Blue Wahoos Share Holiday Spirit, Community Impact In December

A classroom door opened at Pensacola’s Montclair Elementary School and joyous screams ensued.

Yes, Kazoo was in the house.

The Blue Wahoos beloved mascot was part of a special Literacy Night program December 15 for young grade school students. Joined by Lauren Scott, the Blue Wahoos community relations and merchandise manager, along with Erik Bremer, the voice of the Blue Wahoos as broadcast director, the group delighted and enlightened children that day with a special appearance before school let out for the holiday break.

“You see that kind of reaction and it’s special,” Scott said. “The kids are screaming ‘Kazoo! Kazoo!’ and they know us through Kazoo, even though many haven’t been to a baseball game yet.

“So it’s neat and we had a lot of fun doing it, reading to the kids and just interacting with them. Erik was getting everyone involved so it was a great time.”

Blue Wahoos beloved mascot Kazoo greets thousands of parade spectators at Pensacola’s annual Christmas parade downtown on December 10.
Dan Venn/Blue Wahoos

The experience that day was part of the Blue Wahoos busy December. A lot has happened this month at a time presumed to be a slow period in the professional baseball world.

In the days leading up to Christmas, the Blue Wahoos staff participated in two Christmas parades, spent one day restoring a baseball field at Pensacola’s Catalonia Square, had team executives attend the Baseball Winter Meetings in San Diego, been host to private parties and events at Blue Wahoos Stadium, plus provided team representation at other community events.

“It has been a whirlwind, but in a great way,” said Steve Brice, who joined the Blue Wahoos in mid-November as the team’s executive vice president and general manager, working in tandem with team president Jonathan Griffith. “I love being busy.”

Members of the Blue Wahoos front office staff joined together on Dec. 15 to help renovate a City of Pensacola youth baseball field as part of an annual project.
Dan Venn/Blue Wahoos

During a time traditionally viewed as the slowest point of an off-season, the Blue Wahoos have kept active within the Pensacola community heading into the Christmas and New Year holiday weekend.

Kazoo and team staff members were part of the Gulf Breeze Christmas Parade on December 3, followed by the Cox Pensacola Christmas Parade on December 10.

Working in two shifts, the group also recently helped restore two baseball fields at Catalonia Square, a City of Pensacola park which is also known for being where Pro Football Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks began his youth football career. A lot of weed-pulling, debris clearing and removal of glass shards occurred.

“Even though the field might not have looked like it was in too rough of shape from afar, it still took us most of the day to fix it,” Scott said.

The project was part of an annual commitment the Blue Wahoos make in the community in a partnership with Waste Management, a Blue Wahoos corporate partner. Each season since the inaugural 2012 season, the Blue Wahoos staff and groundskeeping crew have taken on a project at one area baseball field to upgrade and restore the conditions.

It’s another way the team meets a mission to improve the quality of life in the Pensacola community.

Participating in the Christmas parades provides opportunity for the Blue Wahoos to reconnect with fans and further awareness.

For Brice, it was his first experience in both the community parades. He was tossing beads, candy and passing out Blue Wahoos hats to throngs of people in the massive downtown Christmas parade.

“I jokingly said to someone, I feel like I’m part of The Beatles right now,” Brice said. “People were yelling, “Go Wahoos!’ and everyone wanted a hat, or one of the cushy baseballs we had. There were so many people that night downtown and to be part of that was really great.”

The biggest challenge? Trying to figure how much candy, beads, hats and other items to participate in two parades.

“Even prepping for it was wild because I had cases of candy here and (co-staff worker) said, ‘Oh that’s not enough. I literally bought Sam’s (Club) out of candy,” said Scott, who joined the Blue Wahoos in March and was promoted to a dual role as merchandise and community relations manager. “That was wild having to go back and almost double everything to have enough.”

“In the baseball season it was so busy and everyone was telling me, ‘oh the offseason that’s the chill time”. And the whole time I have been like, yes there are not games on the field, but I am still really busy and it’s different thing.”

But as Scott pointed out, it’s also been a good thing in ways to stay connected in the Pensacola area and keep the Blue Wahoos awareness with community impact.

Storm Chasers Highlight 2022 Community Service Efforts

PAPILLION, Neb. – The Omaha Storm Chasers and Chasers Charities have announced highlights of the community service efforts achieved during the 2022 season. In a year which saw an increase in community service opportunities, the Storm Chasers were excited about continuing to build upon recent successes as well as increase their presence in the community. Through their efforts, the Omaha Storm Chasers front office and players committed 683.50 hours in volunteering at over 70 community organizations within the Omaha Metro.

The Chasers’ efforts allowed $23,695 in grants to be awarded to local non-profit youth baseball and softball organizations for field and facility improvements. The Chasers were also able to raise over $36,000 for five local non-profit partners through the jersey auctions during select games in the 2022 season.

“Being a part of and giving back to our local community that supports us is a fundamental pillar of the Omaha Storm Chasers organization,” said VP and General Manager Laurie Schlender. “It is vitally important that we use our platform to help create awareness for these organizations so that they can continue to do such valuable work in our community.”

The 2022 season once again saw fans get involved in important causes. 6,206 cans of non-perishable food was donated through the Hy-Vee Canned Food Sunday promotion and $10,000 was raised for the Ronald McDonald House Charities through the Leonard Management McDonald’s and Woodhouse Auto Family Hurl the Pearl promotion which saw fans purchase softie baseballs to be thrown into the back of a truck driven around the field.

Additional highlights include raising over $15,900 through the Chasers Charities garage sales, two $1,000 scholarships through the Jackie Robinson Athletic Scholarship presented by Weitz Company, $4,000 donated to Playsmart via the Werner Enterprises RBI promotion, and $3,381.50 donated to Operation Ride Home through a partnership with Jack Daniel’s, Republic National Distributing, and Spectra Food Services.

For more information or to see how you can get involved in the Omaha Storm Chasers community service efforts, visit omahastormchasers.com or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Appalachian League celebrates 2022 charitable contributions

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The Appalachian League announced that the league’s charitable outreach grew to more than $3.4 million of gift-in-kind and monetary donations this year. Additionally, the league and its clubs volunteered more than 11,000 hours of community service.

The league’s reach impacts the towns and cities their 10 teams call home across North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Appalachian League executives, team staff members and players volunteered through food pantries, reading programs, baseball clinics, toy drives, youth centers, hospital visits and numerous service organizations.

“As league members, we appreciate the opportunity to continue giving back through volunteering, donating and providing outreach to the communities that have supported our clubs for more than 100 years,” stated Elizabethton River Riders GM and Appalachian League Charity Committee Chair Kiva Fuller.

In January, Appy League representatives participated in the 27th annual MLK Day of Service. Volunteering in 11 communities across four states, team members were involved with food pantries, book drives, local YMCA and libraries, as well as the House of Hope and Good Samaritan Ministries.

In conjunction with the League All-Star Game, league executives volunteered at the City Gate Dream Center in Burlington, N.C. Along with moving items to the center’s storage unit, the group packaged and bundled diapers for families in need.

On the day of the All-Star Game, the Sock Puppets hosted a successful Play Ball youth clinic at Burlington Athletic Stadium where all 2022 All-Stars participated.

Prior to the GM meeting in Bluefield on Oct. 18, Appalachian League clubs participated in a service project at the Bluefield Union Mission. A total of 19 league and club representatives packaged meals and prepared personal hygiene kits for families in need.

More details and a full breakdown of the 2022 Appy League Community Impact Report can be found here.

The 2023 Appy League season begins Tuesday, June 6. The full schedule for the upcoming season can be found here.

The Appalachian League is a part of USA Baseball and powered by MLB. For more information on the Appalachian League, please visit appyleague.com or follow the league on Twitter and Instagram (@AppyLeague).

Second Annual “WooSox Foundation Holiday Caravan” to Spread Joy Around Central MA

Community Award Winners Ryan Fitzgerald and Red Sox Hall of Famer Rich Gedman to join Smiley Ball, Woofster the WonderDog, Roberto the Rocket, and Santa in visits to charities, schools, and community organizations

WORCESTER, MA – Led by Infielder Ryan Fitzgerald and Hitting Coach Rich Gedman, two award-winning members of the Worcester Red Sox, the 2022 “WooSox Foundation Holiday Caravan” will be spreading cheer across the Heart of the Commonwealth this Monday, December 19 through Wednesday, December 21.

Fitzgerald, the club’s super utility infielder and second-ever recipient of the WooSox Foundation’s “Heart of the Heart” Community Spirit Award, will team up with Gedman, his Hitting Coach, who was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in May of this year. Joining them are Mascots Smiley Ball, Woofster the WonderDog, and Roberto the Rocket, along with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

The WooSox Foundation “Care-A-Van,” presented by Bank of America, is the team’s mobile RV that was unveiled in March of 2022 and will assist the WooSox in executing all of the good deeds scheduled for next week.

The impactful holiday gestures begin on Monday at Why Me & Sherry’s House when the team will bring gifts and essentials to toddlers and teens who are battling cancer. The group will also visit TLK Sports, a Worcester-based community organization that emphasizes the importance of teamwork and relationship building through a number of sports including baseball. The WooSox, in partnership with the Junior WooSox, will wrap up Monday evening at Nazareth home in Leicester to show their support for foster children by bringing winter hats and an assortment of surprise gifts.

On Tuesday, December 20, the Caravan continues in Polar Park’s backyard at the Canal District’s St. John’s Food for the Poor, where the WooSox will assist in providing breakfast to some of the neighborhood’s neediest population. The team will head from St. John’s to Abby’s House in Worcester, where toys and treats will be provided to women and children.

The caravan will continue its busy day on Tuesday at 11 am at UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center, where care packages filled with toys, books, and everyday essentials will go to kids who are in treatment. For the second straight year, the club has partnered with Kits for Kids, a Marlborough based organization that has provided care packages around the holidays to children in need for over 13 years.

The WooSox will wrap up their Tuesday afternoon with the Worcester Education Collaborative, where together they will donate tablets and keyboards to children at the Guild of St. Agnes in Worcester. The caravan will head to the YMCA Central Community Branch, then back to Polar Park, where fans will have the opportunity to meet Ryan Fitzgerald in the WooSox Team Store from 5:30-7:00 pm on Tuesday evening.

“I’m looking forward to being back in Worcester around Christmas time and help give back to this community that has had my back all season long,” said Ryan Fitzgerald, who in 2022 became the first Minor League player to have his own merchandise line. “The WooSox are always doing great things in the community and it’s a pleasure to help out in any way I can.”

The WooSox will conclude their 2022 Holiday Caravan on Wednesday with visits to Abby Kelley Foster Elementary School, and Gates Lane Elementary School, where the club established a mentoring program this past March 4 in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Massachusetts.

“What an honor it is to visit these children and organizations who deserve the smiles that our mascots so often inspire,” said WooSox President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg. “And how fortunate we are to have such caring souls who wear the WooSox uniform: Ryan Fitzgerald and Red Sox Hall of Famer Rich Gedman embody the dreams of all of the children of this region. Meeting Fitzy and Geddy, shaking their hands, and learning their stories can turn a moment into a memory and perhaps even a turning point in life. We thank the schools and wonderful charities who perform these good deeds every single day for the opportunity to stop by, say hello, and wish everyone a happy holiday season with best wishes for a happy, healthy new year.”

Media interested in covering any portion of the team’s 2022 Holiday Caravan can reach out to Vice President of Community & Player Relations Joe Bradlee at [email protected] for further guidance.

BlueClaws Charities Announces 2022 Grant Recipients

JERSEY SHORE, NJ – BlueClaws Charities, the official 501c3 organization of the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, has announced grant recipients for their 2022 grant program. 40 organizations, all of which operate at the Jersey Shore, will use the grant money to help Jersey Shore-based programs and initiatives.

BlueClaws Charities raises money throughout the year in several ways, including the daily 50/50 raffle at BlueClaws games, special jersey and other miscellaneous auctions, the sale of mystery merchandise bags in the Claws Cove, and through other initiatives.

“We’re grateful to hand out grants to these 40 deserving organizations and are proud that all of the grants will directly benefit residents of Ocean & Monmouth counties,” said Jim McNamara, Executive Director of BlueClaws Charities.

“We’d also like to thank all of the fans and supporters that contributed to our fundraising throughout 2022 to make these grants possible,” McNamara added.

Below, find the 2022 grant recipients (alphabetical order).

21, Plus Inc. – for their Main Street Greens hydroponic farm, proceeds of which benefit individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

ALS Association of Greater Philadelphia – for their Care Services Program to provide for patients with ALS around the Jersey Shore.

American Cancer Society – for patient service programs that assist cancer patients in Ocean & Monmouth Counties including their Road to Recovery program which provides rides for patients to and from treatments.

American Littoral Society – to their Beach Grasses in Classes program, an initiative designed to engage students in Monmouth and Ocean Counties in ecological restoration and stewardship by planting and growing beach and marsh grasses.

Barnegat / Waretown Little League – to purchase uniforms and additional equipment for players in their Challenger Division.

Bridging The Gap for Veterans – for their Hometown Heroes program which recognizes and thanks a frontline worker for their service.

Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey – to help defray the costs of mandatory volunteer background checks. Volunteers provide a variety of tasks for the disabled and homebound elderly in the area.

Child Care Resources of Monmouth County – to purchase diapers and wipes for families in need in helping to address diaper insecurity in Monmouth County.

Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation – to support treatment and research initiatives of Children’s Specialized Hospital including new facilities opening in Toms River and Eatontown.

Community Options – to support the Cupid’s Chase 5K race that benefits adults with developmental disabilities in their program.

David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation – to provide financial assistance for families affected by a cancer diagnosis in Ocean & Monmouth Counties. This grant will provide a special holiday for two area families.

Easterseals New Jersey – to offset the cost of fuel to help transport adults with disabilities to social activities, concerts, fitness events, museums, and festivals.

Epilepsy Services of New Jersey – to support the 12th annual Paint the Pony Purple event at the Stone Pony, a family friendly day with live bands and activities in support of people affected by epilepsy and their loved ones.

Exit 82 Theatre Company – to provide programming including both their mainstage season of four musicals/plays and creative and performing arts academy productions of three junior musicals/one high school-college musical.

Family Promise of Southern Ocean County – to provide gift cards for new outfits and toiletries for families in need in addition to haircuts for parents and potential applicants for job interviews.

Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore – to support Innovation Station, an education program designed to meet the needs of disadvantaged girls so they can pursue STEAM in high education and throughout their careers.

Homes Now, Inc – to help construct and monitor quality housing, enhancing the lives of income-restricted families, veterans, individuals with special needs, seniors and women/children survivors of domestic violence.

Jake’s Got This – to help offset the cost of sending children with special needs to a week-long physical therapy program not covered by insurance.

Jersey Shore Council, Boy Scouts of America – to help underwrite the cost of Scouting for low to moderate programs that are run throughout Ocean County.

JP Party Dragon – for food that will be donated to local food pantries and people in need throughout Ocean County.

Kids Need More – to benefit their holidays program, an event for children and families in Ocean or Monmouth Counties that are dealing with a diagnosis of cancer or other life-threatening illness.

LADACIN Network – towards their Give and Take Child Care program, which offers early care and learning for children between the ages of six weeks and nine years old.

Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski II Memorial Fund – to help funding Soldier Dogs for Dennis, which provides aDA approved service dogs to wounded warriors suffering from PTSD and/or TBI injuries.

Lunch Break – to purchase Chromebooks for their Alliance for Success students, a program that promotes youth development through constructive use of time, reinforcing emotional health, building self-esteem, and fostering a commitment to learning.

Ma Deuce Deuce (Ma22) – to provide presents to children of local veterans in Ocean and Monmouth Counties.

Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity – to build and repair homes through their Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative that provide moderate to low-income homeowners critical repairs and ADA modifications.

Ocean County Family Support Organization – to offset the cost of their youth partnership camping trip in June of 2023 for youths in Ocean County with behavioral, emotional, developmental, and mental health challenges.

Ocean County YMCA – to support the Y for All Financial Assistance Program to ensure no one is turned away from the Y due to an inability to pay.

Ocean Partnership For Children – to further support groups created by the organization such as Your Authentic Self (for LGBTQ+ youth), Girls Empowerment Group, and Boys Empowerment Group Game Changers.

Ocean’s Harbor House – for general operating support providing shelter, programs, and services for homeless and vulnerable teens and young adults in Ocean & Monmouth Counties.

Parents of Autistic Children (POAC) – to support programs in Ocean & Monmouth Counties benefiting families that include children with autism and to allow these families to access recreation in the community in a safe and tolerant atmosphere.

Raising Hope for Others – to support and offset costs related to their sixth annual golf tournament that benefits Mary’s Place by the Sea, Cancer Institute of NJ, and the Lustgarten Foundation.

RJM Sports Group – to help fund scholarships given to students that graduate from the Jackson school system each year.

Seabrook Senior Living – to help make improvements to the library at their Tinton Falls senior living facility.

Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide – to support the Ocean County Youth Wellness Summit, a day-long event hosted by SPTS and designed to provide students, school administrators, and school staff with the necessary resources needed to encourage and support overall wellness, including the prevention of teen suicide.

The Arc, Ocean County Chapter – to support services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their Supported Employment and Trial Work Experience programs.

The Mya Lin Terry Foundation – to provide financial and additional resources to pediatric cancer patients in the Jersey Shore community.

The TEARS Foundation, NJ Chapter – to install a cuddle cot, bassinet that is used when a family experiences the loss of their baby and placed into the room with the bereaved family, at Southern Ocean Medical Center.

The Village of Children & Families – to support local foster and adoptive families including through clothing drives, shoe drives, and diaper drives plus through Family Fun Days for adoptive families.

United Way of the Monmouth and Ocean Counties – to support their Warmest Wishes Coat Drive for local preschool, elementary, and middle school children in need.

BlueClaws Charities is the official 501c3 organization of the Jersey Shore BlueClaws.

-Jersey Shore BlueClaws-

Flying Squirrels win MiLB CommUNITY Champion Award

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Richmond Flying Squirrels have been named the recipient of the 2022 Minor League Baseball CommUNITY Champion Award, MiLB announced on Sunday night.

The CommUNITY Champion Award recognizes a Club that demonstrates an outstanding, ongoing commitment to charitable service, support and leadership within their local community and the baseball industry. The award was presented during the Opening Night Reception and Awards Program of the Baseball Winter Meetings at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.

“Making an impact in the community is a pillar of our organization,” Flying Squirrels CEO Todd “Parney” Parnell said. “We strive to be a valuable community partner and aim to use our platform to make positive impacts in the Richmond region. We are grateful for this recognition from Minor League Baseball and for our community.”

In 2022, Flying Squirrels Charities expanded its areas of focus in an effort to fully encompass all the ways the Flying Squirrels impact the greater Richmond community. The newly rebranded Flying Squirrels Charities focuses on four pillars: Education, Athletics, Social Determinants and Inclusion. Flying Squirrels Charities raises funds through a number of avenues including in-stadium initiatives during the season and events around the region all year.

With Flying Squirrels Charities this year, the team has partnered to support local organizations including Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation, Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Richmond, Friendship Circle of Virginia (FCVA), Metropolitan Junior Baseball League (MJBL), Fox Elementary School and more.

The Flying Squirrels are visible in the greater Richmond community well beyond the baseball months. Mascots Nutzy and Nutasha have made more than 400 community appearances this year around the Commonwealth of Virginia. Additionally, Flying Squirrels front office staff, players and coaches have volunteered this year with organizations and events including children’s hospitals, Miracle Leagues, Feed More, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Salvation Army and others.

The Flying Squirrels continue to promote educational causes in schools around the Richmond region, including the “Go Nuts for Reading Program,” which challenges elementary and middle school students to read eight books over a two-month span to receive a free ticket to a Flying Squirrels game. This year, more than 10,000 students from 68 participating schools completed the challenge.

The Flying Squirrels launched their Executive Trainee Program, offering opportunities to students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities the opportunity to gain hands-on, professional experience working in various capacities with the team. The program is designed to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce with the goal of elevating more minorities into leadership positions throughout the professional baseball industry.

Through these and many other initiatives, the Flying Squirrels aim to make Richmond a better, more inclusive place, while simultaneously helping grow the game of baseball.

The Flying Squirrels open the 2023 season on Friday, April 7 at The Diamond against the Reading Fightin Phils. Ticket packages for the 2023 season are available now at SquirrelsBaseball.com.

Bulls & Blue Cross NC Partner On Wellness Program

Wool E. Bull and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina present “Wool E. Wellness”, a free educational program showcasing how to live a healthy lifestyle through proper nutrition, exercise and sleep.

This program is available for all elementary schools in Durham, Wake and Orange Counties and consists of school visit from Wool E. Bull, show highlighting proper wellness practices, giveaways from the Bulls and Blue Cross NC and opportunities for unique experiences at Durham Bulls Athletic Park during the 2023 season.

CLICK TO SCHEDULE A SHOW

“The Durham Bulls are proud to partner with Blue Cross NC to help educate youth on healthy lifestyle habits”, said Michael Ward, Durham Bulls Director of Marketing and Communications. “Proper wellness starts at a young age, and with the help of Wool E. Bull, Blue Cross NC and area schools, we can positively impact the health of youth in the Triangle.”

“Access to nutritious foods is integral to preventing diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure,” said Cheryl Parquet, director, Community Engagement and Marketing Activation at Blue Cross NC. “Teaching local youth healthy recipes and basic kitchen techniques is an opportunity to help improve health outcomes for the future of North Carolina.”

Interested schools can click here to learn more about the program and schedule a show or call Eric Topolewski with the Durham Bulls at 919.687.6533.

Reno Aces Fans Raise Over $22,000 in Theme Jersey Auctions

RENO, Nev. – From Doctor Strange to SpongeBob SquarePants, Margaritaville, and more, the players and coaching staff wore a wide range of jerseys beyond their standard red, white, and blues during their Pacific Coast League Championship run at Greater Nevada Field.

This season, the Aces partnered with six Reno-area charities, Reno Rodeo Foundation, JOIN Inc., Eddy House, Communities in Schools of Nevada, Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation, and Disabled American Veterans, with each theme jersey night that included a jersey auction.

After a final tally of each theme-jersey auction, the Reno Aces are proud to announce a total of $22,374.18, with each of the six beneficiary charities receiving $3,729.

“The sense of giving that the Aces fans showcased this year to our charitable partners was remarkable with every dollar raised,” said Reno Aces Community Relations Manager Mary Knezovich. “These jerseys allow the winner to have a one-of-a-kind Reno Aces piece of history, and every winning bid helps the Northern Nevada community.”

Eddy House –

“Eddy House is very grateful to the Reno Aces for donating the proceeds of their jersey auction! Eddy House is Northern Nevada’s only shelter serving youth 18 to 24. When youth come to us, they have full access to our wide range of services, including immediate needs such as shelter, food, and showers, as well as case management, workforce development, therapy, and more. This money will help us to continue to provide these services as the demand increases with the cold weather. Thank you!”

Reno Rodeo Foundation –

“What most people don’t realize about the Denim Drive is that 100% of all donations go directly to these children,” said Debby Herman, Reno Rodeo Foundation President. “The support from the Reno Aces will directly benefit our program and the amazing impact the proceeds from the Marvel Jersey auction with have for children who have experienced the unimaginable”

“The Denim Drive program has evolved to providing Reno Rodeo Foundation purchase cards to social works so the kids can pick out their new clothing and hygiene items” said Clara Andriola, Executive Director of the Reno Rodeo Foundation. “Social workers have shared this process gives them a sense of pride, calms their anxiety from the trauma, boosts their confidence and allows them to express their individual style while teaching them crucial life skills that help them feel normal, especially during a time when everything the children know and own has been ripped away from them.”. The Reno Aces generous donation sends a message that someone really cares about them.”

Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation –

“Northern Nevada is a beautiful place to live because of great community partners like the Reno Aces. Your donation is greatly appreciated, and more important than ever, it offers Help, Hope, and Courage to families from the moment their child is diagnosed through survivorship. The Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation can provide services to ensure local families can overcome the financial and emotional burdens of a childhood cancer diagnosis. In the last 20 years, our foundation has provided over $7 million in direct financial assistance to local children. Your support helps assist approximately 120 children with needs such as medical, household, educational, and travel expenses related to treatment. We can provide this support because of donors like you. We appreciate the Reno Aces and recognize the significant impact of their donation. Thank you for helping make a difference for our youngest cancer warriors and their families.”

Communities in Schools of Nevada –

“We’re grateful that the Reno Aces and the Aces fans help put the “Communities” in our name through the jersey auction event! With the funds raised through this generous donation, we are able to continue our work in helping the almost 9,000 students in 13 schools throughout Washoe County by eliminating barriers to staying in school and graduating. Thank you to everyone who bid and won!”

The Reno Aces theme-jersey auctions will return in 2023, with the first one set for May, and additional auctions will run on select Saturdays throughout the season.

Baseball returns to Greater Nevada Field on Friday, March 31st, as the Reno Aces 2023 Opening Day will include a battle against their Silver State rivals, the Las Vegas Aviators, Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. To purchase tickets or for more information about the Reno Aces, visit www.renoaces.com.

-ACES-

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!

2022 Shorebirds Summer Reading Program Presented by Caprichos Books Donated Over 200 Books

SALISBURY, MD – The Delmarva Shorebirds Summer Reading Program presented by Caprichos Books rewards kids for completing their library’s summer reading program with two free tickets to a Shorebirds game.

For the 2022 season, over 30 libraries across Delmarva participated in the program and over 8,000 tickets were distributed to the participants. The Shorebirds and Caprichos Books visited 12 libraries with Sherman to read to the kids as well as facilitate a book exchange with books provided by Caprichos Books.

Through the book exchange, the Shorebirds were able to donate over 200 books to local free little libraries across Delmarva to help spread the joy of reading in our community. “We are very appreciative of Caprichos Books and our local libraries for helping us donate this incredible amount of books to little libraries on the Eastern Shore,” said Shorebirds Community Relations Manager, Sam Lehman. “Literacy on Delmarva is very important to the Shorebirds and something we like to expand upon each year through our community initiatives like the Summer Reading Program.”

Caprichos Books enjoyed partnering with the Shorebirds Summer Reading Program and the reach it had on the community. “This was such a great opportunity to visit all over Delmarva with the Shorebirds and I am proud of how many people we were able to reach in our first year partnership. Caprichos Books looks forward to continuing to meet and support readers and literacy programs with the Shorebirds and library partners,” explained Caprichos Books owner, Liz Decker

To learn more about the Shorebirds’ community initiatives, upcoming events, and the 2023 season, visit the shorebirds.com or follow the Shorebirds’ Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts.

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 *

High School Baseball Returning to ONEOK Field

High school baseball is returning to ONEOK Field in 2023. The Tulsa Drillers announced today that for the third straight year the club would host a series of high school games at the downtown stadium.

The games are scheduled to be held from March 10-16, during the week of spring break for most schools. By hosting games during the break in school, teams will have the opportunity to play during the daytime hours.

At this time, the Drillers have blocked the following dates and times for games:

2023 High School Baseball Series at ONEOK Field

Friday, March 10 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 11 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Monday, March 13 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Tuesday, March 14 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Thursday, March 16 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Matchups for each game will be announced at a later time.

Admission for all of the games will be free of charge for fans.

The two games on Saturday, March 11 will be held in conjunction with the team’s annual DrillersFest event. There will be a number of other activities taking place at the stadium, and it will be one of the first opportunities for fans to purchase individual game tickets for 2023 Drillers games.

The team slots for the ten games are being filled now. Any school interested in playing in one of the games at ONEOK Field should contact Andrew Aldenderfer with the Drillers at (918)744-5998 or via email by clicking HERE.

Hispanic Heritage Festival Will Be Held At Fluor Field on October 2nd

The Greenville Drive is excited to have the Hispanic Heritage Festival happening at Fluor Field on October 2nd! We are all too familiar with the importance of celebrating Hispanic Culture and look forward to this incredible event. The festival aims to promote the heritage and culture of the Hispanic community, while raising funds for higher education for students of Hispanic descent. The festival is for the entire community, and we hope to see you there!

For more information, please visit https://www.ahamsc.org/hhf-overview

Enrollment Open for 2023 Fang’s Reading Club

GRAND CHUTE, WI – It is never too early to start thinking about reading and baseball! Registration is open for the 2023 edition of Fang’s Reading Club. Teachers may begin enrolling their schools in the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers program that encourages reading development in children from Kindergarten through fifth grade! This year’s program is presented by Fox Communities Credit Union, Myndology, and Luv 2 Play Appleton. Teachers and reading coordinators have until December 31 to get involved in this program.

Registration can be done through this link on the Timber Rattlers website. You may also check out other details on the program at that link.

Personnel at participating schools have the flexibility to design the program to meet the needs of their students.

Fang’s Reading Club provides the following:

An introductory letter to be sent to parents at the start of the program

Baseball related verification aids to help parents and teachers track the progress of participants

Information to aid schools in setting up their Family Night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium

An easy, online ticket ordering option

A Timber Rattlers game ticket with a hot dog and soda voucher as part of their school’s Family Night in 2023 are free to students who meet all their goals for the program. Sponsors and the Timber Rattlers will have a special prize waiting for those who complete the program at the ballpark when they attend their game!

You may also download this year’s Reading Club brochure here.

There were 135 schools and over 35,000 students to participate in the program last year. This year’s club can be even bigger with your help!

Contact Dayna Baitinger at [email protected] or (920) 733-4152 if you have any questions or would like to register your school for Fang’s Reading Club.