Dragons to Recognize “Folds of Honor” Recipients During Game on April 12

Dayton, Ohio–The Dayton Dragons will recognize two local “Folds of Honor” scholarship recipients during inning breaks of the Dragons game on Friday, April 12 against the Lake County Captains at Fifth Third Field. The game will start at 7:00 p.m.

Folds of Honor is a non-profit organization that provides educational scholarships to the families of military citizens who have fallen, or been disabled, while deployed in the United States armed forces. Their educational scholarships support private education and tutoring for children in grades kindergarten through 12 in addition to higher education tuition assistance for spouses and dependents. Folds of Honor provides scholarships for elementary, middle, and high school students through the Children’s Fund as well as for those seeking a bachelor’s or certification through the Higher Education Scholarship. These scholarships can be valued up to $5,000. Since the creation of Folds of Honor, nearly $20 million of scholarships have been awarding to 20,000 recipients in all 50 states and multiple U.S. territories. Folds of Honor accepts applications for scholarships each calendar year from February 1 to April 1 for the next academic year. Applicants will be notified during the summer months of that year if they have been chosen and what dollar amount they shall receive. To learn more about this night or to make a donation to Folds of Honor, visit daytondragons.com/foldsofhonor.

This event is the first of five special Hometown Heroes spotlights at Dragons games this season. At each Hometown Heroes event, the Dragons pay tribute to all service men and women past and present. Presenting sponsors are the Dayton Development Coalition, SRC, Inc., Reynolds & Reynolds, TACG, and the Dayton Dragons. Additional tributes are scheduled for May 22, June 23, and July 11, each focused on a different aspect or organization involved in the military. The season-long celebration will wrap up with American Celebration Night on August 10, featuring post-game fireworks.

For more information on the Hometown Heroes program, please visit daytondragons.com/HometownHeroes.

Single-game tickets for all Dragons 2019 home games are available at www.daytondragons.com or by phone at (937) 228-2287.

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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.

Recycling Bin Initiative (RBI) presented by Montgomery Count Environmental Services

Dayton, Ohio – The Dayton Dragons and Montgomery County Environmental Services are once again teaming up for the Recycling Bin Initiative (RBI) Program. This free, fun, and educational program is for kids and families to learn about household recycling and how recycling benefits the economy and the environment. The RBI Program only requires two weeks of tracking recycling to participate, but families are encouraged to keep up the good work afterwards.

There are some new changes to the program this year. In addition to a new logo and brand, participants will learn about how to “recycle right,” as well as what items can and cannot be recycled.

“Not everything can be recycled, and some items that can’t be recycled may come as a surprise to many participants,” said Montgomery County Commissioner Judy Dodge. “It’s important that our citizens learn good recycling habits, because having better materials makes the whole recycling system more financially sustainable.”

Hundreds of thousands of cans, glass, cardboard, and plastic have been saved from the landfill thanks to the recycling efforts of participants over the past nine years.

All participants will receive up to four Dragons lawn tickets to RBI Night at a sold-out Dragons game, an exclusive RBI water bottle and recycling bin, and will be eligible to win other great Dragons prizes and experiences.

Visit www.daytondragons.com/rbi to get more information and participate.

About Montgomery County Environmental Services

Montgomery County Environmental Services provides water and water reclamation (sewer) services to 80,000 customers, and solid waste and recycling services to 525,000 citizens in Montgomery County, Ohio. The department offers educational outreach programs for local schools, communities, and businesses that want to learn more about conservation and sustainability in the Miami Valley region. For more information, visit www.mcohio.org/departments/environmental_services/, or follow us on Twitter or Facebook (@mcohioes).

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

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#Teach864 Night is Tuesday, April 9th at Fluor Field

The Drive are thrilled to host the second annual #Teach864 Night at Fluor Field on Tuesday, April 9th. First pitch against the Augusta GreenJackets is at 7:05 PM.

#Teach864 Night is an opportunity for Greenville to celebrate and elevate our teachers in the Upstate, who are the most important professionals in the lives of our community’s youth. Public Education Partners, Greenville County Schools and The Greenville Drive invite the thousands of Greenville County teachers, our partners, our friends and the entire community to a night of fun, fellowship and baseball.

Pre-game and in-game recognitions include Greenville County Schools Teachers of the Year, Teacher Cadet and GATE programs, a Teacher Dance Break, and a Teacher “Signing Day” with new teachers.

All Greenville County Schools teachers will receive a complimentary “My Drive to Teach” t-shirt, and $5 meal voucher to use at any of the concession stands.

To purchase tickets, visit the Main Street Box Office, call (864) 240-4528 or CLICK HERE.

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

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Safe Kids Upstate Day is Sunday, April 7th

The Greenville Drive are excited to host the annual Safe Kids Upstate Day at Fluor Field on Sunday, April 7th in celebration of Safety Patrol members across Greenville, Pickens, and Oconee Counties.

First pitch against the West Virginia Power is at 3:05 PM, and the first 300 kids to arrive when gates open at 2:00 will receive a complimentary, custom-fit bike helmet.

All afternoon, the Drive and Safe Kids Upstate have plans for fun activities, family safety exhibits and giveaways! The interactive exhibits include Buddy’s Safety House, a Teen Driving 3D Road Course Challenge, Hands Only CPR Demonstrations, and a chance to meet with local firefighters and law enforcement. Great prizes like drones, scooters and giant pool inflatables will be given away throughout the day.

To purchase tickets for Safe Kids Upstate Day on April 7th, visit the Main Street Box Office, call (864) 240-4528 or CLICK HERE.

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

Jumbo Shrimp initiate A Better Jacksonville Series

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jumbo Shrimp are continuing their commitment to serving the city of Jacksonville and its surrounding areas by introducing the club’s new A Better Jacksonville Series. Fans who donate to each of these monthly charitable drives will be entered into a drawing to throw out a ceremonial first pitch prior to the Jumbo Shrimp’s 6:35 p.m. game on Sunday, August 25 at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.

The Jumbo Shrimp’s A Better Jacksonville Series begins on Friday, April 26 with a greeting card donation drive. During this 7:05 p.m. game on Military Appreciation Night, the club will use donated greeting cards by allowing fans to write to active military.

The Jumbo Shrimp will team with the Jackson Five, the club’s internship program with Andrew Jackson High School, on Monday, May 20 to hold an Education Day Shoe Drive prior to the club’s 11:05 a.m. contest. All shoes donated will be sent to the City Rescue Mission.

Fans will be asked to donate toys on Sunday, June 9 for a 3:05 p.m. game on A Story of Toys Day. All proceeds will benefit One More Child. When the Jumbo Shrimp celebrate Mac & Cheese Day at 3:05 p.m. on Sunday, July 14, all fan non-perishable food donations will benefit Feeding Northeast Florida.

The inaugural A Better Jacksonville Series will wrap up prior to the Jumbo Shrimp’s 6:35 p.m. game on Saturday, August 10 with a school supply donation. Each donation will benefit Duval County Public Schools.

Fans who donated to each of the five monthly drives throughout the 2019 season will be entered into a drawing to throw out a ceremonial first pitch. The winner will toss out that ceremonial first pitch prior to the Jumbo Shrimp’s 6:35 p.m. contest on Sunday, August 25.

UP NEXT: Opening Day for the Jumbo Shrimp in 2019 is Thursday, April 4, against the Jackson Generals at the Baseball Grounds Jacksonville. Season tickets, mini plans, and corporate outings are on sale now. Visit www.jaxshrimp.com or phone 904-358-2846 to secure yours today.

ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp offer affordable family fun at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. Their inaugural season garnered the Southern League’s Don Mincher Organization of the Year, Promotional Trophy and Jimmy Bragan Executive of the Year, won by General Manager Harold Craw. To experience the excitement with the terrific value of ticket and group options, call the Jumbo Shrimp at (904) 358-2846 or visit www.jaxshrimp.com.

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

Spokane Indians and Banner Bank Team Up to Help Local Students Attend College

SPOKANE, Wash. – For the fourteenth consecutive year, Banner Bank and the Spokane Indians will team up to reward deserving high school seniors with college scholarships. Five area students will be selected to receive a $500 scholarship based on achievement in leadership, community involvement, scholarship, and character.

“Hard work and dedication deserve to be rewarded-that’s why we are pleased to again partner with the Spokane Indians to award five deserving students with college scholarships,” said Keith Weathermon, Banner Bank Senior Vice President.

Any high school senior in the graduating class of 2019 attending a high school within Spokane County and Kootenai County and/or a member of one of the six (6) regional tribes (the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, the Colville Tribe, the Kalispel Tribe, the Kootenai Tribe, the Nez Perce Tribe, and the Spokane Tribe) is eligible for this scholarship. Applications for the scholarship are due to the Spokane Indians office by Friday, May 3rd, 2019. CLICK HERE for more info and to apply.

“It’s gratifying for us to know that as an organization we’ve had a direct impact on education for over a decade,” said Indians Senior Vice President Otto Klein. “We love celebrating great students in our community.”

Students interested in receiving a Banner Bank Scholarship application should contact their school’s scholarship coordinator or email Darby Moore at dmoore@spokaneindians.com for more information.

About the Spokane Indians
The Spokane Indians are the Short Season Class “A” affiliate for the Texas Rangers. Avista Stadium is home to the $5 Bench Seat courtesy of Multicare. CLICK HERE to reserve your seats today. Parking at all Spokane Indians games is FREE. The Spokane Indians Team Store is open M-F 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, and 10:00 AM on all game days.

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

Emeralds Set to Hit a Home Run in Reading

The Eugene Emeralds are excited to announce they are once again partnering with Oregon Medical Group and Wildish for Sluggo’s Home Run Reading Challenge. Starting this week, the program is designed to motivate students to become better readers by completing reading assignments to earn free Ems tickets!

Last year, 56 schools signed up for the Reading Challenge and a record 11,528 completed the program. “The growth of the Reading Program over the 10 years here at PK Park has been incredible,” said Ems Assistant General Manager Matt Dompe. “It is one of our biggest community outreach programs year after year, and it’s a great way to kick off the Emeralds season with games filled with kids that completed the reading challenge.”

For 2019, the new and improved Reading Challenge assembly will take on a Super Hero theme as Sluggo travels faster than a speeding green bear all over Lane County to spread the joy of reading. At the end of the assembly, teachers will give their students a 10-task reading goal, which students will track with a Sluggo-themed bookmark.

Students who complete their bookmarks receive two free tickets to a Eugene Emeralds baseball game this summer. In addition to the tickets, students will be invited to go down onto the field at PK Park and have a chance to meet some of the 2019 Emeralds players!

“We are committed to helping build healthier communities, and the connection between literacy and health is strong. Oregon Medical Group is excited to once again be part of Sluggo’s Home Run Reading Challenge. It motivates kids to read, and it gets them out to a ballgame – that’s a pretty healthy combination.” says Josh Cox, Director of Marketing and Public Relations.

The Emeralds and OMG will be updating the progress of Sluggo’s Home Run Reading Challenge through social media posts all spring so be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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

3,000 Books Being Donated by the Whitecaps Community Foundation to Area Schools

COMSTOCK PARK, MI – The Whitecaps Community Foundation will donate 3,000 books to six West Michigan Public Schools this month in an effort to encourage children to read during March is Reading Month and beyond!

The books were selected with the help of GRPS educators and will be delivered as a surprise to CA Frost Elementary and Grand Rapids Montessori on Friday, March 15. Then on Wednesday, March 20, MLK Jr. Elementary in Muskegon Heights and Aberdeen Elementary in Grand Rapids will receive the books. Lastly, on Thursday March 21st the Whitecaps Community Foundation will visit Southwest Community Campus and North Park Montessori.

These six schools were selected to receive the free books because of their designation as high priority elementary schools; many of their pupils do not have access to resources such as books. With this donation, every child at these six schools will receive one free book.

This is the fourth year of the book donation program and in that time more than 10,000 books have been donated.

The book donation is a part of the Whitecaps Community Foundation’s Reading Program, which helps area school children enjoy Whitecaps baseball while promoting reading. Children from West Michigan schools who read 15 minutes a day, during the month, can attend a Whitecaps game for free in April through June. The Foundation delivers all support materials, such as reading tracking calendars and posters, to all participating schools at no cost. Last year’s Reading Program had more than 67,000 K-6 area children participate from 322 schools. Nearly 19,000 complimentary tickets were given this season to children and their families in West Michigan.

The Whitecaps Community Foundation, the nonprofit extension of the West Michigan Whitecaps, is a 501c3 organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children and their families by providing them with access to social, educational and recreational programs that will have a positive impact on their futures. With the help and generosity of community partners and members, the Whitecaps Community Foundation continues to strive to make the West Michigan area a better place to grow, learn, and thrive.

In 2018, through a combination of donations and fundraising efforts, the Whitecaps Community Foundation gave more than 1.4 million dollars to local children and their families through programs such as the reading program’s book donation and many others.

For more information on the book deliveries please contact Mickey Graham at (616) 726-7067 and for information on the Whitecaps Community Foundation, including how to volunteer and/or donate, please visit www.whitecapscommunityfoundation.org.

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

Wings celebrate Deaf Culture on April 28

The Rochester Red Wings have teamed up with the Rochester Institute of Technology, National Technical Institute for the Deaf and the Rochester School for the Deaf for Deaf Culture Day on Sunday, April 28 at Frontier Field.

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE — Students, faculty and staff at RIT, NTID and RSD and their families can get $2 off tickets by using a special promo code that will be supplied them.

“We are proud to partner with NTID and Rochester School for the Deaf for Deaf Culture Day so we can celebrate the deaf community and the important impact deaf citizens have had in Rochester. We look forward to hosting many deaf members of the Rochester community and their families while also educating all fans about deaf culture,” said Wings GM Dan Mason.

The Wings will wear specialty jerseys and caps to celebrate the day. The jerseys will feature “Red Wings” in American Sign Language across the chest, while the cap will have the ASL “R” on the front with the Spikes logo on the side. The jerseys will be auctioned off using the LiveSource mobile app, with proceeds benefitting both NTID and RSD.

TICKET PACKAGES (click the package to purchase):

– Deaf Culture T-shirt + game ticket = $20
– Deaf Cultire adjustable cap + game ticket = $22

PRE-ORDER MERCHANDISE:

Click here to pre-order your Deaf Culture Day merchandise.

There will be dozens of interpreters stationed throughout the ballpark on April 28 including in the seating bowl, at concession stands and at the ticket offices to assist hearing impaired individuals. Portions of the game will be captioned on the videoboard for the first time ever courtesy of NTID.

Other aspects of the day include a silent inning where there will be no PA announcements or music of any kind. We’ll also be highlighting deaf individuals who have made a significant impact in society throughout the game.

As part of Deaf Culture Day, the Wings will welcome back the only superhero to ever roam the grounds of Frontier field. Ogden Whitehead, an NTID grad and former Red Wings employee, will reprise his role as “Recycleman” and lead the crowd in some of the cheers that made him famous during his time with the Red Wings in the late 90s and early 2000s.

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

Fightins, Capital BlueCross Announce Return of Outstanding Student Program

The Reading Fightin Phils, in partnership with Capital BlueCross, have announced the return of the Capital BlueCross “Live Fearless” Outstanding Student Program for the 2019 season. The program is designed to raise funds for participating schools in the club’s surrounding community.

The Outstanding Student Program is a unique incentive-based program which recognizes and rewards hard-working students. Through the program, students are given an opportunity to celebrate their achievements with their families at a designated Fightin Phils home game. The Fightins have given back $9,400 to local schools since the program began.

Schools can register now to take part in the Outstanding Student Program this season, at no cost to the schools.

Each school decides its own method of selecting its “Outstanding Students,” and every student recognized by his or her school receives two FREE tickets to a Fightins game, an Outstanding Student Medal from a Fightins player, and a photo with the Crazy Hot Dog Vendor during a pregame Outstanding Student Ceremony. This year’s ceremonies will take place on April 25, April 29, April 30, May 7, May 12, and May 16.

For each free ticket that is used, and for any additional tickets that are purchased by family members through the Capital BlueCross “Live Fearless” Outstanding Student Program, the participating school receives $1 back.

School teachers, administrators, or PTO/PTA representatives can sign their school up now for the 2019 season by contacting the Fightin Phils Director of Education Todd Hunsicker at 610-375-8469 x.206 or by email at thunsicker@fightins.com.

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

Timber Rattlers Release 2018 Charity Report

GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers had a busy season off the field with their charitable works. The Midwest League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers is reporting on their year as 2018 is coming to a close and they are preparing for 2019.

The two main fundraisers for the Timber Rattlers were the Golf Outing and their specialty jersey auctions. The 2018 Golf Outing was held at Shamrock Heights Golf Course and raised over $6,700 with the participation of 82 area golfers plus 17 members of the Timber Rattlers team including players, coaches, and front office personnel. The team held seven auctions for their alternate jerseys that included the Brats, Salute to Cows, Star Wars™, Wisconsin Badgers, & Brewers Sunday uniforms and raised nearly $13,000 for local charities. The 2019 Timber Rattlers Golf Outing is scheduled for June 3. The Rattlers are in the process of creating their alternate jerseys for next season.

The team was also involved in programs like Whiffer’s Fitness Program and Fang’s Reading Club. The fitness program helped to get kids in the Fox Cities to get and stay active. The reading club is an incentive-based program that allows schools in Northeastern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula to get children from Kindergarten through fifth grade involved in reading.

Mascots Whiffer & Fang got into the charitable spirit on their birthdays, too. Whiffer’s Birthday in March coincided with the team’s individual tickets on sale date and a Help for the Homeless Drive that collected hygiene products for area homeless shelters. Fang’s Birthday in August collected 328 pounds in non-perishable food items as part of the Cans for Cake food drive.

The Rattlers didn’t just collect food. They also grew and harvested over 400 pounds of food in the Greenstone Farm Credit Services Ballpark Garden at Neuroscience Group Field. The fresh vegetables were taken to St. Joe’s Food Pantry.

Area Little Leagues were presented with over 2000 hats with the support of the Rattlers.

Some of the charities helped by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in 2018 included Make-A-Wish Wisconsin, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Fox Valley Veterans Council, Children’s Cancer Family Foundation of Northeast Wisconsin, St. Joe’s Food Pantry, Freedom Food Pantry, and Miracle League of the Fox Valley.

Numerous other charities were also given Timber Rattlers ticket vouchers to be used in their own fundraisers. The Timber Rattlers could not have accomplished this without the support of the players, coaches, and community.

The team established the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Fund with the Community Foundation of the Fox Valley Region in 2016 to benefit the team’s charitable works.

The schedule for the 2019 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers season is available here. Fans may purchase full season, half season, seven-game, and ten-game packages for next season through the Timber Rattlers Ticket Office at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium by calling (800) WI-TIMBER or (920) 733-4152; stopping at the Ticket Office; or online through timberrattlers.com.

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

Blue Rocks Announce Holiday Card Contest Winner

The Wilmington Blue Rocks are excited to announce the winner of the 17th Annual Holiday Card Contest. Over 1,000 entries were received, but unfortunately, there could be just one winner. After a tough decision process, Rocky Bluewinkle, Mr. Celery, Rubble and the rest of the Holiday Card Contest Committee decided that the overall winner was Izzy Nelson, a 5th Grader from Assumption B.V.M. School in West Grove, PA. Izzy’s artwork will be featured on the cover of the Wilmington Blue Rocks Holiday Card. Izzy will be rewarded with a ceremonial first pitch and 10 tickets to a 2019 Blue Rocks game.

The Blue Rocks also selected honorable mention recipients, whose artwork will be displayed on the back of the Holiday Card. Those garnering honorable mentions honors are:

Italia Fortebuono
Loomis Elementary School
Broomall, PA

Jaxon Morales
St. Elizabeth School
Wilmington, DE

Charlotte Munger
Assumption B.V.M. School
West Grove, PA

Evilyn Seeney
Mannington Twp School
Salem, NJ

Robert Vella
St. Edmond’s Academy
Wilmington, DE

The Wilmington Blue Rocks would like to thank all those who entered. Entries were received from students in Kindergarten thru 5th grade from Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey.

Each entrant will be rewarded with 2 tickets to a Blue Rocks game in 2019 as a thank you for participating. The tickets will be mailed to the participating teachers by March.

The Blue Rocks recently announced a two-year extension of their Player Development Contract to remain the Advanced-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Season seats, mini plans and group packages for the 2019 season are available now at BlueRocks.com.

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

Making their Pitch: ESU students to toss ideas at RailRiders front office staff

MOOSIC, PA (December 5, 2018) – On Thursday, December 6, students majoring in sport management at East Stroudsburg University will have a unique opportunity to present their marketing plans to the front office staff of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders during a class titled “Concepts of Sport Marketing.”

Earlier in the year, students in this class traveled to PNC Field to attend a RailRiders game and to meet members of the front office, including Team President and General Manager Josh Olerud, to learn about the organization’s marketing plan overviews. Throughout the semester, the students have been building strategic sport marketing plans to meet the needs of the RailRiders organization. The class culminates in the student presentations to members of the RailRiders executive team.

“We are excited to see the culmination of their work,” Olerud said. “This has been a lengthy process for these students, but was surely a valuable experience, both for this course and for their future as well. The RailRiders have had a strong partnership with East Stroudsburg University and this opportunity is tremendous. They gain insight and practice, we always learn a thing or two and may even find a future intern or employee. On behalf of the RailRiders, I would like to thank the students for their hard work and effort.”

For interviews or more information regarding the “Concepts of Sport Marketing” class, please contact Liz Richardson at (570) 422-3139 or at erichard10@esu.edu.

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders begin the 2019 campaign on April 4 in Buffalo before opening PNC Field for the first time in the new season on April 11. Season tickets, corporate partnerships, and mini-plans, including the new nine-game bobblehead plan, are available now. Visit swbrailriders.com or call (570) 969-BALL for more details.

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

Blue Rocks Staff Volunteer in Harvey Hanna Coat Drive

The Wilmington Blue Rocks front office was out in the community on Thursday as they participated in Operation Warm at Warner Elementary School in Wilmington. The event, which was presented by Harvery Hanna and The Delaware Kids Fund, provided local children with brand new winter jackets.

Kids would walk into the school’s cafeteria, introduce themselves to a volunteer from the community and then get the opportunity to pick out a jacket of their choice courtesy of Operation Warm. They then received a kindness coin and signed a giant thank you poster for the generous folks at Harvey Hanna.

“It was an awesome event,” said Blue Rocks Director of Merchandise Jim Beck. “The kids were so grateful and it was just a terrific opportunity to speak with them, get to know them a little bit and then play a very small part in putting a smile on their faces. We want to thank both Operation Warm and Harvey Hanna for giving our organization a chance to be involved.”

Operation Warm provides warmth, confidence and hope to children in need through the gift of brand new winter coats. The organization believes a brand new coat is more than a coat. Through serving millions of children in need across North America, it has seen that a brand new coat offers a child physical and emotional warmth, confidence to socialize and succeed, and hope of a brighter future. For more information on the organization their website is OperationWarm.org.

The Blue Rocks were honored by the Carolina League in 2018 with the Matt Minker Community Service Award. The award goes to the club which best demonstrates an outstanding, on-going commitment to charitable service, support, and leadership within its community. The award is named after the Blue Rocks’ founder, Matt Minker, who owned the club until his death in 2007. Minker, whose construction company built Frawley Stadium, remains the team’s honorary president.

The Blue Rocks participated in numerous school programs, charitable endeavors and hospital visits in 2018 and team works with area schools to promote academic achievement (DSEA Rocky’s Reading Challenge), citizenship (Grotto Pizza Outstanding Student Program) and overall knowledge (Discover Baseball and Education Day).

The organization also helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for good causes such as Habitat for Humanity, Fight for the Gold, Boys and Girls Clubs of Delaware, Special Olympics Delaware, Food Bank of Delaware and many other charities through partnerships with local businesses such as Chase and Food Lion. Several times during the season, the team’s players and mascot also visited local hospitals, brightening the spirits of patients and their families.

The Blue Rocks recently announced a two-year extension of their Player Development Contract to remain the Advanced-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Season seats, mini plans and group packages for the 2019 season are available now at BlueRocks.com.

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