from 5 to 7 pm.

Available jobs for the 2022 season include cooks, suite attendants, food runners, bartenders, dishwashers, warehouse workers and help with food preparation. Interested applicants can enter the ballpark through the commissary area, located behind home plate at the ballpark. Applicants can park in the lot on the northeast side of the stadium, located off the corner of Caillavet and Howard Avenue.

Applications are also available online through Spectra’s website here.

The Biloxi Shuckers open their seventh season on the road against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Friday, April 8. Biloxi then returns to MGM Park for their home opener against the Mississippi Braves on Tuesday, April 12. Shuck Nation Memberships, Flex Plans and group outings are now available for the 2022 season and individual tickets will go on sale at a later date. Event spaces at MGM Park can be booked for private events during the offseason by calling (228) 233-3465.

Prior to the start of the Shuckers’ season, MGM Park will host a Top 25 college baseball matchup on March 8 and 9 as the defending national champion Mississippi State Bulldogs, ranked the #3 team in Baseball America’s preseason poll, take on the #23 ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders. Suites are sold out for both games, but individual tickets are available for both games at biloxishuckers.com.

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 and are members of the Double-A South. For more information, please visit biloxishuckers.comand follow us on Twitter @biloxishuckers and at facebook.com/biloxishuckers.

Fireflies in Search of 2022 National Anthem Performers

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COLUMBIA, SC – The Columbia Fireflies announced today that they are seeking singers and musicians of all ages to perform The Star-Spangled Banner before Fireflies home games this upcoming season. Fans are invited to audition live to be anthem performers on certain designated days in February. Soloists and groups are both welcome to audition. Auditions are held by reservations only.

National Anthem auditions will take place in the Club Lounge at Segra Park Saturday, February 12, Wednesday, February 16 and Thursday, February 17. Those interested in auditioning and learning about specific audition times that are available must call or email Devin Johnson at 803-888-3013 or [email protected] to set up an audition time. Walk-ups are not welcome; auditions must be scheduled with Devin in advance. National Anthem auditioners under the age of 18 must be accompanied to auditions by a parent or guardian.

Performance groups of more than 15 people are welcome to perform the National Anthem prior to a Fireflies game but will see a different audition process. If a band or group larger than 15 people would like to perform, they must contact Halle Wade at 803-888-3007 or [email protected] to audition.

The Fireflies will play 66 home games in 2022. Limited performance dates are available throughout the season, and not all who audition are guaranteed a scheduled game date. Those who have previously performed the anthem at Segra Park are required to audition again. A Fireflies representative will reach out to those selected to perform in late February, after the conclusion of the audition process. Those who are selected to perform will receive four complimentary tickets to the game for the night of their performance.

Opening Night for the Fireflies 2022 campaign is slated for Friday, April 8 at 7:05 pm vs the Augusta GreenJackets, an Atlanta Braves affiliate. For more information on the Fireflies upcoming 2022 season or events happening at Segra Park, visit ColumbiaFireflies.com.

Twelve $2,500 scholarships will be awarded to local high school student-athletes

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Manchester, N.H. — The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Toronto Blue Jays Double-A affiliate) and the Fisher Cats Foundation are pleased to open applications for the 2022 Scholar-Athlete Scholarship program at NHFisherCats.com starting Tuesday, February 1.

Twelve $2,500 scholarships will be awarded to local high school student-athletes: ten from New Hampshire and two from northern Massachusetts. Scholarship recipients will be notified by May 31, and honored on the field at Delta Dental Stadium during a Fisher Cats game this season.

High school seniors, click here apply for the Scholar-Athlete Scholarship

Since 2007, the Fisher Cats Foundation has awarded over $395,000 to graduating seniors through the Scholar-Athlete Scholarship program.

“We’re proud to continue this annual tradition; it’s one of the most rewarding things we do each season,” said Fisher Cats President Mike Ramshaw. “We’ve been so inspired by the number of applications we’ve received over the years, and look forward to helping further the education of these outstanding student-athletes.”

Scholarship recipients will be selected using criteria that includes academic achievement, athletic achievement, and active citizenship.

For more information, email Fisher Cats Foundation Executive Director Stephanie Fournier at [email protected].

Fisher Cats Opening Day is scheduled for Tuesday, April 12, with a magnet schedule giveaway from Eastern Propane & Oil and a spectacular postgame Atlas Fireworks show. For more information, visit NHFisherCats.com.

Now Accepting Gameday Applications

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As the 2022 baseball season approaches the Myrtle Beach Pelicans are now accepting applications for game day employees for their 24th season. The club is seeking enthusiastic, friendly, customer-oriented people to help create memorable experiences for fans of all ages at Pelicans Ballpark.

Available positions include but are not limited to:

  • box office attendants
  • cleaning crew
  • cashiers
  • cooks
  • grounds crew
  • ticket takers
  • ushers
  • game production

A complete list of available jobs is available here.

Applicants can apply online and must be able to work nights, weekends, and holidays. To apply, simply click here or visit myrtlebeachpelicans.com/jobs and click the “See Available Jobs” button.

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The Pelicans’ 2022 season will begin on April 12 against the Augusta GreenJackets. Season tickets are available now. For more information visit MyrtleBeachPelicans.com, call (843) 918-6000, or visit the Pelicans Front Office.

Team Rubicon and Alight with the St. Paul Saints and Two Men and a Truck to Host Donation Drive for Afghan Families

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ST. PAUL, MN (January 27, 2022) –

WHAT: Team Rubicon, a veteran-led disaster response nonprofit organization, and Minneapolis-based global humanitarian organization, Alight, will be hosting a donation drive for Afghan families who are transitioning off bases and into communities across Minneapolis and the surrounding area. As families move into homes, furniture, household goods, and other necessities are needed now more than ever. Team Rubicon and Alight are working with community partners to collect these items and help to set up homes and move in Afghan families.

The St. Paul Saints have generously offered the Plaza Entrance at CHS Field for the donation drive. The first 50 fans to make a donation will receive a voucher to redeem 2 free tickets to a select Saints home game in April.

In addition to assisting both organizations in moving Afghan families into homes, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK will be providing support and transportation to move all collected items to the warehouse. The first 100 fans to make a donation will receive a free coffee gift card from Two Men and a Truck.

WHO: Korey Schroeder, Sr. Associate of Operations and Resettlement Lead, Team Rubicon

Annie Nolte-Henning, Program Director for the Americas, Alight

Sean Aronson, VP of Broadcasting & Media Relations, St. Paul Saints

Sally Flinck, Director of Marketing and Communications, Two Men and a Truck

WHEN: Saturday, February 5 from 10am-1pm

**Interviews are available ahead of drive

WHERE: CHS Field- Plaza Entrance (between 5th and 6th St)

360 N Broadway St

St. Paul, MN 55101

Drive-up donations are requested from Wall Street turning East on 5th Street (towards CHS Field) and North on Broadway between 5th and 6th Streets. All community members, please stay in your vehicles as volunteers will greet you and help you remove items from your vehicles on Broadway between 5th and 6th Street.

LIST OF ITEMS REQUESTED

· Couch/Sofa (new)

· Pillows (new)

· Bedding (new)

· Mattress – twin and full (new)

· Comforter set, twin & full (new)

· Bath towel set (new)

· Car seats (new)

· Pressure cooker

· Tea pots

· Coffee carafe

· Dresser

· Pots & pans

· Toys

· Diapers (all sizes)

**All donated items should be new

**Due to warehouse space limitations, only items on the list will be accepted.

RSVP & INTERVIEW REQUESTS:

Joy Moh | **joy.moh@teamrubiconusa.org** | 626-552-6558

Chris Kindler | **ChrisK@WeAreAlight.org** | 651-428-5955

*About Team Rubicon *

Team Rubicon serves communities by mobilizing veterans to continue their service by leveraging their skills and experience to help people prepare, respond, and recover from disasters and humanitarian crises. Founded following the Haiti earthquake in 2010, the organization has grown to almost 150,000 volunteers across the United States and has launched over 800 operations both domestically and internationally. Amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, Team Rubicon has not only pivoted to be able to continue to deliver disaster response and rebuild services in core mission areas but has also expanded their scope of missions to meet community needs brought about by COVID. Visit www.teamrubiconusa.org for more information.

To donate to the Afghan families as they transition into communities, please visit the Amazon wishlists which is being updated daily to meet the needs of the families or visit https://teamrubiconusa.org/resettlement for more information.

ABOUT ALIGHT

Based in Minnesota since 1978, Alight is an international humanitarian organization, working to create conditions for refugees, migrants, asylum seekers, trafficked and displaced people to build full, meaningful lives. Providing health care, clean water, shelter, protection and economic opportunities to more than 3.5 million people in over 20 countries each year. Alight believes in the incredible creativity, potential and ingenuity of the displaced and works to shine a light on their humanity, the tremendous amount of good that’s already happening and the possibilities to do more. In 2020, Alight received the prestigious 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator for the tenth consecutive year, celebrating a decade of impactful work.

South Bend Cubs Now Accepting Submissions for 2022 National Anthem Performances

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

 

SOUTH BEND, IN – The South Bend Cubs are now accepting auditions to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” prior to all home games at Four Winds Field for the 2022 season, presented by Kountry Cabinets & Home Furnishings. Individuals, bands, choirs, and groups and invited to participate.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR NATIONAL ANTHEM AUDITION

Like previous years, all auditions must be submitted in video form. Audio files, tapes, or CDs will not be accepted. Videos can be submitted as a video link such as YouTube or Google Drive or sent via transfer websites like Dropbox, TransferNow or WeTransfer. Auditions recorded via mobile devices or professional performances are acceptable. There will not be any in-person auditions for 2022.

New this season is the digital application, which can be found here. Please include your video link at the bottom of the digital application. Those who cannot complete the digital application may submit a paper copy by clicking here. Paper applications must be submitted with the video audition and emailed to [email protected].

Performances of “The Star-Spangled Banner” are not to exceed two minutes. All vocal auditions must be performed a cappella (no musical accompaniment). Instrumental performances will be accepted. Those who audition in groups must include all members in the audition video.

The deadline to submit National Anthem auditions is Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Once submitted, auditions will go through a careful judging process. National Anthem performance opportunities are extremely limited and not guaranteed. Due to the volume of submissions, the South Bend Cubs do not guarantee a response. All submissions will be reviewed. Should your submission be of interest to the Cubs, you will be contacted via the information provided with your e-mail.

About the South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs are the Class A-Advanced minor league affiliate of the 2016 World Series Champion Chicago Cubs. Over the past 34 years, the team has won four Midwest League titles, most recently in 2019, and has captured eight division titles. In 2019, the South Bend Cubs hosted the Midwest League All-Star Game. In June 2017, Four Winds Field, home of the South Bend Cubs, was voted Best Class A ballpark in the country by Ballpark Digest. 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 principal shareholder is Andrew T. Berlin of Chicago, Ill.

Tennessee Smokies To Host Job Fair on February 19th

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

 

SEVIERVILLE, TN – The Tennessee Smokies have announced that the club will be hosting a Job Fair at Smokies Stadium on Saturday, February 19 from 10:00am until 3:00pm. When arriving please enter at The Batter’s Box Bar + Grill Restaurant located on the left side of the parking lot.

The job fair will feature positions from many departments with part-time and seasonal positions within Smokies Stadium. The Tennessee Smokies are looking for employees who are able to work all home games and additional events as needed inside Smokies Stadium. Most games are held during evening hours of the week and many weekends.

Available departments include new hires for food and beverage, ticketing, production, promotions, merchandise, and stadium operations.

Food and Beverage is looking to fill positions for cooks, cashiers, runners, servers, picnic attendants, and group area attendants. Other available positions in the Restaurant include cooks, servers, bartenders, and hosts.

Ticketing is looking to fill positions for ticket takers, ticket sellers, and group area attendants.

Promotions and Production are looking to fill positions for mascots, rally crew promotion team members, camera operators, and press box personnel.

Merchandise is looking to fill team store representatives.

Stadium Operations is looking to fill positions in first aid, ushers, and kid zone attendants.

Most Smokies Stadium positions require a person to stand and walk for extended periods of time, as well as run, sit, navigate stairs, kneel, or crouch. Prospective employees may also be asked to occasionally lift and/or move up to approximately 25 pounds and be exposed to various weather conditions and noise levels.

The Smokies will commence their 2022 home opener against the Chattanooga Lookouts on Friday, April 8, 2022. Season ticket information can be found online at smokiesbaseball.com, or by calling the Smokies Ticket Office at 865-286-2300.

ABOUT THE TENNESSEE SMOKIES

The Tennessee Smokies are the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Members of the eight-team Double-A South League, Smokies baseball has been entertaining families and fans of America’s national pastime in the East Tennessee region for over 100 years. To learn more about the Tennessee Smokies, visit www.smokiesbaseball.com.