Eastern League – Page 19

Challenger Day Returns to Canal Park Sunday

May 8, 2015

The 2015 Challenger Game competitors had a lot of fun last Saturday at Canal Park showing their skills off for the RubberDucks players! (David Monseur)

(AKRON, OHIO) May 8, 2015 – The Akron RubberDucks are partnering with Northeast Ohio Roy Hobbs Baseball again to bring back “Challenger Day” on Sunday, May 10 at 12 p.m., prior to the finale of the three-game series between the Akron RubberDucks and the Binghamton Mets, which starts at 2:05 p.m. It will be the 17^th year Challenger Day will be hosted at Canal Park, with the annual tradition started in 1999.

Challenger Day provides an opportunity for kids and adults with developmental disabilities to play a baseball game at Canal Park, and to meet and be cheered on by some of the RubberDucks players. Each participant will get to hit and play in the field, and get to experience what it is like to be a professional ballplayer for a day. Ages range from as young as seven to as old as 25.

“Challenger Day is one of the annual highlights of our schedule,” said RubberDucks general managerJim Pfander. “It is important to be able to give these young baseball players a chance to play at a facility like Canal Park, but the real fun comes from the smiles on the athletes’ faces and those on the faces of the RubberDucks players who are there to cheer them on.”

Challenger Day participants play in area Little League programs that include the Challenger program or in the Ohio Challenged Athletes program. Participants this year will be from teams in Hudson, Tallmadge, Green, Canton, Tuscarawas County, Barberton, including players from Akron and Cuyahoga Falls.

“The opportunity for these special athletes play baseball with the RubberDucks at Canal Park never ceases to be special,” said Tom Giffen, President of NEO Roy Hobbs. “We thank the RubberDucks for their support and involvement in this experience. It’s memorable for the youngsters and their parents as well as the RubberDucks players.”

Participants are scheduled to warm up at 11:45 a.m. with the game scheduled for 12 p.m. and it will last approximately one hour. At the conclusion, a team photo will be taken of the participants and the RubberDucks who cheered them on. Gates will open at 11:15 a.m. for any spectators.

Media are welcome to attend. If credentials or photos are needed, please contact director of public and media relations Adam Liberman at aliberman@akronrubberducks.com to make arrangements.

The RubberDucks are the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. For more information, call the RubberDucks at 330-253-5151 or visit www.akronrubberducks.com. The RubberDucks are on Facebook www.facebook.com/akronrubberducks and Twitter @AkronRubberDuck.

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

Capacity Field Expected for Mother’s Day 5K

May 5, 2015

Race Benefits Maine Breast Cancer Patients and Research

Race Registration

Portland, Maine– The Portland Sea Dogs in conjunction with the Maine Track Club and Intermed, will be hosting the 15th annual Mother’s Day 5K Road Race on Sunday, May 10th at 9:15am. Proceeds from the event will benefit Maine breast cancer patients and research with the funds being split between the Cancer Community Center and the Maine Cancer Foundation. There will also be a Kid’s Run, presented by Maine Running, beginning at 8:30am that is free of charge.

The Portland Sea Dogs Mother’s Day 5K is the largest 5K road race in the State of Maine. It is also the second largest road race in the state, only the Beach to Beacon is larger. A capped field of 3,000 runners is once again expected for this year’s race.

In the previous 14 years of the event, the Sea Dogs have been able to donate over $189,507.00 to support breast cancer research and patients in Maine including $20,000.00 from last year’s race.

The Sea Dogs are in need of several volunteers for the race. If interested please log on to www.seadogs.com for more information or contact the Sea Dogs Office at 207-874-9300.

All bags entering Hadlock Field will be inspected. The Sea Dogs highly recommend that people leave their bags at home or in the car. The Sea Dogs appreciate your patience and understanding.

Slugger and his Mom lead the way on the flat 5K course which begins in front of the Portland Expo building, travels down Congress Street, turning down Stevens Avenue, and making a right onto Brighton Avenue back down Deering Avenue into Fitzpatrick Stadium. The race culminates with a unique finish inside Hadlock Field in front of the third base dugout. The course is USAT&F certified and is part of the USAT&F Sanctioned Grand Prix series.

The top overall male and female finishers will receive a trophy, a pair of 2015 Season Tickets for the remainder of the 2015 Sea Dogs season, and throw out the ceremonial first-pitch prior to a future Sea Dogs game. The top three male and female finishers in each age group will also be presented with awards. All participants of the race will receive a complimentary ticket to attend a future Sea Dogs game.

The race is open to the public. Walkers and wheelchair racers are welcome as well. A limited number of spots are still available. Registration is $20.00. The kid’s race is free. If you would like to run in the 15th annual Sea Dogs’ Mother’s Day 5K you may register online at www.seadogs.com or at Fleet Feet Maine Running located on Marginal Way in Portland on Friday, May 8th from Noon to 6:00 PM or Saturday, May 9th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Additionally, if spots remain, runners may register the day of the race at Hadlock Field from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM.

Runners who have already registered may also pick-up their packets at Fleet Feet Maine Running during the same hours as above.

Road Closures:
Park Avenue from Weymouth Street to Saint John Street will be closed to traffic from 8:50 AM to 9:15 AM on Sunday, May 10th.

Father’s Day 5K
The Sea Dogs will also host a Father’s Day 5K on Sunday, June 14th at 9:15 AM, which will benefit Prostate Cancer Research. For additional information and to register, please contact the Portland Sea Dogs at 207-874-9300 or log on to www.seadogs.com or www.mainetrackclub.com.

Book your inning vacation! Tickets for all remaining 2015 Sea Dogs home games are available. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500 or online at www.seadogs.com.
This article originally appeared on the official website of the Portland Sea Dogs. Click here to view the original story.

Ducks Team with Oak Clinic to Send MS Quaking

May 4, 2015

Ducks play catch with kids on field prior to MS awareness day at Canal Park.

(AKRON, OHIO) May 4, 2015 – The Akron RubberDucks hosted the Oak Clinic for Multiple Sclerosis’ second annual Diamond Oak fundraiser during the Sunday, April 26 game at Canal Park, helping to raise almost $60,000 of dollars for MS awareness.

Funds were raised through a pre-game 1K Fun Run on the field and family catch in the outfield, and the Oak Clinic’s ticket sales for the game. The 1K Fun Run had 108 children participating and the almost 1,000 tickets were sold by the Oak Clinic.

“On behalf of the Oak Clinic for Multiple Sclerosis, I would like to thank the Akron RubberDucks for their support of our MS community. The overwhelming support from our friends, family, and community assisted the Oak Clinic in both raising almost $60,000 and educating over 2,200 grade school students about MS,” said Oak Clinic Director of Development Sue Arnold.

“We are proud to partner with the Oak Clinic and help raise funds and awareness to such a great cause,” said RubberDucks General Manager Jim Pfander. “On behalf of the Akron RubberDucks, I want to thank everyone from the kids who raised money to participate in the pre-game Fun Run, to the volunteers, patients, families and supporters of the Oak Clinic who attended the game. Seeing the Canal Park filled with fans wearing orange to recognize MS awareness was a humbling moment and we are excited to help the community and those affected by MS.”

The Akron RubberDucks are the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The 2015 season is its 19^th since moving to Canal Park and its second as the RubberDucks. For more information featuring the Akron RubberDucks, go to www.AkronRubberDucks.com or call 330-253-5151. They are on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AkronRubberDucks and Twitter at @AkronRubberDuck.

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

Baysox Seek Military Hero Nominations

April 23, 2015

Andrews Federal Credit Union Sponsoring Special Card Set

BOWIE, Md. – The Bowie Baysox are seeking Military Hero Nominations to be used in the Military Heroes Card Set presented by Andrews Federal Credit Union being given away during the game Friday, July 31, 2015. Fans living in the area who know active or retired members of the Armed Forced are encouraged to fill out the nomination form on www.baysox.com.

During Military Heroes Appreciation Night Friday, July 31 15, the Baysox will distribute a 25-35 card set to the first 1,000 fans ages 18 and older featuring active and retired members of the Armed Forces received through the nomination process. The cards will feature photographs and information about their military careers. The Baysox will honor these veterans and/or their families in special ceremonies before and during the game. Baysox fans living in the Maryland and Washington, D.C. region who have family or friends in the military can help the Baysox honor their service by nominating them for this special card set.

“We are very excited to bring this promotion back for a second season,” said Baysox Assistant General Manager Phil Wrye. “It was a great success last year and with our stadium’s close proximity to a number of military bases, there are many more men and women who deserve special recognition for their service. This card set giveaway is another great way to honor local Military Heroes.”

In order for a nomination to be considered, all information in the online form must be completely filled out. The Bowie Baysox will make every attempt to select an even number of nominations from each branch of the service, while also attempting to include Military Heroes that have served in different decades. These are subject to the information received during the nomination process.

Nominations will only be accepted through the online form on www.baysox.com and all nominations must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Thursday, May 14. Following that deadline, the Baysox staff will randomly select 25-35 nominations to be included in the Military Heroes Card Set.

Military Heroes (or their families/relatives) that are included in the Baseball Card Set will be invited to attend the Bowie Baysox game on July 31, 2015 at 6:35 p.m. to take part in ceremonies before and during the game. Each selected nominee will receive four Box Seat Tickets to the game and will also receive additional instructions prior to the game date.

Questions about the nomination process can be directed via email to info@baysox.com. The nomination form can be found online at: http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?ymd=20150412&content_id=72248234&fext=.jsp&sid=t418&vkey=.

Baysox Baseball – We’ll Knock Your ‘Sox Off. The Baysox 2015 season, their 23^rd as the class Double-A Affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, is underway at Prince George’s Stadium. Come see some of the top Orioles prospects play here first. To keep up with Baysox news during the season, visit baysox.com.

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

Sea Dogs to Host College Fair on April 29

April 17, 2015

Students Attending the College Fair Receive Two Tickets to the Sea Dogs Game

Complete List of Collages Attending

Portland, Maine– The Portland Sea Dogs, Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, will be hosting a College Fair at Hadlock Field from 3:00 to 5:00 PM on Wednesday, April 29th prior to that evening’s Sea Dogs game scheduled for 6:00 PM against the Binghamton Mets. More than 60 colleges are expected to participate in the seventh annual event.

The Sea Dogs College Fair, presented by General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, provides students with the unique opportunity to gather information from colleges as well as meet with college admissions counselors in a social setting at a Sea Dogs baseball game.

All students interested in attending the College Fair must have a game ticket for the April 29th Sea Dogs game against the Binghamton Mets. Students are eligible to receive two free tickets to the game; additional tickets can be purchased at the discounted rate of $5.00. Students looking to receive their two free tickets to attend the game and the college fair should contact the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500.

A $500.00 scholarship, presented by the Sea Dogs will be awarded randomly to one lucky student. The scholarship will be given away during the middle of the fifth inning of that evening’s Sea Dogs game. Students must be present to win.

Each college will have a table set up in the Hadlock Field concourse. Some of the colleges scheduled to participate include Columbia College Chicago, Seton Hall University, University of Maine, University of New Hampshire, University of Southern Maine, and Wheaton College. A complete list of participating schools is available at www.seadogs.com. For more information on the Sea Dogs College Fair, please contact Bryan Pahigian at 207-879-9500 or bpahigian@seadogs.com. The event will be held regardless of weather.
This article originally appeared on the official website of the Portland Sea Dogs. Click here to view the original story.

Sea Dogs to Host Autism Awareness Day on April 11

April 2, 2015

The Portland Sea Dogs in partnership with Embracing the World of Autism will host Autism Awareness Day at Hadlock Field on Saturday, April 11th when the Sea Dogs take on the Reading Fightin Phils at 1:00 PM.

The event will be held with the support of University of New England Occupational Therapy graduate students. The UNE students will create and facilitate activities for children and families in a special “Sensory Room” that will allow children with autism to self-regulate using movement, calming sensory input and fidget items. This allows children to fully participate in the Sea Dogs game.

In addition to the “Sensory Room,” the students will also make sensory kits that include tactile items, chewy food, and fidget items to help people with autism self-modulate their nervous system during the game.

Donald Frost, 13, a child with Asperger’s syndrome, will be singing the National Anthem prior to the start of the game. Representatives will also throw out the ceremonial first-pitch and serve as a junior public address announcer.

The goal of the event is to raise autism awareness and to help people with autism perform the occupations of everyday life.

Discounted tickets are available for autistic children and their families. Tickets can be purchased online at www.seadogs.com using the special offer code “Autism”. For more information Lindsey Oliver at (207) 874-9300.

Fans attending the April 11th game are asked to wear the color orange to show support for Autism Acceptance.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Portland Sea Dogs. Click here to view the original story.

Local Military Members Honored In Squirrels Card Set Giveaway

March 25, 2015

The Richmond Flying Squirrels, Double-A affiliate of the World Champion San Francisco Giants, are excited to announce they are currently accepting nominations for their inaugural Military Card Set Giveaway on May 26^th presented by Verizon. The trading card set will be comprised solely of current or former members of the military that have been nominated by fans. Nominations will be accepted through April 10^th online at www.squirrelsbaseball.com or at any Verizon Wireless Store in Central Virginia. Military card sets will be distributed to the first 2,000 fans on May 26^th at The Diamond. Gates open on May 26^th at 5:30PM and a pre-game ceremony to honor all Military members will take place before the first pitch against Harrisburg. SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATIONS HERE

“We have always had strong a place in our heart for our Military personnel and all they do to protect our freedom and allow us to do what we do for and in our community,” Said Squirrels VP & COO Todd “Parney” Parnell. “We could not be more pleased to highlight these heroes in this commemorative and limited edition card set.

Any questions regarding the Military Card Set Giveaway can be directed to erin.mcdonald@squirrelsbaseball.com. The Flying Squirrels 2015 season begins on Thursday, April 9^th. Single-Game tickets are currently on sale at The Diamond, over the phone and online. Opening Night April 9^th will feature the Squirrels first eve dueling fireworks and dueling piano show. For a full list of the 2015 season promotions, visit www.squirrrelsbaseball.com.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Richmond Flying Squirrels. Click here to view the original story.

B-Mets, Maines Team Up for Big League Dreams

March 19, 2015

The Binghamton Mets, along with Maines Food & Party Warehouse, are reaching out to local Southern Tier Little Leagues with the B-Mets Big League Dreams program. New for the 2015 season, Big League Dreams, a youth baseball initiative, gives Little Leagues in the Binghamton area the chance to earn unbeatable rewards from the B-Mets.

To enter the drawing, a representative from each League is invited to acquire an application from Jesse Scaglion at the Binghamton Mets via email (jesse@bmets.com) or phone (607) 723-6387. The deadline to enter is Monday, April 13. Winners will be announced on Friday, April 17.

Five Little Leagues selected in the drawing will win terrific prizes including a $500 gift card to Maines Food & Party Warehouse and the chance to take the field at NYSEG Stadium alongside B-Mets players as part of the Field of Dreams program. Winning Leagues will also get a visit from B-Mets players and mascots at their field during the season. Maines will provide a concession stand makeover for all five winning Leagues.

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

Kraras Named Ceremonial Flag Service Honoree for Opening Night

March 11, 2015

Local business leader and World War II Veteran Gus Kraras will be celebrated on Opening Night as part of the Ceremonial Flag Service.

Celebration of local business leader and World War II veteran kicks off 2015 Ceremonial Flag Service

Local business leader and World War II veteran Gust “Gus” Kraras will be honored April 17th on Fightins Opening Night as part of the Savage61 Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Ceremonial Flag Service Honoree. Kraras’ celebration on Opening Night kicks off the Ceremonial Flag Service for the 2015 season.

In 1950, FirstEnergy Stadium was built as a memorial to the veterans of our community. To bring even more attention to this, a ceremonial flag flies in front of America’s Classic Ballpark at each home game to honor one specific veteran. For the 2015 season, living World War II veterans, in addition do any veterans that have passed, may be honored with the Ceremonial Flag Service. The addition of living World War II honorees is new for 2015 , and on Opening Night, Gus Kraras will become the first of what the Fightins hope will be many World War II veterans to be honored at the ballpark this season.

“The ceremonial flag honoring a veteran became an important, and emotional part of the Fightins game presentation in 2014”, said Fightins General Manager Scott Hunsicker. “In 2015, we really want to engage the families of World War II veterans, and honor these brave men and women. When discussing what World War II veteran should be the first to be honored on Opening Night, we immediately thought of Gust Kraras. He’s a great man. His dedication and contributions to our country and our community are incredible. Plus, he actually sold hot dogs here at the ballpark when it first opened in 1951! We are so excited to honor Gust Kraras on Opening Night, and we invite all the families of World War II Veterans to please contact us so we can honor your loved one as well.”

Born in 1921, Kraras immigrated to the United States in 1938 from Greece when he was just 17 years old. He was living in Nashville during the Pearl Harbor attacks, and a day later, he decided to volunteer into the United States, but wasn’t able to since he wasn’t yet a citizen. He overcame this issue by requesting his draft board to advance his draft number and shortly thereafter, was in the Army and assigned to the Field Artillery.

In 1943, Kraras asked to be transferred to the newly-formed Greek Battalion at Camp Carson, Colorado. Nearly 300 volunteered to be sent on a special mission to occupied Greece and from that, only 173 men and 10 officers were sent. That group was part of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), which later evolved into what we now know as the CIA.

Following their extensive training, Kraras and the rest of the Greek Battalion was sent to Cairo, Egypt. On their second day, his group was picked as one of the two that received paratrooper training. Because of Army regulations at the time, Kraras and his party had to volunteer to become paratroopers. The next day, the selected troops went to the then-Palestine to attend British Paratrooper School. In the U.S. Army Paratrooper Schools, training typically lasted 90 days. Kraras training at the British Paratrooper School lasted just three days and five jumps.

Now in Greece, Kraras’ platoon’s missions were all very similar. They would be responsible for blocking highways and waiting for German convoys. Once they would find a convoy, they would dismantle the first and last truck using bazookas and then take on the convoy with everything they had. They would then take off up through the mountains and hide as Germans would attempt to find them-they never did.

Kraras was honorably discharged on November 15, 1945 and he took up residence in Reading where his brother John lived with his family. He went into business with his brother and later, opened up several restaurants in the Reading area and in Wildwood, New Jersey. The Kraras family went on to own and operate numerous restaurants and hotels in the seaside town for over five decades.

He met his wife Stella Dialectos upon returning from the war and married in 1946. They had three children: Chris Kraras, Angel Kraras Cammarano, and Patricia Kraras Donahue. Gus is still involved actively in his business ventures and church community in the Reading and Wildwood areas.

The World War II veterans will be honored, in addition to fallen veterans of all wars, nightly during a pre-game ceremony beside their family and friends. Before each home game, the Fightins raised a ceremonial flag to tribute to their memory and welcomed their family to the game. The flag will then lowered and given to the family following the game. During the ceremony, the Fightins will tell each veteran’s story and present the veteran with a Ceremonial Flag as a token of appreciation for all that they have done in protection of the United States of America.

Reservations for the Savage61 Ceremonial Flag Service are now being taken for the 2015 season. Those interested can call 610-370-BALL ext. 293 to reserve a date. Anyone interested in paying tribute or honor to a veteran is asked to call that number with their preference of a game date. Available game dates are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The Fightins will kick off the 65th season of baseball at America’s Classic Ballpark on Friday, April 17th when they host the Richmond Flying Squirrels, Double-A affiliate of the 2014 World Series Champion San Francisco Giants, at 7:05 p.m. Tickets for the 2015 season can be purchased online at Fightins.com, by phone at 610-370-BALL, or by visiting the FirstEnergy Stadium Ticket Office.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Reading Fightin Phils . Click here to view the original story.

Scholarship Applications Now Available

March 4, 2015

Foundation to award $30,000 in scholarships to N.H., Mass. students

The 2014 class of Fisher Cats Foundation Scholarship Winners.

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats and the Fisher Cats Foundation have announced the application process is now open for the 2015 Fisher Cats Foundation Scholar-Athlete Scholarships. The Foundation will award 12 scholarships to outstanding scholar-athletes from New Hampshire and Massachusetts who demonstrate academic excellence, significant athletic achievement, and active civic involvement. Each award is $2,500 and includes recognition at a Fisher Cats game during the 2015 season.

Applications are available simply by visiting the Fisher Cats’ website, www.nhfishercats.com, and clicking the heading COMMUNITY. Students can also find the application by clicking SCHOLARSHIP REGISTRATION at www.NHScholars.org.

Applications are due by 5 p.m. on April 30, 2015. A letter of recommendation from the applicant’s coach, FAFSA documentation, and the student’s high school transcript in an electronic format must be uploaded with the application. All applicants will be evaluated on academic performance, athletic achievement, and citizenship.

Candidates for the Fisher Cats Foundation Scholar-Athlete Scholarships must be residents of New Hampshire or Massachusetts who are graduating from high school in 2015. Candidates must be planning to enroll in a four-year degree program or planning to attend a local community college or technical school in the fall. Candidates do not need to be studying in any particular field.

Three of the scholarships have additional significance. The Chris Carpenter Award is named after New Hampshire native and National League Cy Young Award-winning pitcher, Chris Carpenter. The Swymer Family Scholarship is presented annually to a student who has overcome a barrier on the way to attending college. The Easter Seals Veterans Count Scholarship goes to a student whose parent or guardian is an active, reserve, or veteran member of the United States military.

In 2015, the Fisher Cats Foundation will award a total of $30,000 in scholarships with $5,000 of that amount earmarked to a pair of scholarships for Massachusetts students. Through 2014, the Fisher Cats have presented $230,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors since 2007.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Click here to view the original story.

Sea Dogs, U.S. Cellular to Give Local Youth Field a Makeover

February 23, 2015

Enter Your Field

The Portland Sea Dogs and U.S. Cellular have teamed up to give a Maine youth baseball or softball field a complete makeover for the 2015 season. Registrations for the contest open today and run through Friday, March 20th. One entry will be randomly selected for the makeover. The winning field must be located in the state of Maine to be eligible.

“This is a project that is truly important to both us and U.S. Cellular,” Sea Dogs EVP/GM Geoff Iacuessa stated. “We understand budgets are very tight for youth sports and we want to pitch in and revitalize a field.”

The makeover will consist of field cleanup, turf cutting, infield mix and leveling, and more depending on the need of the winning field. The work will be done by Sea Dogs’ head groundskeeper Rick Anderson, his crew, Sea Dogs front office staff, and U.S. Cellular staff.

“U.S. Cellular has long enjoyed its partnership with the Portland Sea Dogs and the opportunity it gives us to connect with Maine residents,” states Matt Kasper, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in New England. “We are looking forward to rolling up our sleeves to help with the baseball or softball field makeover and helping one lucky winner obtain their field of dreams. Every young child should have the opportunity to play ball on a safe, well-maintained field.”

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Portland Sea Dogs . Click here to view the original story.

Baysox Honor Reading Program Poster Winners

February 6, 2015

The Baysox lovable mascot Louie made visits to schools across the region during the past month to congratulate some very special students. Louie wanted to congratulate the winners of the annual poster contest that kicks off the Read and Hit a Home Run reading program.

All eight winning students are listed below:

Calvert County – Plum Point Middle School – Savannah Hersh – 6th Grade

Anne Arundel County – Central Elementary School – Marissa Beach – 5th Grade

Charles County – Arthur Middleton Elementary School – Desaray Green-Quartey – 4th Grade

Howard County – Trinity School – Ciara O’Connor – 6th Grade

Montgomery County – Forcey Christian School – Zoeii Strong – 5th Grade

Queen Anne’s County – Kennard Elementary School – Sarah Ireland – 4th Grade

Prince George’s County – Drew Freeman Middle School – Kentisha Torries – 7th Grade

St. Mary’s County – Town Creek Elementary School – Owen Corpus – 3rd Grade

The students’ poster designs were selected as the winner for all schools in their county. The poster designed by the winning student will also be displayed in each participating school in their respective counties throughout the program.

Louie surprised the winners during special school assemblies, rewarding them with a framed poster of the design, eight Baysox tickets and a collection of Baysox gear. The students also get a chance to throw out a ceremonial first pitch before the Baysox Reading Night game for their county.

The Baysox would like to thank Read and Hit a Home Run Reading Program sponsor Educational Systems Federal Credit Union for their support of the program. This is the 11th year that Educational Systems Federal Credit Union has sponsored the reading program.

In all, more than 200 schools are registered to participate in the reading program this year. Any student in participating schools who reads at least four books is rewarded with a free ticket to a Baysox game. This is the 19th year the Baysox have overseen the reading program and during that time, the team has helped to promote reading for millions of elementary and middle school students in Maryland. Louie will be visiting students throughout the weeks leading up to the season to show them how fun reading can be.

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

Sea Dogs Now Accepting Nominations for William Troubh Community Service Award

February 5, 2015

The Portland Sea Dogs are now accepting nominations for the first annual “William Troubh Community Service Award.” The award will recognize a local citizen who is making a positive impact within the city of Portland. It may be a public employee or private citizen who, through their efforts, makes Portland a great city to live and/or work in.

The Sea Dogs announced the creation of the award in a pre-game ceremony at the teams’ 2014 home opener, where the Sea Dogs paid tribute to Mr. Troubh after his passing in November. As part of the tribute, the Sea Dogs also renamed one of the Hadlock Field sky boxes in Troubh’s honor.

Mr. Troubh was a lifelong resident of the city of Portland who dedicated his life to making Portland a great place to live and work. He served multiple terms on the Portland City Council and was Mayor of the city in 1974 and 1975 and again in 1983 and 1984. Troubh was instrumental in bringing the Portland Sea Dogs to the city in 1994. He also played a major role in the development of the Portland Waterfront, Cumberland County Civic Center and the Portland Ice Arena, now named in his honor. His contributions will be enjoyed by residents and visitors of the city for generations to come.

Additionally, Mr. Troubh was a passionate baseball fan. He stayed involved after his key role in helping to bring the Sea Dogs to Portland, serving as the team’s legal counsel and served six years as President of the Eastern League from 1997 through 2002. On most summer nights Troubh could be found at Hadlock Field enjoying a Sea Dogs game with family and friends. He was inducted into the Portland Sea Dogs Hall of Fame in 2010.

To nominate someone for this award, please submit a written letter of support for your nominee and describe the actions they take to make Portland a great place to live and work. Nominations will be accepted until Friday, March 20th. Please submit your nomination in person at Hadlock Field or via mail to the following address:

Portland Sea Dogs
ATTN: William Troubh Community Service Award
271 Park Avenue
Portland, ME 04102

When submitting a nomination please also include your contact information.
The winner will be announced and honored in a pre-game ceremony on Saturday, April 25th when the Sea Dogs host the Trenton Thunder at 1:00 PM at Hadlock Field.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Portland Sea Dogs. Click here to view the original story.

Sea Dogs to Hold Food Drive

January 12, 2015

Trade Your Canned-Goods for Tickets When You Make a Ticket Purchase

The Portland Sea Dogs, in partnership with the Maine’s Credit Unions, will hold their 15th annual Food Drive which will run from now through Friday, January 30th. All the collected food items will be donated to the Good Shepherd Food Bank.

As in the past, this year’s food drive will be “Buy One, Bring One, Get One.” For every ticket purchased and every donated food item you bring, you will receive a free Sea Dogs ticket to the same game. For example, if you buy three tickets to the June 18th game and bring in three food items, you will receive three additional complimentary tickets of equal or lesser value to the June 18th game. The offer is good for Box Seats, Reserved, General Admission, and Pavilion seating; subject to availability.

Fans may take advantage of this offer by bringing their non-perishable food items to the Hadlock Field Box Office. The Sea Dogs Ticket Office is open Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Tickets for the Eastern League All-Star Game are excluded from this offer.

Each year the Sea Dogs have been able to donate hundreds of food items to the Good Shepherd Food Bank thanks to the generosity of Sea Dogs’ fans.

The Sea Dogs open the 2015 season on Thursday, April 9th at 6:00 PM at Hadlock Field against the Reading Fightin Phils. Tickets for the 2015 season and the Eastern League All-Star Game are now on sale. Book your nine inning vacation by calling the Sea Dogs ticket office at 207-879-9500 or order online at www.seadogs.com.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Portland Sea Dogs. Click here to view the original story.

Granite State Baseball Dinner Donates $142,000

December 17, 2014

Annual charity event has donated more than $1.28 million since 2007

In the offices of the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock in Manchester today, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats announced the proceeds from the 2014 Granite State Baseball Dinner, presented by Northeast Delta Dental. Through sponsorship donations, ticket sales, silent and live auctions, and raffle ticket sales, $142,049 was donated to benefit CHaD, the Ted Williams Foundation, and the Fisher Cats Foundation at the annual gala on Nov. 22.

“It is with great pride that our organization gets to host this event and present this check every year,” said Art Solomon, Fisher Cats owner and Chairman of the Fisher Cats Foundation board. “The work of our Foundation is near and dear to my heart, but this event in particular means so much because of the impact it is able to make. We are so thankful for the support of all of the sponsors and fans who continue to make this event so meaningful each year.”

“Each year during the holiday season we are able to make this announcement, and it means so much to our team and our staff,” said Fisher Cats President & General Manager Rick Brenner. “It takes a lot of dedicated people donating a lot of their time and resources to make this event successful, but this announcement and presentation today, and the work of these great charities, is the reward for those efforts. We know these funds will assist these groups with the important and necessary services they provide our communities.”

Since the Fisher Cats became involved with the dinner in 2007, it has generated more than $1.28 million for the three charitable groups. CHaD has received more than $558,000 to support its mission to provide world-class care to families and kids throughout the northeast. The Fisher Cats Foundation has used a similar amount to help fund more than $3.5 million in monetary and in-kind donations since its inception in 2006. The Ted Williams Foundation has been gifted with nearly $173,000 to continue its efforts to promote the history and tradition of baseball while also providing outreach to community groups and scholarships to high school students.

The 2014 dinner featured a unique panel of celebrity guests, including New Hampshire legend and Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter. Red Sox star Brock Holt co-headlined the event alongside Carpenter, as well as several popular former Red Sox, including Luis Tiant, Rich Gedman, and Lou Merloni. Other guests with major league connections included Cy Young winners Denny McLain and Dwight ‘Doc’ Gooden, All-Stars Bob Stanley and Gary Matthews, and Claudia Williams, author and daughter of Hall-of-Famer Ted Williams.

Several Granite Staters also featured at the head table, including minor league infielder Michael Fransoso of Portsmouth and pitcher Derrick Sylvester of Franklin. Miss New Hampshire Megan Coolely was joined by 2012 Paralympic gold medalist Victoria Arlen of Exeter.

The dinner tradition will continue in 2015 on Saturday, Nov. 21.

The Fisher Cats will open the 2015 season on Thursday, April 9, at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium against the New Britain Rock Cats (Colorado Rockies). Full and Half-Season Tickets are currently on sale, and feature a variety of benefits and experiences. To learn more, stop by the box office at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium, call (603) 641-2005, or visit www.nhfishercats.com.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Click here to view the original story.