Fireflies Announce Holiday Lights Community Initiative 

COLUMBIA, SC – The Columbia Fireflies today announced that they will host Six Weeks of Giving during Fireflies Holiday Lights. Six Weeks of Giving is a series of holiday drives benefitting six local community organizations. Each organization will host a week-long drive that guests can support by bringing donation items with them to Fireflies Holiday Lights to help aid those in need this holiday season. For the inaugural Six Weeks of Giving, the Fireflies have partnered with Toys for Tots, Oliver Gospel Mission, Epworth Children’s Home, Harvest Hope, Edventure and Pawmetto Lifeline.

“Christmas and the holidays are a season of giving, and we wanted to make sure that we kick off the Fireflies Holiday Lights tradition with a way for our community to give back to those in need,” said Fireflies Team President, Brad Shank. “Our team always wants to serve our community in everything that we do, and we are excited to partner with these six great organizations to provide an opportunity for our guests to be able to give while they are out enjoying this amazing light show.”

The schedule for the drives is as follows:

  • November 21-27: Toy drive benefitting Toys for Tots
  • November 28-December 4: Clothing drive benefitting Oliver Gospel Mission
  • December 5-11: Cleaning supplies drive benefitting Epworth Children’s Home
  • December 12-18: Canned food drive benefitting Harvest Hope
  • December 19-24: Book drive benefitting Edventure Children’s Museum
  • December 26-31: Pet food drive benefitting Pet Soup from Pawmetto Lifeline

Detailed lists of items needed for each drive can be found on Fireflies social media channels and on FirefliesHolidayLights.com.

Holiday Lights attendees can also expect to hear bells ringing as they approach Segra Park every evening as the Fireflies have partnered with the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign to be a kettle host site during all 42 nights of lights this holiday season.

Fireflies Holiday Lights starts at Segra Park November 19 and run through December 31. The lights will be closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Tickets for all 42 nights of lights are on sale now. For tickets or more information about the event, including ticket pricing and promotions, visit FirefliesHolidayLights.com.

Blue Wahoos To Host Two Education Day Games In 2023

For the first time in franchise history, the Blue Wahoos will host a pair of morning Education Day games during the 2023 season, offering an educational day at the ballpark to local students from schools across the Panhandle.

“We’re very excited to pack Blue Wahoos Stadium with local students and provide a fun-filled and educational field trip experience for local schools at the ballpark,” team president Jonathan Griffith said. “Our mission is to improve the quality of life in our community, and creating an enriching and enjoyable learning experience at our games for local students will be a fun new step towards that goal.”

Pensacola’s Education Day games will be held on Wednesday, April 19 against the Birmingham Barons and on Wednesday, May 3 against the Mississippi Braves. Both games will start at 11:00 AM with gates opening one hour prior to first pitch.

Tickets to each game are $16 per student and include the Blue Wahoos game, group seating in the seating bowl, educational activities throughout the event, and a ballpark meal for each attendee. Schools interested in reserving their spot can contact the Blue Wahoos at (850) 934-8444 or by email at [email protected]

Season Ticket Members will have the exclusive opportunity to enjoy both games from the Hancock Whitney Club at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

Click here for more information and to fill out the interest form!

2nd Annual Heroes Softball Game is Tuesday Night at Fluor Field

The 2nd Annual Heroes Softball Game between the City of Greenville Police and Fire Departments will take place at Fluor Field on Tuesday, November 8th. First pitch for this charitable softball game is set for 5:30 PM, and the Main Street Gates to the ballpark will open at 4:30 PM.

The event will also feature a special appearance from the Clemson Tigers Baseball team. Players and coaches will meet with fans and attendees, as well as serve as umpires, coaches, and more throughout the evening!

The event is complimentary to the public, but you must claim a ticket in advance of the event by CLICKING HERE. While the event is complimentary, donations are encouraged throughout the event, as both the Police Department and Fire Department raise money for charity.

The beneficiary of this year’s game is The Julie Valentine Center, a non-profit organization that provides free, confidential services to sexual assault and child abuse survivors and their families. As a community organization, they depend on the community to enable them to provide these services to our neighbors. You can contribute to this great organization by CLICKING HERE.

Concessions will also be available for purchase during the Heroes Softball Game.

The Police Department took home the victory in last year’s inaugural event, so the Fire Department will be looking to even the series at Fluor Field on October 30th.

Youngsters from Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket Enjoy Games 1 and 2 of World Series in Houston

The Worcester Red Sox continued a Rhode Island tradition that dates back 72 years by sending two kids with their chaperones to Games 1 and 2 of the World Series that took place in Houston last Friday and Saturday.

Nallah Goss (10) and Nolan Myers (9) from the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket landed in Providence on Sunday evening after witnessing an extra innings, 6-5 victory for the Phillies on Friday, and a 5-2 Houston victory on Saturday, where they saw fellow Rhode Islander Jeremy Pena drive in the first run of the game with an RBI double.

The Houston shortstop attended high school in Providence and would later play his college ball at the University of Maine, so he was a player that the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket kids were keeping their eye on.

“The seats were unbelievable,” said Sean Myers, father of nine-year-old Nolan. “We are grateful to the WooSox for continuing this tradition and providing us with an experience that we will never forget.”

“It’s one of the best community traditions in all of Minor League Baseball,” said WooSox Vice President of Community & Player Relations Joe Bradlee. “It was our pleasure to keep it going for the second consecutive season in Worcester, and it’s important for all of us to continue our partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket.”

The two children were randomly chosen during a Boys & Girls Club outing at Polar Park this season.  This year’s trip marks the 32nd year that the franchise has sent two children from the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket accompanied by adult chaperones to baseball’s Fall Classic.

It all began in 1950 when the New York Football Giants’ longtime running back, Hank Soar, became an American League baseball umpire.  Soar, who grew up in Pawtucket and graduated from what is now Tolman High School, had discovered umpiring by Central Mass native Connie Mack, the legendary owner and manager of the Philadelphia Athletics.  After Soar established the annual ritual of providing tickets to a pair of children, the City of Pawtucket assumed the responsibility before passing the torch to the Pawtucket Red Sox in 1990.  After completing 50 years in Rhode Island in 2020, the club is sending the students this year for the second time as the Worcester Red Sox.

Very Shrimpy Christmas presented by the Law Offices of Ron Sholes and Fun 4 First Coast Kids set for Dec. 10

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are inviting families to kick off the holiday season with the fifth annual Very Shrimpy Christmas event presented by The Law Office of Ron Sholes P.A. and Fun 4 First Coast Kids from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday, December 10 at 121 Financial Ballpark. Admission is only $1 per person at the home plate gate, with free parking available in Lot P.

Fans can enjoy free pictures with Santa Claus, holiday crafts, vendor tables with treats and visits from Jumbo Shrimp mascots Southpaw and Scampi as the HD videoboard as 121 Financial Ballpark screens holiday movie classics. Concessions, holiday treats and refreshments will be available for purchase. Additionally, the Jumbo Shrimp Souvenir Store will be open.

A Very Shrimpy Christmas is a stroller and wheelchair-accessible event with seating available both on the concourse and in the stadium seating bowl. The field will not be open for this event, and no outside food or beverages will be permitted into the ballpark.

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.

WooSox Preserve Pawtucket Tradition by Sending Two Kids from its Boys & Girls Club to the World Series

WOOSOX PRESERVE PAWTUCKET TRADITION BY SENDING

TWO KIDS FROM ITS BOYS & GIRLS CLUB TO THE WORLD SERIES

2022 marks 72nd anniversary of tradition established in 1950

by longtime American League Umpire Hank Soar

WORCESTER, MA – Continuing a Rhode Island tradition that dates back 72 years, the WooSox Foundation, in conjunction with the Worcester Red Sox, will send a pair of youngsters from the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket on an all-expense-paid trip to see Games 1 and 2 of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX, this Friday and Saturday night.

Nallah Goss, 10, and Nolan Myers, 9, will attend the opening games of the World Series with their chaperones and return to Rhode Island on Sunday.

“These kids are going to remember this experience for the rest of their lives,” said Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket CEO, Jim Hoyt. “We’re grateful that the Worcester Red Sox are continuing this tradition that goes back decades, and that they haven’t forgotten about our kids in Pawtucket. It’s one of our favorite traditions.”

“We’ve had the pleasure of carrying on this amazing tradition for over three decades during my time in Pawtucket – first with the PawSox Foundation and now the WooSox Foundation,” said WooSox Vice Chairman Mike Tamburro, the longtime president of the PawSox. “Once again this year we are pleased to continue this custom in Worcester and give these Pawtucket Boys & Girls Club families a proper send-off from our new home at Polar Park.”

The two children were randomly chosen during a Boys & Girls Club outing at Polar Park this season. This year’s trip marks the 32nd year that the franchise has sent two children from the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket accompanied by adult chaperones to baseball’s Fall Classic.

It all began in 1950 when the New York Football Giants’ longtime running back, Hank Soar, became an American League baseball umpire. Soar, who grew up in Pawtucket and graduated from what is now Tolman High School, had discovered umpiring by Central Mass native Connie Mack, the legendary owner and manager of the Philadelphia Athletics. After Soar established the annual ritual of providing tickets to a pair of children, the City of Pawtucket assumed the responsibility before passing the torch to the Pawtucket Red Sox in 1990. After completing 50 years in Rhode Island in 2020, the club is sending the students this year for the second time as the Worcester Red Sox.

“This long standing tradition has meant so much to our children,” said Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien. “We thank the WooSox for continuing to provide opportunities for youth in Pawtucket.”

Celebrate Halloween At The Ballpark Friday And Saturday!

Blue Wahoos Stadium will host a pair of Halloween events during the upcoming weekend beginning with a showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Friday, October 28 followed by the return of the annual Wahooloween celebration at the ballpark on Saturday, October 29.

Guests ages 18+ can experience The Rocky Horror Picture Show on the big screen at Blue Wahoos Stadium this Friday at 8:00 PM. Gates open at 7:00 PM and attendees are encouraged to come in costume prepared to sing and dance along with the cult classic film. Tickets are $20 and include a prop bag (while supplies last) to participate with the film. Guests may sit in the stands at the stadium or bring a blanket to enjoy the film from the field. Click here for tickets

The festivities continue on Saturday at Wahooloween, a family-friendly, all-ages event. Gates open at 5:00 PM and guests can trick-or-treat around the ballpark until 6:00 PM with over 30 vendors handing out candy and treats. At 6:00 PM, guests can settle in for a showing of the Halloween hit Hocus Pocus on the videoboard. Tickets are $7 and include trick-or-treating and the film. During the movie, guests may sit in the stands at the stadium or bring a blanket to watch from the field. Halloween costumes are highly encouraged. Click here for tickets

Outside food and beverage may not be brought into the stadium at either event. Chairs, wagons, strollers, and high heels may not be brought onto the field at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

Tickets to both events are available at BlueWahoos.com, by phone at (850) 934-8444, and at the ballpark box office.

WooSox to Present 2nd Annual “Trick-or-Treat” at Polar Park on Sunday 10/30 from 2pm-7pm

WOOSOX TO PRESENT 2nd ANNUAL “TRICK-OR-TREAT AT POLAR PARK,” FEATURING A POLAR PARK PUMPKIN PATCH

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, FROM 2–7 p.m.

DOGFEST NEW ENGLAND” WELCOMES POOCHES 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Free event includes 4:30 p.m. showing of Pixar’s “Coco” on videoboard,

trick-or-treating, pumpkin-decorating contest, and costume contest;

Fans encouraged to wear costumes

WORCESTER, MA — The Worcester Red Sox will present the second annual “Trick-or-Treat at Polar Park,” featuring a Polar Park Pumpkin Patch Sunday, October 30, from 2–7 p.m.

The event is free and doesn’t require a ticket to attend. Youngsters can trick-or-treat in Suites 14 through 22 on the first-base side of the DCU Club. WooSox staff will pass out candy and trinkets.

At the First Base Plaza, fans can participate in a pumpkin-decorating contest to win a WooSox Halloween Swag Bag. A panel of WooSox judges, including mascots Smiley Ball and Woofster the WonderDog, will select the winning design. Fans can bring their own decorated pumpkins, and the WooSox will also provide a supply of pumpkins for those who choose to create their art on the spot.

In addition, the fan with the “Best Costume” will win four DCU Club tickets to a game in WooSox ’23 and a large bag of candy.

Pixar’s Coco will be played on the left field videoboard at 4:30 p.m. Fans can watch the film from the seating bowl or inside the DCU Club, where there will be free movie-themed snacks. Adult beverages, including some with a special Halloween theme, can be purchased at the cash bar.

Halloween-themed music will be played throughout the ballpark. Families can take photos in front of backdrops in Sections 9 and 16.

Fans are encouraged to wear costumes. Fans can also purchase WooSox Halloween merchandise, now available at woosox.milbstore.com or the WooSox Team Store at Polar Park.

Before the Halloween party begins, Canine Companions will host “DogFest New England” at Polar Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Furry friends and families can enjoy activities, inspiring speakers, dog demonstrations, and other entertainment to benefit the nonprofit that ensures that guide dogs are free of charge to the individuals and families who need them. The event is free, and fans are asked to sign up in advance at canine.org.

Coco (2017)

Despite his family’s generations-old ban on music, young Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead. After meeting a charming trickster named Héctor, the two new friends embark on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.

—WOOSOX ’22—

Nashville Sounds Foundation to Host Suites-N-Treats Event at First Horizon Park

The Nashville Sounds Foundation announced the return of its kid-friendly, Halloween-themed Suites-N-Treats event at First Horizon Park on Tuesday, October 25 from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

For the first time since 2019, the Sounds and their Club Level suite owners will decorate the Club Level suites at First Horizon Park. Participants are invited to trick-or-treat, moving about the Club Level to collect candy and participate in each suite’s festivities.

Tickets are available for $5 each and can be purchased here. All proceeds will benefit the Nashville Sounds Foundation. All participants must purchase a ticket to enter First Horizon Park

The Sounds welcome attendees to dress in costumes of their choosing, provided they comply with the costume policy for this event. All costumes are subject to inspection upon entry or at any time over the course of the event at the discretion of personnel. Toy and replica guns/weapons are prohibited. Costumes of any kind that cover the head and face are allowed but must be removable during security screening and/or as requested by event staff.

The Nashville Sounds are the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers and play at First Horizon Park. The 2023 season begins at home on Friday, March 31 against the Louisville Bats. Season ticket memberships are available now. For more information call 615-690-4487 or e-mail [email protected].

WooSox Infielder Ryan Fitzgerald and Pitcher Durbin Feltman Headline Inaugural “Thank You Care-A-Van” Sept. 29 through Oct. 1

After wrapping up their season finale in Rochester, WooSox Infielder Ryan Fitzgerald and pitcher Durbin Feltman lead the club’s Inaugural “Thank You Care-A-Van” that ran from Thursday, September 29, and wrapped up at David Prouty High School in Spencer during their homecoming on Saturday, October 1.

The Care-A-Van began at Elm Park Elementary School in Worcester at 10:00 AM, where Feltman and Fitzgerald read to children, and where the club also partnered with the Juniper Outreach Foundation to install a food pantry in the school. Founded in February of 2020, the Juniper Outreach Foundation helps combat food insecurity in the Worcester Public Schools and provides basic necessities to children in need.

From Elm Park, the WooSox headed to Worcester’s Net of Compassion on Main Street, where they distributed food and supplies to some of the city’s homeless population, and they concluded the afternoon at the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester, where they played interactive games with kids in the club’s after-school program.

“It was a pleasure to stick around Worcester for a few days after our season ended,” said WooSox infielder and 2022 Community Spirit Award winner, Ryan Fitzgerald. “Worcester has been a community that’s supported us all season long, and it was a lot of fun to be able to give back with my friend and teammate Durbin Feltman.”

UMass Memorial Hospital was the WooSox’ first stop of the day on Friday, September 29, to cheer up kids going through a challenging time in their Children’s Medical Center. After UMass, the ballplayers spoke to the baseball program at Worcester Academy, along with students in their sports marketing program. Friday wrapped up at the Worcester Public Library for a reading in the “WooSox Book Nook,” followed by a dinner with veterans at Worcester’s Veterans Inc.

“It was great being in Worcester for a few days, doing good deeds throughout this community,” said WooSox pitcher Durbin Feltman. “Worcester was an awesome city to pitch in all season long, and being able to give back for a few days after our season ended was the perfect way to begin the off-season.”

The players and WooSox club officials also attended Anna Maria College’s groundbreaking on Saturday for their new multi-purpose baseball field at noon October 1, and spent the remainder of the afternoon at David Prouty High School’s homecoming in Spencer, taking photos and signing autographs in the school’s gymnasium.

Just days later, on October 4, Spencer and East Brookfield residents voted “Yes” in a special election on a ballot initiative to pay for a $112 million renovation of David Prouty High School.

Best in Class: Student MVP program returns

MOOSIC, PA (October 14, 2022) – The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and NEPA Crane & Hauling are pleased to announce the Student MVP program is returning for the 2022-23 academic year. Local elementary school and middle school students can be honored and rewarded for their efforts during the current school year!

Principals can register their schools by clicking here.

The Student MVP program uses the fun of RailRiders baseball as an incentive and reward system for students at no cost to schools, teachers or the students themselves. Teachers at participating schools will create criteria and help track students towards their goal of becoming an MVP. A limited number of MVP awards are available at each grade level in each school, helping incentivize and reward positive academic and behavioral development.

“NEPA Crane & Hauling is proud to team up with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and show our support to students in our local area,” said Jeff Keeney, the owner of NEPA Crane & Hauling. “Students today are faced with many challenges and often their hard work goes unnoticed. NEPA Crane & Hauling is extremely proud of our local students for their hard work and dedication to their education, and we are cheering them on as they strive to reach their goals and chase their dreams.”

Each Student MVP will be honored at the RailRiders game on Friday, June 23, 2023. Additionally, each MVP will receive:
• A Personalized Award Certificate signed by the RailRiders General Manager, CHAMP and completed by their teacher
• A shout out on the video board during the game, welcoming all of our RailRiders Student MVPs attending the game
• A special gift from NEPA Crane & Hauling and the RailRiders

The deadline to register is November 22, 2022.

For more information, contact Krista Lutzick, the Community Relations Manager for the RailRiders, at [email protected] or by calling (570) 558-4616.

INTERNSHIPS: Apply to Work for the 2023 Season

The Fort Wayne TinCaps (High-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres) are currently accepting résumés, cover letters, and references from students that are interested in being considered for an internship position during the 2023 season. Interviews will be conducted starting in November and early December, and the expectation is to have the internship positions filled as soon as possible. Please don’t call/email in regards to the status of your résumé. We’ll contact all interested candidates for either a phone interview or update with an email for your status.

Click here for the team’s 2023 schedule.

Internships are for the following positions:

  • Hospitality
  • Video Production
  • *Ticket Office / Group Sales *
  • *Marketing / Community Relations / Promotions *
  • *Merchandise *
  • *Grounds Crew *

Catch The 30th Annual Soul Bowl On Saturday At Blue Wahoos Stadium

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

The 30th annual Soul Bowl will be played at Blue Wahoos Stadium on Saturday, October 15 from 9:00 AM until 6:30 PM. The full-day youth football festival pits the crosstown rival SYSA Tigers against the East Pensacola-Magee Field Rattlers in five different age-division games.

The fun-filled day at the ballpark will begin with the kickoff of the first game at 9:00 AM with subsequent games following at 10:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 2:30 PM, and 4:00 PM. Age divisions include 6-under, 8-under, 10-under, 12-under, and 14-under.

Gates will open at 8:00 AM. Tickets purchased in advance are $9 and include access to all five games. V.I.P. tickets are available for $50 which include access to the full day of football and an exclusive chef-prepared meal in the Hancock-Whitney Club at the ballpark from 12:00-2:00 PM. General Admission and V.I.P. tickets are available AT THIS LINK.

Outside of the ballpark, a family-fun tailgate experience will be set up, offering a variety of Soul Food, food trucks, and vendors to guests. Stadium concessions will also be open and available inside the stadium. Food and beverage purchased from the event vendors may be brought into the stadium, but other outside food and drink is prohibited.

The 2022 Soul Bowl is made possible through the support of Troy Rafferty and Levin Papantonio Law Firm, Cox Communications, and Florida Blue.

Boo Bash 2023 at BayCare Ballpark

CLEARWATER, Fl. – The City of Clearwater Parks & Rec Department, along with the Threshers, invite the community to the 2023 edition of Boo Bash at BayCare Ballpark. This free, family-friendly Trick-or-Treat event is on October 31st from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Local businesses and vendors will be passing out candy to kids on the concourse as families walk table to table. Hay rides, games and an on-field costume parade highlight the evening. The playground, concessions, and facilities will be open.

BayCare Ballpark is located at 601 N Old Coachman Rd in Clearwater.

Boomer’s Drive-Thru Trick or Treat Returns October 28

The Williamsport Crosscutters, in association with the City of Williamsport, have announced the return of Boomer’s Drive-Thru Trick or Treat, a free trick or treating experience for children and their families. The event will take place in the Muncy Bank Ballpark parking lot on Friday, October 28 from 6pm-9pm and is sponsored by UPMC, the UPMC Health Plan and Backyard Broadcasting.

The event will be hosted by Boomer, the Cutters popular mascot, and give children age 14 and under in costume, the opportunity for a fun, safe, trick or treating experience. Over twenty other exhibitors, including some of Boomer’s mascot buddies, are slated to be part of Boomer’s Drive-Thru Trick or Treat.

Crosscutters Vice-President of Marketing and Public Relations Gabe Sinicropi stated, “Due to the overwhelming attendance over the past two years, we have added an extra hour so that we can accommodate as many children as possible.” Over 800 kids passed through the event in 2022.

All participants will be required to stay inside their vehicle as they receive treats from the Williamsport Crosscutters and other area businesses. Those attending are required to enter the Muncy Bank Ballpark lot via the West 4th Fourth Street entrance only. Entry to the stadium property will close at 9pm. All vehicles will exit at the back of the stadium on Blaine Street.

Any local businesses who would like to be part of this event, at no charge, can contact the Cutters at (570) 326-3389.