Youth Field Renovation Nominations Sought

Email Kelly Gooley by Friday, March 21 for consideration

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The IronPigs are currently seeking nominations for local little league fields that need field renovations this spring. Please email Kelly Gooley at kgooley@ironpigsbaseball.com with your contact information by Friday, March 21 at 12 p.m. to garner consideration.

The winning youth little league organization will receive a complete infield renovation from IronPigs head groundskeeper Ryan Hills and members of the IronPigs front office staff! The IronPigs will assist in all facets of this renovation in an effort to get your league ready for the upcoming season.

For more information, please contact Kelly Gooley at kgooley@ironpigsbaseball.com or call (610) 841-1213.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Click here to view the original story.

Dusty Wathan Hosting Catching Clinic on March 30th

Fightins skipper to teach advanced catching skills for up-and-coming catchers

Fightins manager Dusty Wathan will be hosting a catching clinic on March 30th from 5:00 to 6:15 p.m. for catchers ages eight & up. (Ralph Trout)
Fightins manager Dusty Wathan will be hosting a catching clinic on March 30th from 5:00 to 6:15 p.m. for catchers ages eight & up. (Ralph Trout)

As the Reading Fightin Phils prepare for the 2014 season, manager Dusty Wathan is giving local youth catchers a chance to do the same for their respective baseball seasons at the Dusty Wathan Catching Clinic on Sunday, March 30th from 5:00 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. The clinic will provide players ages eight through college aged the opportunity to work on advanced catching skills with the Fightins skipper.

Sign-up to Wathan’s coaching clinic cost $60 per person and $50 per person if you sign up three or more individuals. To reserve your spot in the clinic, sign up via Fightins.com or call 610-370-BALL.

A former major league catcher, Wathan had a 14-year career playing in the Seattle Mariners, Florida Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Indians, and Philadelphia Phillies minor league systems. He made his major league debut in 2002 with the Royals, going 3-for-5 with an RBI in three games.

Wathan is heading into his seventh season managing at the minor league level where he has a record of 138-146 in the past two seasons as manager of the Fightin Phils. Since he took over the reins in 2012, Wathan has seen 14 of his players, including Darin Ruf, Cody Asche, and Jonathan Pettibone, go on to make their debuts in the majors. He has also had a major hand in the development of standout Phillies catching prospects Cameron Rupp, Tommy Joseph, and Sebastian Valle.
This article originally appeared on the official website of the Reading Fightin Phils. Click here to view the original story.

Community Organization of the Night returns to Dow Diamond for 2014 season

Loons, SVSU will spotlight local organizations at Dow Diamond

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MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons and Saginaw Valley State University are pleased to present the “Community Organization of the Night” promotion for the 2014 season at Dow Diamond.

Sponsored by SVSU, the “Community Organization of the Night” will give non-profit groups the opportunity to win up to $1,500, while also spotlighting their organization at a Loons home game and through various media.

Non-profit organizations wishing to participate can do so by purchasing a minimum of 20 tickets to their scheduled game. Each organization will get a skirted table set up on the concourse to display information about their group, radio mention on ESPN 100.9-FM, and a Dow Diamond public address and video board announcement.

Helping to drive traffic to the group’s table will be an entry form box in which fans can enter a drawing to win an iPad Mini, courtesy of SVSU.

The organization which sells the most tickets to a Loons game during the season will receive $1,000. Organizations also are automatically entered into an end-of-season raffle to win an additional $500.

For more information or to book a “Community Organization of the Night” date, contact Amber Ferris at aferris@loons.com, or 989-837-6140, or James Cahilellis at jcahillellis@loons.com, or 989-837-6173.

The Great Lakes Loons are an eighth-year Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Loons ticket staff is currently taking orders for individual game tickets, ticket packages and group outings for the 2014 season. For more information, visit Loons.com or call 989-837-BALL.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Great Lakes Loons. Click here to view the original story.

Bradenton Boosters Make Annual Donation

Money Assists Pirates Charities in Manatee County Efforts

Bradenton, Fla. – The Bradenton Boosters today presented their annual donation to Pirates Charities. The club’s officers presented a check for $35,000 to Pirates Senior Director of Florida Operations Trevor Gooby before the Spring Training game against the Philadelphia Phillies at McKechnie Field.

The Bradenton Boosters have volunteered at Pirates Spring Training since 1969. Members of the Boosters work as ushers, program sellers, parking lot attendants, and several other roles at McKechnie Field and Pirate City. The Boosters annual donation has helped to grow several Pirates Charities programs in Manatee County, such as the Fields for Kids program and the Miracle League of Manasota.

Pirates Charities is the official philanthropic arm of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Since its creation in 2006, Pirates Charities has made focused financial contributions to causes benefitting youth health, fitness, and education. For more information about Pirates Charities visit www.Pirates.com/community.

For more information about the Pirates Spring Training, call 941-747-3031 or visit www.Pirates.com. To purchase tickets to the game call 877-893-2827 or visit the McKechnie Field Ticket Office on weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., or Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

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

Missions and Corner Store announce Kids Corner program

Donations allow San Antonio youth an opportunity to watch America’s Pastime

San Antonio – The San Antonio Missions, in a joint effort with Corner Store, are thrilled to announce a brand new Kids Corner program for the 2014 season.

The Kids Corner program will provide non-profit youth organizations with tickets to a Missions home game as well as concession credit.

“Corner Store is proud to be a sponsor of the Kids Corner program,” said Kim Bowers, president and CEO of CST Brands, the parent company of the Corner Stores. “Supporting our San Antonio youth is something we are very passionate about, and this program gives kids a chance to feel special and enjoy one of America’s favorite pastimes.”

“We’re very excited to offer San Antonio youth an opportunity to watch professional baseball that they may otherwise not have,” said Missions’ General Manager Dave Gasaway. “We’re thankful to have Corner Store team up for this great cause.”

The San Antonio Missions takes the role of community leadership very seriously. It is the goal and responsibility of the organization to become a community leader in the Alamo City. In 2003 the Missions created Missions CARE, a non-profit charitable organization. Missions CARE gives back to the community in many forms such as: scholarships to student-athletes, Missions “Rookie League”, local donations and mascot appearances.

Non-profit youth organizations looking to take part in this program can contact Missions’ PR Director Rich Weimert at 210-554-1513 or rweimert@samissions.com.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the San Antonio Missions. Click here to view the original story.

Scrappers Announce Return of Scout Night and Introduce Patch Design Contest

NILES OH – The Scrappers are excited to announce the return of Scout Night to Eastwood Field during the 2014 season. Both Boy and Girl Scouts are invited to register for the August 8th Scrappers Game. The Scrappers are offering a $15 Overnight Ticket Package and a $5 Game Ticket Only Package for the event.

In addition to the pregame parade, meeting the team, and the opportunity to join the team on the field for the National Anthem, the Scrappers are introducing a Patch Design Contest. Scouts of all ages who have registered for Scout Night are invited to create a patch. All patches must be 3.25 inches in diameter or smaller, and contain nine or fewer colors. Patches will be judged based on creativity, integration of baseball and the Scrappers logos, and overall esthetic appeal. Designs must be submitted by Friday, June 13, 2014.

The winning patch will be selected by the Scrappers front office and distributed to all scouts attending the 2014 Scout Night. The creator of the patch will also have the opportunity to throw out a first pitch at a 2014 Scrappers home game.

Interested Scouts can download the form on www.mvscrappers.com and create their patch in one of the two shapes provided. All forms should be completed and faxed to (330) 505-9696 or mailed to:

Mahoning Valley Scrappers

111 Eastwood Mall Blvd.

Niles, OH 44446

Attn: Scout Patch Contest

For more information about the August 8th Scout Night please visit www.mvscrappers.com or contact Group Sales Manager Chris Sumner at (330) 505-0000.

 

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. Click here to view the original story.

Kernels partner with Goodwill to serve Goodwill Great Cookies™

Made by Veterans here in the Heartland

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Cedar Rapids, IA – The Cedar Rapids Kernels and Goodwill have partnered to bring our fans a delicious new product being made right here in the Heartland. Goodwill Great Cookies™ will be sold at all remaining Cedar Rapids Roughriders games (starting March 15th) and all Cedar Rapids Kernels games this season.

These huge, monster cookies are baked fresh from scratch by veterans in the Heartland and delivered by veterans. This program allows homeless and disadvantaged veterans job training and skill development to help them overcome barriers to independence. So when you buy a cookie at the Roughriders and Kernels, you will truly “Eat a Cookie, Save a Life.”

Visit www.kernels.com for game times or pick up a Kernels Pocket Schedule found at various locations around eastern Iowa.

Individual game tickets, 2014 season ticket packages and 10-game coupon books are on sale now at the stadium, or by calling the Kernels at (319) 363-3887. Ticket Office hours are 10 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, and 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday.

The 2014 Kernels arrive in Cedar Rapids on Monday, March 31st and the first chance to meet the new team is on Tuesday, April 1st as part of ‘Meet the Kernels Night’ from 5:00 to 7:30 pm. The Kernels open the 2014 MWL season on Thursday, April 3rd when they host the Clinton LumberKings at 6:35 pm.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels are the Midwest League affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
This article originally appeared on the official website of the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Click here to view the original story.

Gwinnett Braves Announce January and February Grant Recipients

“I Have a Dream” themed grant goes to Lekotek, “Hearth Month” themed grant awarded to Camp Twin Lakes

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – The Gwinnett Braves have announced the recipients of their $1,000 grants for the months of January and February. Lekotek of Georgia has been awarded January’s “I Have a Dream” themed grant, aimed at assisting an organization that grants wishes, dreams and opportunities for the youth, elderly, injured or sick. Camp Twin Lakes will receive February’s “Heart Month” themed grant, intended to benefit an organization that promotes awareness for heart-related diseases and illnesses.

Lekotek of Georgia, founded in 1983, has made a difference for more than 5,500 families from metro Atlanta, rural Georgia and beyond. Lekotek’s goal is to facilitate the inclusion of children with disabilities into their families, schools and communities by providing accessible play, adapted toys, technology, information and resources.

Last year, 626 children with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, hearing and/or vision loss, spina bifida, mitochondrial disorders and genetic conditions benefited from the Lekotek’s vision of providing a world where children with disabilities were included and empowered through play.

The grant awarded by the Gwinnett Braves will fund the purchase of adapted toys, iPads and other electronic items to help children with disabilities reach their potential.

“This grant will make it possible for Lekotek to expand services at both our satellites in Duluth and Gainesville,” said Lekotek Director Helene Prokesch. “We appreciate the generous support of the Gwinnett Braves. We thank the Gwinnett Braves for promoting our mission of inclusion, where everyone is a player.”

While the Gwinnett Braves and Lekotek have formed a new partnership through the January grant, the team’s support of Camp Twin Lakes is continued with the February grant. The G-Braves and their parent club, the Atlanta Braves, have had a strong relationship with the camp for years.

For over 20 years, Camp Twin Lakes has provided life-changing camp experiences to thousands of Georgia’s children with serious illnesses, disabilities and other life challenges. CTL collaborates with nearly 60 nonprofit organizations, each serving a different population, to create customized programs for campers. Annually, more than 9,000 campers are served through year-round, medically-supported camp programming. CTL currently partners with three organizations that serve kids and teens who have heart defects, heart disorders or have received a heart transplant.

Every camp program incorporates activities that promote healthy habits such as biking, swimming, zip-line courses, rock climbing, and nutrition-based programming such as trying fresh vegetables picked from CTL’s Sustainable Teaching Farm. Biking along the paved trails throughout camp remains a Camp Twin Lakes favorite.

With the grant awarded by the Gwinnett Braves, Camp Twin Lakes will purchase new BMX bikes for campers to use on the trails.

“Our hope is to keep our campers excited about biking because it’s a fantastic exercise activity that is readily available to most on a year-round basis and not just during their time at camp,” said Eric Robbins, Executive Director of Camp Twin Lakes. “At our campsites, we have trails where campers can learn how to ride for the first time or can advance their biking skills. The addition of new BMX bikes will allow more campers to enjoy riding around camp. We are so grateful to the Gwinnett Braves for awarding us this grant to help us expand our biking program.”

About Lekotek: Lekotek of Georgia is a unique nonprofit, helping all children learn through play. Imagine you’re a child who wants to turn on a battery-operated toy or email a friend and you can’t because your hands are fisted. Or imagine you are a child who can’t speak but has lots to say. With adapted toys, computers and iPads, Lekotek makes it possible for every child to experience success, communicate and learn along the way. The word “Lekotek” comes from the Swedish work “lek,” meaning play, and the Greek suffix “tek” meaning library. Loosely translated, Lekotek means play library, but to the hundreds of families they help, it is much more. Lekotek is a safe haven from medical appointments and therapies. It’s a place where parents find resources and support while children have fun and learn. For more information about the program and how you can contribute, please contact Helene Prokesch at helene@lekotekga.org.

About Camp Twin Lakes:  Camp Twin Lakes is a nonprofit organization that provides year-round recreational, therapeutic and education camp programs for children and young adults facing serious illnesses, disabilities, and other life challenges. With its network of Camp Partners, Camp Twin Lakes provides life-changing experiences at its medically-supportive, state-of-the-art accessible camps located in Rutledge, GA; Winder, GA; Warm Springs, GA; children’s hospitals; and other locations throughout the state. For more information about Camp Twin Lakes and how you can contribute, please email contact@camptwinlakes.org.

For more information on the Gwinnett Braves Grant Program, including details on how your organization can apply, call Community Relations Manager Shay Marlowe at 678-277-0346 or email shay.marlowe@braves.com.

 # # #

 COUNTDOWN TO THE 2014 HOME OPENER (Friday, April 11, 7:05 PM vs. Durham): 29 Days

The Gwinnett Braves are the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. Follow the G-Braves at gwinnettbraves.com, facebook.com/GwinnettBraves1 and twitter.com/GwinnettBraves. Tickets for all 2014 home games are on sale now by calling the Coolray Field Ticket Office at 678-277-0340 or visiting gwinnettbraves.com.

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

SIXTH ANNUAL BEER FESTIVAL TO BENEFIT SUNCOAST HOSPICE FOUNDATION

Over 100 craft beers will be available for sampling on Saturday, October 4th highlighting the Hops for Hospice Beer Festival at Bright House Field. The sixth annual event, sponsored by the Clearwater Threshers and Frenchy’s Restaurants has already raised over $100,000 in its first five years which benefits the Suncoast Hospice Foundation.

Beer distributors in the Tampa Bay area will sample their latest and most popular craft beers to attendees during the 4:00-8:00 pm event. Distributors include Great Bay Distributors, JJ Taylor Distributors and Brown Distributors. Other vendors include a wine sampling area represented by Zonin Wines as well as a Green Screen Photo Booth.

Every attendee will receive a commemorative beer mug, sponsored by Abe’s Place Tap & Grill that can be used during the event to sample the products. Other activities include a corn hole tournament, a closest to the pin golf contest that takes place on the field sponsored by East Lake Woodlands Golf Club, music provided by a DJ at the Frenchy’s Tiki Pavilion located on the concourse in left field and food vendors including Abe’s Place Tap & Grill who will be raffling off an IPAD Mini.

Tickets are only $25 in advance or $30 on the day of the event and can be purchased at the Bright House Field ticket office (Mon-Fri 10-4 pm), by phone at 727-467-4457 or on-line. For Groups with 10 or more tickets, please contact Doug Kemp for a special discounted rate at 727-712-4316 or dkemp@ThreshersBaseball.com

Suncoast Hospice is a not-for-profit agency committed to serving individuals and families as they face chronic illnesses, near the end of life, deal with end of life issues or are in grief. To learn more about Suncoast Hospice, call (727) 586-4432 or visit TheHospice.org.

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

Salem Red Sox Eager to Salute Local Heroes

“Military Appreciation Baseball Card Giveaway” Scheduled for August 9

With Opening Day fast approaching, the Salem Red Sox are proud to announce an unprecedented promotion that will offer well-deserved recognition to some of the bravest men and women of the Roanoke Valley. In addition to creating a baseball card set of the Carolina League Champions in 2014, the team will also generate a pack of cards featuring many of the region’s dedicated servicemen and women for a “Military Appreciation Baseball Card Giveaway,” scheduled for Saturday, August 9 at LewisGale Field.

Starting immediately, fans can log onto the Salem Red Sox Facebook page and submit nominations of family members and/or friends who are worthy of inclusion in this one-of-kind creation. Each submission should include the following information:

  • Name with rank
  • Military Branch
  • Height
  • Weight (if wanted)
  • Years of service
  • DOB (if wanted)
  • Hometown
  • A bio about his or her history in the military (preferably 75-100 words)
  • A photo (headshot or full body in dress uniform)

Fans are asked to submit their candidates by March 31. After receiving nominees, all photos will be placed in an album where the “likes” will be tallied, and the 30 photos with the most “likes” will be chosen for this special card set. In the event of a tie, the earlier photo submitted will have the honor of being included as part of this collection. Voting via “likes” will continue through the first half of the season.

The final product will be a collector’s item of 30 cards, with 1,000 decks to be distributed to the first 1,000 fans through the gate on “Military Appreciation Night” on August 9, when the Salem Red Sox host the Potomac Nationals at 6:05. In addition to the hero recognition, that night at the ballpark will also include a free player poster giveaway along with the weekly Saturday spectacle “Nine Innings of Winning.”

The defending Carolina League champs open the 2014 season in Myrtle Beach on April 3, while the home opener at LewisGale Field, featuring the Mills Cup Trophy and championship banner unveiling, is scheduled for Tuesday, April 8 at 7:05 against Winston-Salem. For tickets or more information, please contact the Salem Red Sox Front Office at (540)-389-3333.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Salem Red Sox. Click here to view the original story.

Hit The Books underway in 31 area Elementary Schools

Annual reading program assists children in achieving goals

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MISSOULA, MONT. – The Missoula Osprey with help of their partners United Way of Missoula County & Sylvan Learning kicked off the clubs biggest and most successful community program, Hit the Books in 31 area elementary schools on Monday.

The Osprey started the Hit the Books Reading Program in their inaugural season in 1999 and has seen participation grow over time. 5,276 students spanning 246 classrooms are participating in the 2014 edition of Hit the Books, where annually nearly 50,000 books are read.

“Hit the Books is one of the best reading programs in all of professional baseball,” said Osprey Vice President/General Manager Jeff Griffin. “The program is incentive based designed for Missoula-area students to set goals and follow through with achieving them over a seven week period.”

“Learning should be fun and reading should be a joy for all kids,” said longtime supporter and Chief Executive Officer of United Way of Missoula County Susan Hay Patrick. “We are happy to partner with the Missoula Osprey on Hit the Books to help give over 5,000 Missoula County kids not only baseball tickets, but a love of reading that will benefit them for a lifetime.”

Hit the Books is set up like a baseball game, meaning there are nine innings (three books equals one inning), where students receive a different prize for each inning completed. Every student that participates gets a letter of achievement, a free ride at the Carousel of Missoula and is entered to win a Kindle Reader and a summer of tutoring at Sylvan Learning. Other prizes include Osprey themed school supplies, an exclusive dessert party with team mascot, Ollie and ticket vouchers to an Osprey game. Over $100,000 in prizes was awarded to area students in 2013.

The program culminates with a celebration at one of eleven Osprey home games designated as Hit the Books Nights, where students are honored for their achievements.

“Sylvan Learning is excited to partner with the Missoula Osprey to encourage young children in our community to develop a love for reading,” said Michael Hoag, Director at Sylvan Learning.

“The program wouldn’t be what it is today without the support of our partners,” said Griffin. “We are also very proud of all of time the students and teachers put in to make it a success. Educators tell us the program helps motivate students as summer vacation approaches.”

 

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

AquaSox Job Fair Wednesday from 4-7

Available part-time positions include bat boy, concessions, usher & box office

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Download an AquaSox Day of Game Application Here

Everett, WA – The Everett AquaSox, minor league affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, are holding a casting call for gameday employment on Wednesday, April 9 from 4-7 PM at the AquaSox front office (3802 Broadway). This is a drop in event, so job seekers are welcome to come in anytime between 4-7 to drop off their application.

To expedite the process on April 9, the AquaSox are encouraging all job seekers to print and fill out a job application in advance. The application can be found at aquasox.com. In order to be considered for employment during the 2014 season, you must attend the casting call.

“Our gameday employees are a huge part of the experience that our fans have at the ballpark,” said AquaSox Executive Vice President Tom Backemeyer. “We are excited for the upcoming season, and are looking forward to adding even more great gameday employees to our staff here at Everett Memorial Stadium.”

Job seekers will have the opportunity to fill out an application for part-time gameday positions and learn more about specific job responsibilities for each position. The AquaSox will not be conducting one-on-one interviews at the casting call. Following the casting call, the AquaSox will invite a select number of candidates back to the stadium to interview for open positions.

The AquaSox are looking for part-time “cast members” in the following roles: Frog Squad/promotions team, concessions managers, cooks and hawkers, ushers, ticket office, ticket takers, parking attendants, Fun Zone inflatables area, souvenir store, press box and bat boys. For specific job responsibilities, visit the AquaSox official website at aquasox.com.

The ideal candidates must be trustworthy, outgoing, reliable and enthusiastic. All applicants also must be 16 years of age or older by June 11 to work for the AquaSox.

For more information about the casting call, contact the AquaSox front office at 425-258-3673 or Download an AquaSox Day of Game Application Here

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

ValleyCats announce youth field renovations

Four fields to be renovated in under 24 hours

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TROY, NY- The Tri-City ValleyCats, with the support of BlueShield of Northeastern New York, will renovate four youth ball fields in less than 24 hours on Thursday, April 17. As part of the ‘4 in 24’ program, Schenectady Little League, Twin Town Little League, Berne-Knox-Westerlo Little League, and Spring Youth Baseball, will all receive renovations to their playing surface.

In 2014, Little League Baseball and the New York-Penn League each celebrate their 75th anniversary. Additionally, Schenectady will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the original Schenectady Little League’s World Series win in 1954. The Michigan Avenue field, which will receive the renovation, was home to the 1954 team. In a statement issued by the Schenectady Little League Board of Directors, the league expressed its gratification on being selected:

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our league and our community. We now have the opportunity to give this field a much-needed makeover, that will enable us to begin the transformation of the Michigan Avenue complex into a monument to be looked upon in the years to come as a positive influence in our city, and to our baseball community. We are humbled by this decision, and look forward to partnering together with both the Tri-City ValleyCats and our community, to make this a positive experience for our young athletes.”

Twin Town Little League, the ValleyCats neighbors across the street from “The Joe,” and Berne Knox-Westerlo Little League, will also celebrate Little League’s 75th anniversary with a brand new playing surface.

Twin Town will receive the renovation on the field where it plays all of its championship games, and most all-star tournament games.

“For years we have wanted to make significant repairs to our Williams Road No. 2 field, but have not had the resources. This will truly make it our signature field. Twin Town Little League is excited to partner with the ValleyCats on such a special project that will serve children in the community for years to come,” said Bob Schuman, President, Twin Town Little League.

The field in Berne felt the effects of Hurricane Irene, and has never been the same since.

“Fixing our field has been on the league’s wish list for at least six years. It has only gotten worse over that time, to the point where it has become a safety concern,” said Kevin Toomey, President, Berne-Knox-Westerlo Little League. “We are a small league with an equally small budget, so getting this done was going to be a real challenge for us. We managed to buy some good baseball dirt a few years ago, but Hurricane Irene came through a few months later and took it all away. To have someone come in and take care of this all at once is a dream come true.”

Spring Youth Baseball has been part of the Troy community since 1955, and provides house and competitive travel baseball to children from 3-12 years old.

“We are honored, excited and grateful for being selected by the Tri-City ValleyCats for the ‘4 in 24’ field renovation program. It will allow our organization to improve field conditions and maintain a fun, safe atmosphere for kids to continue to learn the game of baseball at all levels. The kids that play ball at Spring and for the Renegades will surely be excited to step onto a field that the Tri-City ValleyCats are responsible to help renovate.”

This spring will be the fourth straight season of the ‘4 in 24’ project, and continues to be one of the ValleyCats most important yearly initiatives.

“Each year the ‘4 in 24’ project provides an opportunity for our front office to get out into the community and support today’s youth by refurbishing ball fields. We couldn’t do it without the outstanding support of BlueShield of Northeastern New York, who shares our deep commitment of giving back to our communities,” said Rick Murphy, Vice President / General Manager, Tri-City ValleyCats.

In 2012, the ValleyCats and BlueShield of Northeastern New York formed a strong community partnership known as the Community Grounds Crew, an expanded initiative to assist local youth leagues with maintenance and upkeep of their fields throughout the spring and summer. Their mission is to provide the youth of the Capital Region with a safe place to play, learn, grow, and most importantly, have fun.

“BlueShield is proud to continue our support for the third year,” said Dr. Kirk Panneton, regional executive and medical director, BlueShield of Northeastern New York. “This initiative aligns perfectly with our corporate mantra, ‘healthy changes everything.’ Playing on a safe and well-maintained field is good for our region’s children, and it’s good for our community. We congratulate the Tri-City ValleyCats for their continued maintenance of more than 10 fields that have been transformed.”

The four fields will receive brand new sod, bases, a home plate and pitcher’s mound, and the baselines will be measured to the correct specifications. The entire scope of the project will be completed in one day.

The efforts will also be aided by the support of Admar Construction, who will provide the necessary equipment to complete the renovations. Other support comes from the New York-Penn League Charitable Foundation, whose contributions come from past events held at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Tri-City ValleyCats. Click here to view the original story.

Popular Dash Baseball Academy returns in 2014

Children ages 5-12 will learn from players, coaches at BB&T Ballpark

For a third consecutive season, BB&T Ballpark will host three sessions of the Dash’s Youth Baseball Academy, powered by The Hitting Zone. Young baseball players between the ages of 5 and 12 will interact with Dash players and coaches while improving their hitting, pitching and baseball skills during the three-day session.

The cost for each participant is $120 for the entire session. In addition to the baseball training, each student will receive lunch all three days, along with a Dash t-shirt and hat. Plus, all participants will receive two tickets to a Dash game during their session. At this game, they will be recognized for their work during the academy.

The Baseball Academy runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on three consecutive days. Here are the three sessions’ dates, along with the day of the Dash game to which each student will receive two tickets:

Session 1: July 7-9 (Dash game on July 9)
Session 2: July 16-18 (Dash game on July 16)
Session 3: August 12-14 (Dash game on August 14)

To register for this year’s Baseball Academy, fill out the registration form, which is available here.

For more information on the Dash’s Baseball Academy, call Nick Jones at (336) 714-6891.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Winston-Salem Dash. Click here to view the original story.

WWII Veteran Joe Bell Named First Military Trading Card

95 year-old local hero to take part in Salute to the Military Day

San Jose, CA– The San Jose Giants are excited to announce that 95 year-old, World War II veteran Joe Bell has been named the first trading card in their Salute to the Military Trading Card Set, presented by Operation: Care and Comfort. Bell has become an instant star over the past few days after video was taken of him in military uniform spontaneously shaking runners’ hands in front of his house Sunday morning as part of a run to benefit the Pat Tillman Foundation. The video of Bell and the runners has since been viewed and shared on the Internet over one million times.

“Joe Bell represents the true essence and spirit of what it means to be an American hero,” said Juliana Paoli, San Jose Giants Chief Marketing Officer. “We are honored to have Joe as the first card for our Military Trading Card Set, presented by Operation: Care and Comfort. We want to continue to encourage the community to nominate their loved ones and be part of the festivities on April 13 as we Salute the Military at Municipal Stadium.”

The San Jose Giants Military Trading Card Set will be made up entirely from fan nominations of current or former members of the military. Winners will be selected in mid-March and be unveiled during the season preview press conference at San Jose Giants FanFest on Monday, March 31. Nominations will be accepted until Wednesday, March 12 and all submissions must be accompanied by a photo of the nominee, in military uniform, sent to info@sjgiants.com. Click here to submit your nomination.

First pitch for the San Jose Giants home opener will take place at 7:00 PM on Thursday, April 10 against the Bakersfield Blaze. San Jose’s 2014 season begins on Thursday, April 3. The Giants will host games at Municipal Stadium on Mother’s Day (May 11), Memorial Day (May 26), and Independence Day (July 4).For information on the 2014 season and ticket packages please visit sjgiants.com, call (408) 297-1435 or visit the Municipal Stadium Box Office Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the San Jose Giants. Click here to view the original story.