Louisville Bats

MiLB, Derrick Hall Pro-State Foundation team up to educate fans about prostate cancer

June 15, 2017

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

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. and PHOENIX — Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) and the Derrick Hall Pro-State Foundation are partnering for the second consecutive year to bring prostate cancer awareness information to millions of baseball fans across the country this Father’s Day weekend. The effort is being coordinated by Minor League Baseball Charities, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to giving back to and enhancing the communities MiLB teams call home, and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

As part of the collaboration, MiLB teams will distribute prostate cancer awareness literature, including customized brochures, and branded mini bat keychains to fans attending Father’s Day games on Sunday, June 18. In addition, each team will recognize an outstanding dad in its local community or someone who is battling or has survived prostate cancer and present him with an engraved full-size Louisville Slugger Father’s Day commemorative bat at the game, courtesy of the Derrick Hall Pro-State Foundation.

The Derrick Hall Pro-State Foundation, a certified 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in January 2013 by Arizona Diamondbacks President & CEO Derrick Hall as a comprehensive tool for those who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and their families to help them understand the challenges and choices they face.

“I am extremely grateful to Minor League Baseball for helping continue to spread awareness about the importance of prostate cancer screening and early detection,” said Hall, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2011. “For the second consecutive year, the collective reach of these ballparks to men around the country has already helped many overcome the challenges of prostate cancer and will continue to save so many lives. The journey can be quite frightening but a positive state of mind is powerful medicine and hopefully this information will help those diagnosed realize that they’re not alone.”

“The Derrick Hall Pro-State Foundation initiative on Father’s Day is one of the many charitable causes that Minor League Baseball, Minor League Baseball Charities and our teams have chosen to support in our ongoing quest to be good citizens in our communities and make a lasting impact on our fans,” added Pat O’Conner, Minor League Baseball President & CEO.

For a list of Minor League Baseball games this Father’s Day weekend, visit MiLB.com/schedule. To learn more about Minor League Baseball Charities and its Charity Partners Program, visit MiLB.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 2016, Minor League Baseball attracted 41.3 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 www.MiLB.com.

Follow Minor League Baseball on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Louisville Slugger Field to host Miracle League Kick-Off Event

September 8, 2016

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

Rendering of the future Miracle League of Louisville field located in Fern Creek

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Miracle League and the Louisville Bats organization have partnered together for a special event at Louisville Slugger Field. This event is for all to meet and greet current Louisville Bat Jermaine Curtis and learn more about the Miracle League. Curtis will be meeting and signing autographs at the FREE Miracle League kick-off event at Louisville Slugger Field from 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 11.

The Miracle League is a baseball complex for children with physical, cognitive and/or emotional disabilities to play in an organized baseball league. The event will have raffle drawings along with a free hat giveaway to all veterans and first responders as the Miracle League will recognize their service on September 11.

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

Buddy Bat joins Family Scholar House mini-marathon team

April 20, 2015

MEDIA ADVISORY

CONTACT:

Nicole Gabriel

Community Engagement Specialist

[email protected]

Mobile: (502) 219-7657

BUDDY BAT JOINS “WILL RUN FOR BOOKS” MINI-MARATHON TEAM

BUDDY BAT SUPPORTING FAMILY SCHOLAR HOUSE THROUGH THE MINI-MARATHON

WHAT:

On Saturday, April 25, Buddy Bat, the official mascot of the Louisville Bats, will participate in the Kentucky Derby Festival’s mini-marathon to support Family Scholar House. Fellow runners and walkers are encouraged to post a selfie taken with Buddy Bat during the race and use #BuddyRuns4Books to be entered into a drawing for a prize pack of Louisville Bats tickets and memorabilia. As our community prepares for the mini-marathon, Family Scholar House is posting training tips on Facebook, including one to be posted on Tuesday of Buddy Bat training for the mini.

Cathe Dykstra, Chief Possibility Officer of Family Scholar House, has known Buddy Bat (AKA Jeremy Sharfe) as an educator and community leader for many years. Cathe said, “The only thing bigger than Buddy Bats’ head is his heart. He really cares about families and giving everyone a chance to learn and grow.”

Family Scholar House, a nonprofit organization, is changing lives, families and communities through education. Family Scholar House provides comprehensive, holistic programming and support services for disadvantaged single-parent college students and their children. This is the first year that Family Scholar House has been an official charity included in the Kentucky Derby Festival’s mini-marathon.

WHERE & WHEN:

Monday, April 20th, at 3pm – Buddy Bat will be training at Proformance, 2041 River Road.

Saturday, April 25th – KDF mini-marathon course (you can’t miss him!)

MORE INFORMATION:

For more information, contact Nicole Gabriel at (502) 813-3085 or [email protected]

About Family Scholar House

Our mission is to end the cycle of poverty and transform our community by empowering families and youth to succeed in education and achieve life-long self-sufficiency. To date, Family Scholar House graduates have earned 186 college graduates. Family Scholar House’s four Louisville-area campuses are home to 215 families with 324 children.

To learn more, please visit our website at www.familyscholarhouse.org or find us on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Louisville Bats. Click here to view the original story.

Bats to wear camo jerseys to benefit PVA

February 2, 2015

The Louisville Bats will wear special digital camouflage jerseys at all Sunday home games in 2015 to benefit the Kentucky-Indiana Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America. Koetter Construction will provide the jerseys, which will be auctioned following the conclusion of the season with 100 percent of the funds being donated to the local PVA chapter. The jerseys will be introduced at the team’s noon press conference Wednesday at Louisville Slugger Field.

A nonprofit organization, many of PVA’s volunteers are dedicated veterans who have taken up the cause to not only fight on the battlefield together, but on the battlefield at home. The mission of the Kentucky-Indiana PVA chapter is to improve the quality of life of U.S. Military Veterans and others with spinal cord dysfunction through the use of advocacy, research, sports and recreation, education and communication.

“The partnership with the Louisville Bats and Koetter Construction will give us the exposure we so desperately need,” said Kevin Sparks, president of the Kentucky-Indiana PVA chapter. “Our hope is when fans see a camouflage uniform at a Bats game or anywhere else, or a sign for Koetter Construction, that they immediately think of our paralyzed veterans here in the Louisville and Kentuckiana area.”

“Koetter Construction is very proud to partner with the Bats and sponsor the Sunday military camouflage jerseys as a fundraiser to support the Paralyzed Veterans of America,” said Bob Koetter, Jr., president of the Floyds Knobs-based company. “We have been a past supporter of the PVA because we like to show our appreciation of our veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom.”

“I would hope that these camouflage jerseys will remind people to thank a veteran, especially those who have come back missing limbs or being paralyzed from an accident while fighting for our freedom,” Koetter added. “I also hope people will support the PVA financially by participating in the auction at the end of the season.”

The PVA works continuously to raise awareness of the issues that paralyzed veterans face every day. There are a variety of ways to help. Visit www.kipva.org to become a volunteer, donor, sponsor or learn about supporting the group at its events.

Kentucky-Indiana PVA contact: Vickie Lincks, Executive Director, 502-635-6539, [email protected]

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Louisville Bats. Click here to view the original story.

Bats donate over $6,800 to Kosair Children’s Hospital

August 6, 2014

The Louisville Bats Baseball Club will donate more than $6,800 to Kosair Children’s Hospital, the beneficiary of the first ever Star Wars Night held on Sunday, July 27 at Louisville Slugger Field.

A crowd of 10,015 showed up at the ballpark to watch the Bats play host to the visiting Charlotte Knights in special edition Star Wars jerseys. On Monday, July 28 the authentic jerseys were put up for auction on batsbaseball.com and available for bidding until Monday, August 4.

With the bidding period now over, the 50 jerseys were sold for $6,854.80 with all proceeds going to Kosair Children’s Hospital.

“Star Wars Night was a great success and we are pleased to be able to make this gift to Kosair Children’s Hospital,” said Bats President and CEO Gary Ulmer.

For more than a century, Kosair Children’s Hospital has cared for the children of Kentucky and Southern Indiana without regard to their families’ ability to pay. Kosair Children’s Hospital is Kentucky’s only full-service, free-standing pediatric care facility dedicated exclusively to caring for children and is an advocate for the health and well-being of all children.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Louisville Bats. Click here to view the original story.

Bats host Military Appreciation Day during eight-game homestand

May 21, 2014

The Louisville Bats begin an eight-game homestand Thursday, May 22 at Louisville Slugger Field that will feature two fireworks shows, a patriotic hat giveaway and Military Appreciation Day.

The patriotic cap giveaway on Saturday, May 24 will be the second of the Bats’ four regular-season cap giveaways. The caps will be given to the first 2,000 fans through the gates. The Bats will face the Buffalo Bisons, Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, for four games from Thursday, May 22 through Sunday, May 25.

Military Appreciation Day will be on Monday, May 26. All retired and current military personnel and their families will receive free field reserved tickets with proper military identification. Monday will feature the first of four games against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees.

Fireworks during this homestand will be on Friday, May 23 and Memorial Day Eve on Sunday, May 25.

The Bats depart for Columbus on Friday, May 30 for the first two games of a split four-game series with the Columbus Clippers, Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team returns to Louisville for two more games with Columbus on Sunday, June 1 and Monday, June 2. Sunday, June 1 will be 50-Cent Hot Dog Night at Louisville Slugger Field.

Louisville finished a 6-2 road trip through Norfolk and Durham on Tuesday and comes home sitting in third place in the IL West at 22-23, just 4.0 games back of first-place Indianapolis. The trip was the team’s first six-win road trip since July 2010. Outfielder Felix Pérez is hitting .296 in May and leads the International League in RBI and extra-base hits in the month, including four home runs on the road trip.

The Bats have averaged 8,979 fans per game at Louisville Slugger Field since its opening in 2000 and have totaled over 8.8 million fans through 14 seasons. Tickets for all regular season games are available. The entire 2014 Bats schedule, including updated promotions and special events, can be found at batsbaseball.com. Single-game tickets may be purchased online, by calling 1-855-228-8497 or by visiting the Louisville Slugger Field box office. Full and partial season tickets along with group outings and suite rentals are available by calling the Bats front office at 502-212-2287.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Louisville Bats. Click here to view the original story.

Buddy Bat writes children’s book to benefit Family Scholar House

March 14, 2013

Official release at Bats’ annual open house event

WHAT:

Jeremy Sharfe, a special education teacher at Doss High School has been performing as Buddy Bat for 11 years. He recently wrote A Different Kind of Buddy and will officially release the book at the Louisville Bats annual open house for season ticket holders. Mascot Buddy Bat and illustrator Andrew Kirby will be signing books at the event.

WHERE:

Louisville Slugger Field

WHEN:

Saturday, March 16

10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Books are free to Bats season ticket holders attending the open house and both the author and illustrator will be available to sign books. Others interested in obtaining a book, may contact Family Scholar House at 813-3086. Books are provided as a gift with a donation of $10 or more to Family Scholar House, and all donations will support children’s programming.

Family Scholar House’s children’s programs include the following:

Toddler Book Club

Buddy Bat Book Club

Healthy Me!

Children for Change

Passport for Success

Family Nutrition & Wellness

Family Scholar House’s mission is to end the cycle of poverty by giving single-parent students the support they need to earn a college degree. Currently, 175 families with 278 children live at Family Scholar House’s residential campuses in Louisville and Southern Indiana. All of these families are low-income and have experienced homelessness or unstable housing. FSH parent scholars are full-time college students, with children of all ages, who are pursuing post-secondary education – most often while also working – to achieve career-track employment and make a better future for their children.
This article originally appeared on the official website of the Louisville Bats. Click here to view the original story.