Crosscutters Accepting Applications for Hot Stove Dinner Charity

 

The Williamsport Crosscutters are now accepting applications from area non-profits for the 14th Annual Hot Stove Dinner & Auction to take place January 15, 2020 at the Genetti Hotel in Downtown Williamsport. The event will feature ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian and other baseball celebrities to be announced.

 

Each year, a portion of the proceeds from the evening are donated to a local non-profit.  “Our Hot Stove Banquet is one of the highlights of the off season,” stated Gabe Sinicropi the team’s Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations. “We look forward to another night of fun and the opportunity to raise needed funding for a worthy local charity.”

 

Local non-profit agencies who wish to be considered must complete and return a short application by November 14, 2019. The application is available online at the link below, at the Cutters offices at Historic Bowman Field or you can request an application by emailing sarah@crosscutters.com.

 

A full guest list and ticket details regarding the annual dinner will be announced in the coming weeks. Businesses wishing to receive sponsorship information for the event may contact the Crosscutters at (570) 326-3389.

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD APPLICATION

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

OceanFirst Foundation Donates $38,000 Through Home Runs for Heroes

 

LAKEWOOD, NJ – OceanFirst Foundation donated $38,000 to area non-profit organizations and military-based programs through the 2019 Home Runs for Heroes Program. The program is a partnership between the BlueClaws, OceanFirst Foundation, and Townsquare Media.

“We are honored to once again partner with the OceanFirst Foundation for this amazing program,” said BlueClaws Team President Joe Ricciutti. “Our men and women of the military, both veterans and active, risk their lives to keep us safe here at home. This program is a great way to give back and we thank OceanFirst Foundation for their support.”

“The 2019 season was a great success and we’re delighted that BlueClaws home runs resulted in $38,000 of donations by OceanFirst Foundation. This brings our eleven year total awarded through Home Runs for Heroes to $376,000. We thank the BlueClaws organization and Townsquare Media for giving us the opportunity to work together to bring much needed relief to local military families with special needs,” said Katherine Durante, Executive Director of OceanFirst Foundation.

Home Runs for Heroes grants provide financial support to charities that meet the emergency basic needs of veterans and local service men and women – active and retired – and their families during difficult times. Non-profits were paired with each inning of the game and each BlueClaws home run hit at FirstEnergy Park meant a $1,000 donation to the charity (or charities) corresponding with the inning in which the home run was hit.

The program has now completed 11 seasons and raised $376,000 towards different organizations. See the full 2019 donation table below:

Organization Inning Home Runs Total
Cape May Coast Guard 1st 1 $1,000
American National Red Cross / GI Go Fund 2nd 3 $3,000
Deborah Heart & Lung Hospital Foundation / Vetgroup 3rd 3 $3,000
Chariot Riders / National Guard State Family Readiness Council 4th 1 $1,000
Army Emergency Relief / Navy Marine Corps. Relief Society 5th 5 $5,000
Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Southern NJ / Catholic Charities (Trenton) 6th 1 $1,000
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8867 (Brick) / Operations 1st Response 7th 2 $2,000
Lt. Dennis Zilinski II Memorial Fund 8th 3 $3,000
Citizens Veteran Advisory Committee 9th + Extras 4 $4,000

The BlueClaws are the Jersey Shore’s top stop for affordable, family entertainment. The team will open their 20th season at FirstEnergy Park on Thursday, April 16th. 2020 ticket packages are currently available by calling 732-901-7000 option 2 or online at BlueClaws.com/Tickets.

Since its founding in 1902, OceanFirst Bank has built a solid reputation and legacy as a good neighbor and responsible corporate citizen. The Bank’s strong commitment to helping families, organizations, schools and communities throughout central and southern New Jersey meet their financial needs has spanned several generations, reaching new heights in 1996 with the creation of OceanFirst Foundation. The Foundation provides grants to organizations that meet community needs within the OceanFirst market. Since its inception, OceanFirst Foundation has contributed in excess of 7,500 grants totaling more than $39 million to over 900 local charities throughout central and southern New Jersey.

– BlueClaws / OceanFirst –

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

Chukars Celebrating Jerseys For Charity Program

 

Idaho Falls, ID – The Idaho Falls Chukars at 4 PM on Friday will be presenting the funds raised by the Jerseys For Charity program inside the front office at Melaleuca Field. This year the Chukars donned six different special jerseys in support of community charities.

The East Idaho Public Health Department Mammogram Voucher Program, EIRMC Auxiliary, the Idaho Falls Community Food Basket, Mountain View Charity, the John L Scott Foundation, YMCA STEM Scholarship Fund, Haven, and City of Refuge are the programs supported by the money raised from these jerseys. These programs are sponsored by East Idaho Regional Medical Center, Idaho Potato Commission, Teton Cancer Institute, John L Scott Real Estate, Elevation Labs and the International Institute of Massage Therapy respectively. Representatives from these charities will be at Melaleuca Field to collect the money raised by the jersey auctions for their specific charities.

Following the presentation, members of the Chukars front office will head over to Buffalo Wild Wings at Snake River Landing to display the Pioneer League Championship Trophy. Fans can take a photo with the trophy from 5-7 PM and there will be order forms available for 2019 Pioneer League Championship T-Shirts.

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

West Bend Mutual & Senz Insurance Donate $1,500 to Stateline CF

 

BELOIT, WI – On August 20, 2019, West Bend Mutual and Senz Insurance donated $1,500 to the Beloit Stateline Community Foundation for the Snappers hitting 30 home runs at Pohlman Field in the 2019 season.

The check was accompanied with a presentation during the game on Aug. 20th when the Snappers played the Burlington Bees. Snappers General Manager Jeff Gray, Sheryl Bell of West Bend Mutual, and Mark Senz, Dennis Senz, & Pete Marino of Senz Insurance were all on hand to donate the check to the Stateline Community Foundation.

“West Bend Mutual, Senz Insurance, and Stateline Community Foundation are great partners that have continued to support the Beloit Snappers throughout our history, and we are very grateful to have them as partners. They do a tremendous job of supporting the Snappers on and off the field and help strengthen the Stateline community,” said Jeff Gray talking about the partnership with the Snappers.

This strong, long-lasting bond has been in effect since 2007 and the group continues to make positive strides not only at Pohlman Field, but within our local community.

As another season has officially wrapped up, the Beloit Snappers are looking forward to the 2020 season and continuing the incredible experience of professional baseball right here in Beloit with terrific partners like West Bend Mutual, Senz Insurance, and Stateline Community Foundation.

Lastly, the Snappers would like to thank West Bend Mutual, Senz Insurance, and Stateline Community Foundation for their continuous support of Beloit Snappers professional baseball.

The Beloit Snappers are a member of the Midwest League and have been the Single-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. For more ticket information, contact the Snappers office at (608) 362-2272 or visit our website, www.snappersbaseball.com

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

Season In Review | Ems Go Above And Beyond To Benefit Local Community

 

With another season of Emeralds baseball now officially in the rear-view mirror, we’re taking a look back at some of the special moments and memories created during the 2019 season. Today, we reflect on all the good that the Emeralds imparted throughout the Eugene/Springfield community.

Over the past decade, the Ems have made a concerted effort to ingrain the organization within the fabric of Eugene/Springfield through countless community efforts and initiatives. With almost too many donations, drives and events to keep track of, let’s go by the numbers to see exactly how the Emeralds made a positive impact in Lane County during the past season.

$7,451: Dollars raised to benefit local nonprofits through Good Karma Monday.

Good Karma Monday, presented by Yogi, is a weekly ticket promotion created in recent years with the goal of supporting local nonprofit organizations and initiatives. During every Good Karma Monday throughout the 2019 season, fans were able to purchase discounted box seat tickets ($10) with 50% of ticket sales directly benefitting a local nonprofit organization. All told, the Ems raised a combined $7,451 that together benefitted the Pearl Buck Center, Relief Nursery, A Family For Every Child, and Womenspace.

7: Community focus nights.

The Ems aim to use their influence to shine light on causes and efforts that are near and dear to the organization. During the 2019 season, a total of seven (7) different home games were used to highlight important (local) causes, efforts, and personalities: PRIDE, Climate Change, First Responders Appreciation, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics), League Of Her Own (Lois Youngen – former AAGPBL Player), Suicide Prevention, and Military Appreciation.

5: Community events.

Even when there aren’t ballgames happening at PK Park, the Emeralds are often still playing their part in helping support the local community. All told, the Emeralds hosted five (5) separate non-gameday events during the 2019 season to support local nonprofits and organizations: American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, Eugene Police’s National Night Out, Eugene Food Truck Fest benefitting Eugene Mission, Wham Bam Kendall Jam Car Show benefitting Relief Nursery, and the Boys and Girls Club‘s Field of Dreams.

$3,500: Dollars raised through specialty jersey sales during the 2019 season.

Every year, the Emeralds front office collaborates to design one-of-a-kind, specialty jerseys to be worn on a select night during the season. During each specialty jersey game, fans in attendance can bid on the game-worn jerseys via a silent auction, and the auction winners receive their jersey directly from the corresponding player immediately following the game.

Below, you can find the corresponding nonprofit beneficiary for each specialty jersey worn by the Ems this past season.

PRIDE – HIV Alliance

Climate Change – Our Children’s Trust

Star Wars – Children’s Miracle Network

Black Panther – Ems Community Fund

3: Collection drives hosted to benefit nonprofit organizations.

The Emeralds hosted three separate community collection drives during the past season: a book drive benefitting United Way, a cat/dog items drive benefitting Greenhill Humane Society, and a new socks/underwear drive benefitting Eugene Mission.

6,500: Tickets donated to local elementary school students and teachers through Sluggo’s Home Run Reading Challenge, presented by Oregon Medical Group and Wildish.

Year after year, Sluggo and the Emeralds staff spend the spring visiting countless Lane County schools in an effort to encourage reading among children. Participating schools and teachers decide on a reasonable reading goal for their students’ respective reading levels. Once the individual goal is reached by a student, they automatically receive two free tickets to one of the Emeralds Reading Program Redemption games.

This year, the Emeralds hosted a total of eleven (11) Reading Program Nights with more than 6,500 total tickets donated to local elementary school students and teachers.

6: Monarcas games at PK Park this past season.

Starting in 2018, the Emeralds proudly joined “Copa de la Diversión,” or “Fun Cup,” a season-long event series specifically designed to embrace the culture and values that resonate most with participating teams’ local U.S. Hispanic/Latino communities. As such, the Emeralds created their own unique identity as Los Monarcas de Eugene, using the Monarch butterfly as a subtle and beautiful symbol for the migrant community. Every Sunday home game, the Emeralds transformed into los Monarcas by donning specially designed uniforms while also incorporating Latin-themed food, music, and decorations all throughout PK Park.

$6,850: Dollars raised through the 50/50 raffle for Eugene Little League and Boys & Girls Club.

25: Emeralds player outings and efforts within the community totaling more than 175 hours of volunteer work.

5: Days Emeralds players hosted baseball clinics during the season.

1: Guide dogs that the Emeralds helped train this season.

Last but not least, fans at PK Park likely noticed a new four-legged friend roaming the concourse during the 2019 season. Vegas, the Emeralds service dog in-training, joined the organization earlier this year under the direction of Anne Culhane, the team’s Director of Community Relations. Since his arrival, Vegas has been a (rapidly growing) staple at the Ems office and at PK Park, and thanks to Culhane’s guidance he’s also continued to take major steps towards his goal of one day becoming a service dog.

To learn more about The Joys of Living Assistance Dogs visit joydogs.org.

Stay up to date with the Emeralds by following the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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

The Rivalry: Red Sox – Yankees Greats Highlight Granite State Baseball Dinner

 

MANCHESTER, N.H. – The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays), the Fisher Cats Foundation, and the Ted Williams Foundation have confirmed the initial group of guests for the 2019 Granite State Baseball Dinner, presented by Northeast Delta Dental.

This year’s fundraising event will be held on Saturday, November 23 at 5 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown Hotel Expo Center. Since 2007, the event has hosted over 13,000 guests and donated more than $1.75 million to the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock (CHaD) and the Fisher Cats Foundation. Tickets are available at NHFisherCats.com.

Hall of Famers Goose Gossage and Wade Boggs headline the 2019 celebrity guest list, along with several other Red Sox and Yankees legends: Bucky Dent, Bill Lee, Luis Tiant, Rico Petrocelli and Bob Stanley. The players will sign autographs from 5 – 7 p.m., and share stories from their careers and the greatest rivalry in baseball during the subsequent dinner program.

New Hampshire’s own Chris Carpenter  will join the festivities, as the 2005 Cy Young Award Winner and two-time World Series Champion continues to donate his time to raise funds for the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock and the Fisher Cats Foundation.

Goose Gossage, a 2008 Hall of Fame inductee, will make his first appearance at the Granite State Baseball Dinner. Gossage pitched for nine teams in his 22 big league seasons, including seven with the Yankees (1978-1983, 1989). He was a nine-time All-Star and led the major leagues in saves for three years, including the 1978 World Series Championship season.

First Ballot Hall of Famer Wade Boggs will attend the dinner for a third time. A career .328 batter with 3,010 hits, he was the only player in the 20th century with seven straight 200-hit seasons. Boggs played 11 years in Boston to begin his career (1982-1992), and won the 1996 World Series with the Yankees. He spent his last two seasons in Tampa Bay, and in 1999 he became the first player to join the 3,000 hit club with a home run. Boggs entered the Hall of Fame wearing a Red Sox cap in 2005, and had his number 26 retired at Fenway Park in 2016.

Bucky Dent, a prominent figure in the Red Sox – Yankees rivalry, will make his Granite State Baseball Dinner debut. Dent is best known for his three-run home run in the 1978 American League East Tiebreaker Game. With New York trailing 2-0 in the top of the seventh, Dent’s go-ahead homer eventually led the Yankees to a 5-4 victory and a playoff berth. He was named 1978 World Series MVP, hitting .417 with 7 RBI in the six-game series win over the Dodgers.

Red Sox greats and popular baseball dinner mainstays Bill Lee, Bob Stanley, Rico Petrocelli and Luis Tiant — who all played against Gossage and Dent in the 1970s — will return to Manchester in 2019.

“When it comes to the best rivalries in sports, it doesn’t get any better than Red Sox – Yankees,” said Fisher Cats President Mike Ramshaw. “The Red Sox have had the upper hand in recent years, but there’s a lot of history between these two teams, and I know this year’s celebrity guests will have plenty of stories to tell.”

Tickets for this year’s event are $80 and can be purchased at NHFisherCats.com and by calling 603-641-2005.

Doors to the event will open at 5 p.m. with a silent auction and an autograph session with the honored guests from 5-7 p.m. The dinner and the evening’s program will begin at 7 p.m.

The primary beneficiary of the dinner is the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock (CHaD). CHaD, New Hampshire’s comprehensive, full-service children’s hospital, is committed to providing outstanding compassionate care for children and their families. Offering primary, specialty, and tertiary care to the children of New Hampshire, Vermont, and beyond, their focus includes keeping all kids healthy and safe.

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats established the Fisher Cats Foundation to be a catalyst for the betterment of communities statewide by supporting youth programs that encourage education and promote healthy living. Through the generous support of players, employees, sponsors, and fans, the Fisher Cats Foundation continuously works to make a positive impact throughout New Hampshire and north-central Massachusetts. As the primary funding source for the team’s philanthropy, the Fisher Cats Foundation supports a wide variety of non-profit organizations and coordinates several fundraising programs and events. Since its inception in 2006, the Foundation and the Fisher Cats have provided more than $5.7 million in monetary and in-kind donations to thousands of non-profit organizations.

The Ted Williams Foundation works to preserve and build on the rich tradition of our national pastime through education and outreach. Proceeds from the Granite State Baseball Dinner are instrumental in the Foundation’s mission to provide youth baseball programs and scholarships for deserving student-athletes. The Foundation is also an active partner with the Rays, Red Sox, Twins, Orioles & Phillies Organizations raising funds to provide assistance to their many charitable programs including the Boys & Girls Club, Pediatric Cancer, Animal Shelters and youth Diabetes programs.

For more information about the charitable Granite State Baseball Dinner, presented by Northeast Delta Dental, please call the Box Office at (603) 641-2005 or visit www.nhfishercats.com.

For tickets and information, visit www.nhfishercats.com.

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

C’s partner with The Cape Group on New Community Initiative

(Nat Bailey Stadium – Vancouver, B.C.) – The Vancouver Canadians Baseball Club in cooperation with The Cape Group are proud to announce a new community initiative that will give local baseball organizations the chance to truly make a difference for players of all abilities.

The Change-Up Field Project will award two (2) baseball organizations from within the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) with a grant of $50,000 to refurbish a facility/field that is utilized within their community for amateur baseball.

Applicants will have to meet a criteria set in place by The Change-Up Field Project (click HERE for details) and the recipients of this annual grant will be announced at the Vancouver Canadians Annual Hot Stove Luncheon in January of 2020.

“When we look at a submission from an organization, we are looking for goals that directly benefit the youth from within its membership,” states Vancouver Canadians President Andy Dunn.

“Whether it’s creating a better ballpark environment through field improvements or building something new for children of all abilities to access their ballpark – we are looking for constructed ideas that show a direct benefit to children from across the GVRD.”

Applications are now set to be received and close on November 1st, 2019.

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

IronPigs raise more than $26K on ‘Strike Out Cancer’ Night

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs in conjunction with Air Products, the Lehigh Valley Health Network Cancer Institute and the Lehigh Valley Cancer Community raised $26,100 while donating 450 IronPigs game tickets to those fighting cancer, or aiding the fight versus cancer, and their families for the special “Strike Out Cancer Night” game on Tuesday, August 20. All proceeds from the game were donated to the “Strike Out Cancer’ initiative.

For the second straight season, IronPigs fans, Air Products, the Lehigh Valley Health Network Cancer Institute, our sponsors and the entire Lehigh Valley Cancer Community made this night a memorable one”, said IronPigs President and General Manager Kurt Landes. “The entire community came out in such a strong way and we couldn’t be more thankful for the impact this night has made in the community and in helping to raise valuable funds for the fight against cancer.”

“Strike Out Cancer Night” has now raised just over $40,000 over the past two seasons combined. Last season, over $14,000 was raised in the first ever “Strike Out Cancer Night”.

Nine local organizations – Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley, Angel 34 Foundation, Life Always Facing Forward, Julia’s Grace Foundation, Cancer Support Community, Dream Come True, Boutique at the Rink, Women’s 5K Classic and the American Cancer Society were on-hand to help make this night memorable for the 8,551 fans who were in attendance on Tuesday evening. Each organization will share in the proceeds in helping to further their specific missions.

The highlight of the night, in the middle of the 5th inning, featured every fan in attendance standing in silence holding their “Strike Out Cancer” placard honoring their loved ones who are battling or have battled cancer.

All proceeds from the evening’s 50/50 raffle went towards the Strike Out Cancer initiative along with the proceeds from all Strike Out Cancer T-Shirt sales. The IronPigs donated $4 per ticket from the tickets purchased for the night through a special “Strike Out Cancer” link.

The team also hosted a raffle and sold a unique Purple Ribbon Drink Special throughout the game with all proceeds supporting “Strike Out Cancer.”

A list of additional sponsors who helped make this night possible: • Keystone Canna Remedies
• Olympus
• Buckno Lisicky & Company
• Bennett Toyota
• Joe’s Battery and Tire
• Diversified Refrigeration
• PALCS
• Clemens
• Apgar Oil
• Buzzi Unicem, USA
• Piramal Critical Care
• ASR Media
• KD & Son Heating
• Jean Roth
• Lehigh-Northampton Airport

The 2019 IronPigs season is the team’s 12th as the top affiliate for the Philadelphia Phillies and 12th at Coca-Cola Park. Follow the IronPigs on Twitter at @IronPigs and like them on Facebook via Facebook.com/LHVIronPigs.

The 2019 IronPigs season is presented by Capital BlueCross.

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

Jersey Auction Raises $2435 for CAMC Foundation

CHARLESTON, W. Va. (August 20, 2019) – Thanks to an overwhelming amount of support and donations from the community of Charleston, W.Va., the West Virginia Power was able to donate $2,435 to the CAMC Foundation from their recent ‘Hot Shot’ jersey auction held on CAMC Night, August 2, at Appalachian Power Park.

During the Power’s game against the Greensboro Grasshoppers on Friday, August 2, the team sported special baby blue jerseys with ‘Hot Shots’ embroidered across the front and a stethoscope snaking around the jersey top. The CAMC Foundation logo was displayed on the sleeve as well. Throughout the game, these jerseys were auctioned off on the LiveSource app, with fans bidding on them via their smartphones all across the country. The $2,435 raised during the event pushed the Power’s charitable donation total above $12,000 for the season.

“At the CAMC Foundation, our motto is ‘Giving you the power to change lives’. No truer words could be spoken about our partnership with the Power,” said Bryan Cummings, Senior Development Officer at CAMC. “Their players, administrators, and, most importantly, fans, have helped maximize the impact of charity and philanthropy in our community by connecting passionate donors to causes they care deeply about. Our shared investment in West Virginia creates an opportunity to share and increase knowledge, improve health care and pursue opportunities for positive change. It’s a home run in our eyes.”

The CAMC Employee Emergency Fund, where the money from this auction went towards, is a relief fund set up to assist fellow CAMC employees when something unexpected occurs, such as a sudden financial or medical expense. Over the 19 years that this program has been in existence, the CAMC Foundation has permitted more than 1,500 grants and upwards of $1,000,000 in grant money to employees who have dealt with natural disasters, unsafe living conditions, loss of family members, etc.

Most of the money circulated into this program comes from fellow CAMC employees, who donate anywhere from $2.00 to $15.00 per paycheck to help protect their co-workers when times get tough. According to the CAMC, “If every CAMC employee gave just $2.00 per paycheck, it would raise more than $350,000 a year!”

If you would like to make a donation to the CAMC Foundation, please send your gift/pledge to: CAMC Foundation, 3414 Staunton Ave., Charleston, WV 25304 or visit www.camcfoundation.org.

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

Breast Cancer Awareness Night a Home Run

The BlueClaws hosted Breast Cancer Awareness Night in conjunction with the American Cancer Society on Thursday night.

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LAKEWOOD, NJ – The BlueClaws and the American Cancer Society partnered on a successful Breast Cancer Awareness Night on Thursday at FirstEnergy Park. The event raised money through jersey and hat sales and included special ceremonies honoring survivors.

BlueClaws players and coaches wore special pink jerseys and caps that were auctioned off to benefit the American Cancer Society, netting almost $4,000.

There are a limited number of fitted hats and adjustable hats that are still available in the Claws Cove. All proceeds from these caps will benefit the American Cancer Society. These hats can be purchased online (fitted, adjustable).

PHOTO GALLERY – Click here to view a photo gallery.

“The American Cancer Society was thrilled to partner with the BlueClaws in helping to raise both money and awareness at the game on Thursday,” said Jennifer Lefthand, Senior Manager of Community Development for the American Cancer Society. “It was a special night, attended by many cancer survivors and we look forward to more events like this in the future.”

Video: Breast Cancer Awareness Night

Additionally, the BlueClaws honored several breast cancer survivors on the field before the game. These honorees were selected from a group of nominees submitted over the previous weeks through BlueClaws.com.

The crowd of 7,986 was the team’s third largest of the season and marked the 18th sell-out crowd of 2019.

The BlueClaws won the game 3-2 on a two-run walk-off home run by Ben Pelletier in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The BlueClaws are the Jersey Shore’s top stop for affordable, family entertainment. The BlueClaws have fireworks following games on August 16th, 17th, and 29th with the home schedule running through August 29th. Tickets are available by calling 732-901-7000 option 2 or online at BlueClaws.com.

– BlueClaws –

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

Four Winners Selected for $10,000 Grant

Four organizations have been chosen as the winners of the Durham Bulls Ballpark Project presented by Coastal Credit Union. Hillandale Sports Association, Hawfields Civitan Club, Northern Middle School and East Wake High School softball have each earned a $10,000 donation for facility renovations.

“For the second straight year we saw a highly impressive group of applications, and for the second straight year we had some very difficult decisions to make,” Durham Bulls Vice President Mike Birling said. “These four winners proved why upgrades to their facilities will be important in helping grow the sports of baseball and softball for years to come.”

Hillandale Sports Association expects to make renovations to improve the field’s drainage issues, and Hawfields Civitan Club will provide a large-scale renovation for the first time since 1975. Northern Middle School plans to provide upgrades to its joint baseball/softball field, and East Wake High School softball will resurface its infield for a safer playing surface.

Each facility will be renovated in the coming months, with a list of priorities submitted by each location. Additionally, a representative from each organization is scheduled to be honored on-field at Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Tuesday, August 6.

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

Legends to Host Lexington’s Pride Week Kickoff June 23rd

WHITAKER BANK BALLPARK (Lexington, KY) – The Lexington Legends, in partnership with Minor League Baseball’s new initiative MiLB Pride, announce today Pride Day on June 23rd. MiLB Pride is the largest documented Pride celebration in professional sports and the Legends’ event will help kick off Pride Week in Lexington.

“We are excited to help kick off Pride Week in Lexington this year! We want every fan that walks through our gates to know that they are welcome here. Baseball is for everyone,” said Legends President/CEO Andy Shea.

From 11am until the 3rd inning of the Legends game, the organizations will be accepting donations. Attendees can choose which organization they would like to donate to with donation boxes for each organization. At the start of the 3rd inning, the donations will be counted and tallied. The Legends will match the donations (up to $10,000) in proportion of the amount of the total donations the organization received. The total will be announced during the 4th inning. A cash bar will be open while DJ Crow spins the tunes and fans can snack on hors d’oeuvres.

Ten organizations from the Lexington area will attend the event: Arbor Youth Services, AIDS Volunteers, INC. (AVOL), JustFundKY, Kentucky Bourbon Bears, Moveable Feast, Lexington Fairness, Pride Community Services Organization (PCSO), PFLAG, and the University of Kentucky Office of LGBTQ+ Resources. The Imperial Court of Kentucky will also be performing throughout the event.

Throughout the game, the Legends will be featuring the ten organizations to bring more awareness of what each does for the LGBTQ+ Community in Lexington.

Tickets are $10 each and they include entrance to the event as well as a ticket to the Legends game with first pitch at 2:05pm. Parking will be free for attendees as well.

Gates for the Legends game will open at 12:30pm for Family Playtime on the Outfield and kids (12 and under) get in FREE!

The Legends, a Class A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and member of the South Atlantic League, play all home games at Whitaker Bank Ballpark in Lexington, Kentucky. For ticket information, call (859) 422-7867 or visit LexingtonLegends.com.

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

Cougars to Host Inaugural Mental Health Awareness Night on May 10

GENEVA, Ill. – The Kane County Cougars have teamed up with local organizations to host the teams inaugural Mental Health Awareness Night on Friday, May 10. First pitch is at 6:30 PM against the Lansing Lugnuts. For tickets, visit www.kccougars.com.

In an effort to strikeout the mental health stigma, the Kane County Cougars Baseball Foundation, Inc. will make a $100 donation for each strikeout recorded by a Cougars pitcher during the game. All funds will be divided among TriCity Family Services along with National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of DuPage and Kane County.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the awareness color is lime green. The team will take the field in their lime green jerseys while Cougars staff members will wear lime green ribbons.

Throughout the night, videos and public service announcements from Seize the Awkward as well as TriCity Family Services and NAMI will be played. TriCity Family Services, NAMI DuPage and Kane County will also be in attendance with information and resources available to those in need.

In addition, the Cougars are hosting a Mental Health Awareness contest. Fans are encouraged to create a poster promoting awareness for mental health issues. The Cougars will select 10 winners to receive complimentary tickets for the game on May 10. Poster submissions can be emailed to art@kanecountycougars.com. The winning posters will also be displayed throughout the ballpark.

Tweet from @KCCougars: #YourCougars are hosting our inaugural Mental Health Awareness Night on May 10! We need your help creating posters to promote awareness for mental health issues. Send your poster submissions to art@kanecountycougars.com for the chance to win. pic.twitter.com/XLZD6ncedk

Following the game, fans will be treated to the first post-game fireworks show of the season set to modern pop music. Fans are also invited to run the bases after the fireworks.

For updates on the Cougars 2019 season, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About the Kane County Cougars

The Cougars, Class-A Minor League affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, have been at the forefront of family-friendly entertainment since 1991. In 2015, the franchise became the first Class-A team in Minor League Baseball history to welcome 11 million fans through the gates. A total of 173 former Cougars have reached the Major Leagues including Miguel Cabrera, Nelson Cruz, Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez and Kyle Schwarber.

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

Blue Wahoos Donate Team Bus To Dixon School Of Arts And Sciences

The Blue Wahoos team bus will soon be seen on the streets of Pensacola again.

On Tuesday morning, Kazoo took one last drive in his trusty bus, taking it from the stadium to the nearby Dixon School of Arts and Sciences in downtown Pensacola to be officially donated to the school.

Since 2008, the K-8 charter school has provided for at-risk youth in Pensacola, fostering creativity through a curriculum centered on a world class fine arts program and science, technology, and math. Providing transportation for their students, both to and from school and to the host of nationwide academic competitions their students compete in, was a critical need for the school.

“What an honor and privilege it was to be able to present our Blue Wahoos bus to the students and faculty of Dixon Arts and Sciences this morning,” Blue Wahoos vice president of operations Donna Kirby said. “Our hope is that Dixon will be able to use this bus to help build on their exciting curriculum. Kazoo really loved all of the hugs and high fives that the students gave him, too!”

The school’s president, Dr. Donna Curry, and students from all grades met Kazoo and the Blue Wahoos outside the school and offered a tour of the grounds, showing off the art projects, dance studio, and music hall that help students positively deal with trauma through expressing creativity.

“We were so impressed to see the extraordinary and magnificent artwork that the students have created.” Kirby said. “There is no doubt in my mind that we are going to see that talent on display in museum and art galleries at some point in the near future!”

The Blue Wahoos selected the Dixon School of Arts and Sciences to receive the bus through a social media campaign to find a new home for the bus.

“We received entries from so many worthwhile local non-profits doing great work in our community. We wish we had a bus to give to each, as Pensacola has a tremendous community of charitable organizations helping make this city great,” Kirby said. “We were proud to select the Dixon School because their mission as a school aligns closely with ours as a ballclub, and the Studer Family of Companies has a strong focus on early learning and improving educational outcomes.”

The mission of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos is to improve the quality of life for citizens of Pensacola and make it the best place to live in the world. In their seven years in the Southern League, the team has won the league’s Community Service Award four times, including in each of the past three seasons consecutively.

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

Cougars Stand Aurora Strong; Announce Community Fund as Charitable Beneficiary

GENEVA, Ill. – The Kane County Cougars and the Kane County Cougars Baseball Foundation, Inc. have announced that they will donate a portion of the 50/50 raffle proceeds to the Aurora Strong Community Fund for the 2019 season.

Following the tragic event that took place at the Henry Pratt facility on February 15, the Cougars organization began brainstorming ways to show support for their local community. The decision was made that half of the proceeds raised through the sale of 50/50 raffle tickets throughout the 2019 season will be donated to support the families of the employees who lost their lives to this senseless act of violence.

Fans visiting the ballpark during the 2019 season can participate by purchasing 50/50 raffle tickets. Monies raised will be provided to the families via the Kane County Cougars Baseball Foundation, Inc. with the assistance of the Aurora Policemen Credit Union at the end of the 2019 season.

Additional details regarding an employee appreciation night for members of the Henry Pratt company as well as a first responders appreciation night for the Aurora Police and Fire Departments will be announced at a later date.

The Cougars 2019 season begins on Thursday, April 4 at 6:30 PM against the Clinton LumberKings. For more information, including the full schedule of theme nights, entertainment acts and giveaways, visit www.kccougars.com.

Follow the Cougars on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates on tickets and promotions.

About the Kane County Cougars

The Cougars, Class-A Minor League affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, have been at the forefront of family-friendly entertainment since 1991. In 2015, the franchise became the first Class-A team in Minor League Baseball history to welcome 11 million fans through the gates. A total of 173 former Cougars have reached the Major Leagues including Miguel Cabrera, Nelson Cruz, Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez and Kyle Schwarber.

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