Blue Wahoos Share Holiday Spirit, Community Impact In December

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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.

WooSox Wrap Up Month of Giving with Veterans Day and Thanksgiving Activities and Events

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The Worcester Red Sox and WooSox Foundation wrapped up a busy November with a slew of community events and good deeds to carry the club into what’s poised to be another busy month in December.

More than 150 veterans gathered in Polar Park’s DCU Club for the club’s 8th Annual Veterans Steak Dinner, presented by Country Bank on Thursday, November 10. Veterans from all over the region were treated to a complimentary steak meal prepared by WooSox Executive Chef Tom Whalen. The WooSox welcomed vets from organizations such as Veterans Inc., Project New Hope, Clearpath New England, Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, Korean War Veterans of Massachusetts, Green Meadows, and other local V.F.W.’s.

Veterans at the dinner received “thank you” cards from Ms. Kara Lynch’s 5th grade class at Gates Lane Elementary School in Worcester, and were treated to a beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner by Alan Swartz of Leominster, MA.

On Veterans Day the following day, WooSox mascot Smiley Ball stopped by Veterans Inc.’s Pancake Breakfast and marched in the City of Worcester’s Annual Veterans Day Parade with community leaders and elected officials.

On Wednesday, November 16, the WooSox welcomed 50 fourth graders to Polar Park from Worcester’s Jacob Hiatt Magnet School, and the students enjoyed a turkey feast prepared by Chef Tom Whalen.

The WooSox began the week of Thanksgiving by volunteering at Friendly House, a Worcester-based non-profit located less than a mile from Polar Park that offers social services, feeding programs, housing services, and youth programs for underserved residents throughout the city.

WooSox representatives were also joined by their community partners from the Worcester Railers, and together they helped Friendly House Executive Director Trish Appert distribute food to those in need just days before Thanksgiving.

After Friendly House, the WooSox traveled to El Buen Samaritano, a food pantry in Worcester’s Main South neighborhood, where they helped distribute food to those in need alongside Robyn Kennedy, State Senator in Worcester’s 1st District. The WooSox Foundation made $500 donations to both Friendly House and El Buen Samaritano.

On Tuesday, November 22, the WooSox Foundation deployed its Care-A-Van, presented by Bank of America, to help fix up a softball field in Sturbridge, MA. The team was joined by their corporate partners from AbbVie, in addition to Sturbridge Town Manager Robin Grimm, who was instrumental in alerting club officials of the field’s needs.

Susquehanna Township Baseball Association to Receive ‘Homefield Makeover’

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HARRISBURG, PA. – The Harrisburg Senators are excited to partner with First National Bank, the largest subsidiary of F.N.B Corporation, and Black Landscape for its ‘Homefield Makeover’ initiative that will provide a field renovation to one local youth baseball or softball league. After receiving applications from over 15 different leagues, Susquehanna Township Baseball Association (STBA) has been selected as the beneficiary.

The renovation will take place at Stabler Field (4353 Kaby St., Harrisburg, PA 17110) on Tuesday, November 15, 2022. Various projects will be worked on at the field including removal of the infield grass, capping the fence, and extending the baselines. This will allow for a safer and more versatile field.

The projects will be completed by volunteers and staff members from the Senators, First National Bank, Black Landscape, and STBA.

The Senators offices are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily during the offseason. The 2023 home opener is Tuesday, April 11, against the Richmond Flying Squirrels. For information about Sensylvania Club Season Memberships or group tickets please call the Senators at 717-231-4444 or visit the Senators online at www.senatorsbaseball.com. You can find the Senators on Facebook at facebook.com/senatorsbaseball or @hbgsenators on Twitter.

First National announces field renovation winner

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BELOIT — First National Bank and Trust, in conjunction with the Beloit Sky Carp, are proud to announce the recipient of the first annual local Little League field renovation.

After all submissions were tallied, a committee of representatives from both First National Bank and the Beloit Sky Carp chose the winning field. For year one of the program, the main goal was to renovate the field that would have the most impact on the local community.

The committee is pleased to announce that field #2 from the Stateline Family YMCA Youth Sports Complex was chosen. The local YMCA serves thousands of people in the community. Renovating this field will increase safety and help beautify the Complex.

“Our partnership as the Exclusive Bank for the Beloit Sky Carp allows First National Bank and Trust the opportunity to engage in great community outreach programs such as this little league field renovation,” said David McCoy, President and CEO of FNBT. “By helping to update the Stateline Family YMCA Sports Complex, we will support area youth and the YMCA’s mission of strengthening our community family by providing an opportunity for everyone to learn, grow, and thrive, which aligns with FNBT’s mission of helping all our families succeed.”

The winning field was selected among several other deserving local candidates. As part of this process, the Beloit Sky Carp will be drafting a plan for renovation and sharing that plan with each of the other facilities. The goal is to ensure all of the runners-up in the contest know how to improve their fields as well,

“We are extremely grateful to have the opportunity to impact so many kids,” Sky Carp President Zach Brockman said. “First National Bank and Trust has stepped up to help us fulfill the mission of improving the quality of life in the people in our community.”

Stateline Family YMCA CEO Ann Hankins was excited to see the process take place.

“The Stateline Family YMCA is thrilled to have been picked by the Sky Carp and First National Bank and Trust for a field renovation to Field 2 at our YMCA Sports Complex.,” Hankins said. “Every day, the YMCA works to help youth and families learn, grow and thrive. This same dedication shown by the Sky Carp and First National Bank and Trust will provide a top-notch field where kids not only learn the fundamentals of their sport but also teamwork and other critical life skills. The YMCA is grateful for this incredible investment in the youth of our community.”

Work on the project is expected to begin on October 11th and be completed by the following day.

First National Bank & Trust to renovate Little League field

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BELOIT — First National Bank and Trust has partnered with the Beloit Sky Carp to continue the mission of improving the quality of life in our community.

The latest project? Selecting a local Little League field and giving it professional attention with the goal of increasing safety for all children that play on it.

“Our partnership as the Exclusive Bank for the Beloit Sky Carp allows First National Bank and Trust the opportunity to engage in great community outreach programs such as this little league field renovation,” said David McCoy, President and CEO of FNBT. “Providing resources to beautify our local ball fields along with the expertise of the Beloit Sky Carp team is just another way we hope to help our community families succeed.”

Community members are encouraged to submit a local field (must be in the Stateline region) that needs a makeover. A committee, comprised of Sky Carp and First National Bank and Trust employees, will review all submissions and determine the field most in need.

The field will be selected by the committee by mid-September.

“This is just another way we can give back to the community that has supported us so well,” Sky Carp President Zach Brockman said. “We are so grateful that First National Bank and Trust has stepped in to make this happen, and we are happy to lend our expertise to see it through. ”

Know of a field in need? Submit it by Friday, September 2 through this link: https://www.milb.com/beloit/community/field-renovation.

The Beloit Sky Carp are the High-A Affiliate of the Miami Marlins and play their games at ABC Supply Stadium — the heart of the Riverbend District.

Get tickets at SkyCarp.com or call the Box Office at 608-362-2272.

Follow the Sky Carp on Twitter at @BeloitSkyCarp, on Instagram at @BeloitSkyCarp, and like them on Facebook via www.facebook.com/SkyCarpBaseball.

Senators and First National Bank Partner for “Homefield Makeover” Initiative

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The Harrisburg Senators and First National Bank, the largest subsidiary of F.N.B. Corporation (FNB), are pleased to announce the start of their “Homefield Makeover” initiative which gives one local youth baseball or softball league an updated field. The renovation will consist of $10,000 in goods and services from the Senators and FNB.

The goal of the initiative is to provide a safe, playable field for a local youth sports league. The field makeover will take place this fall so the field is ready for the upcoming youth baseball and softball season. Members of the Senators front office and FNB employees are donating their time to help with the field renovation. The renovation will tentatively take place in October with a grand opening slated for the 2023 season.

One youth baseball or softball league will be chosen for the field makeover based on an application process. The nature of the renovation will be based on the needs of the field chosen and could vary from fencing to supplying new infield dirt. Field equipment, such as rakes and shovels, will be donated to the league for upkeep of the field, along with a professional consultation with the Harrisburg Senators Grounds Crew team. Leagues can apply on the Senators website (www.senatorsbaseball.com). Leagues may apply beginning Tuesday, August 2 and applications close Tuesday, August 16.

“This is an idea that was part of a brainstorming session with our partners at First National Bank,” said Senators President Kevin Kulp. “We are always wanting to collaborate on community initiatives together and this is one that we plan on starting this year. To be able to help provide our kids a safer and more professional place to play baseball or softball is very exciting. The plan is that this is something that will be done annually so that we can touch more parts of our community over the years.”

“First National Bank is proud to continue to partner with the Senators on new community outreach projects that drive change in our region,” said Tony Sacco, Regional Market Executive and President of FNB’s Capital Region. “The Homefield Makeover initiative is representative of our commitment to improving the communities we serve and will create better places for local teams and their families to play.”

The Senators offices are open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. Tickets for any game this season are available online 24 hours a day or in person at the box office or over the phone during normal business hours. For information about Sensylvania Club Season Memberships please call the Senators at 717-231-4444 or visit the Senators online at www.senatorsbaseball.com. You can find the Senators on Facebook at facebook.com/senatorsbaseball or @hbgsenators on Twitter.

Spokane Indians and Les Schwab Tires Team Up to Restore Fairchild AFB Softball Fields

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The Spokane Indians and Les Schwab Tires teamed up in support of our Armed Forces and restored a pair of softball fields at Fairchild Air Force Base on Tuesday, July 19th as part of the team’s Community Fields Project presented by Les Schwab Tires.

“We always enjoy supporting baseball and softball at a grassroots level in our community and getting the chance to do it for our friends at Fairchild was especially meaningful,” said Otto Klein, Spokane Indians Senior Vice President. “We’re grateful for the sacrifices they’ve made and hope they enjoy utilizing these refurbished fields.”

Indians front office staff and members of the grounds crew as well as volunteers from Les Schwab removed weeds and rocks, added new sod to the infield skirt, spread field conditioner, installed new mounds and bases on both fields, and striped and prepped the fields.

“Les Schwab is proud to invest time and resources into events and organizations that promote responsibility, hard work and serving the community – values our company believes in,” said Chris Zimmerman, Airway Heights Les Schwab Store Manager. “We are happy to have the opportunity to support our friends at Fairchild.”

Additional supplies and materials for the project were made possible by supporting sponsors AAA and Bulldog Rooter.

Previously restored fields include War Veterans Memorial Field in Wellpinit, Washington in 2021 and Glover Field (now Redband Park) in Peaceful Valley in 2017.

Through the Community Fields Project, the Indians and partners have pledged to restore a minimum of one baseball/softball field in the Spokane region each year. Suggestions for new fields to be included in the program can be submitted to: [email protected].

Spotlight Games, Renovation of Rec Field Highlight Saints Participation In PLAY BALL Weekend June 10-12

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ST. PAUL, MN (June 3, 2022) – The St. Paul Saints have always immersed themselves in the local community. They take pride in giving back to an area that has helped make them one of the most successful Minor League teams in the country. For the first time as the Minnesota Twins Triple-A affiliate, the Saints will take part in PLAY BALL Weekend, a baseball-wide initiative designed to give back to each local community, from June 10-12.

The Saints won’t wait for Friday to roll around to get started with the PLAY BALL Weekend. Beginning on Monday, June 6 the Saints will renovate North Dale Recreation Center Field. The Saints, who are no strangers to helping local Little League and Rec Centers, will utilize the help of their head groundskeeper, Marcus Campbell, to make the field more playable and pristine. With the help of The Toro Company and MTI Distributing the Saints will spend the week making field improvements that will include new sod installation, edging of the infield, adding in infield material, grading the field, and rebuilding the mound.

For nearly two decades the Saints have brought their entertainment show on the road to local Little Leagues across the state. On Saturday June 11, the Saints will host two simultaneous spotlight games at the North Dale complex. The Saints turn a Little League game into a Saints experience with ushertainers, public address announcers, Mudonna, on field promotions, laughter, and fun. Along with the spotlight games, the Saints will unveil their field renovations to the public.

The PLAY BALL Weekend closes out with a Jr. Home Run Derby at CHS Field, following their 2:07 p.m. game against the Rochester Red Wings, for both softball and baseball. 14U and 16U softball players can register here and 12U and 14U baseball can register here. The winner of each age division advances to the regional final in Kansas City on July 3.

Storm Chasers, Chasers Charities, share winners of 2022 Chasin’ Dreams grants 

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PAPILLION, Neb. – The Omaha Storm Chasers, in conjunction with Chasers Charities, are proud to announce the recipients of the first round of the Chasin’ Dreams Grant.

Cycle 1 recipients of the Chasin’ Dreams Grant include Junior Cougars Baseball, 4SA (non-profit arm of 4Seams Academy), and the Elkhorn Athletic Association. The grant provides funding to local non-profit organizations that help youth baseball and/or softball programs to help with major renovations at their facilities.

Junior Cougars Baseball will use funding to renovate the backstop at Omaha Gross Catholic High School’s baseball field, which is used by the high school team, the Junior Cougars’ U8-U14 teams, legion teams, and men’s over-30 and over-40 teams.

“The support of the Omaha Storm Chasers for our field project is so appreciated,” Junior Cougars Baseball, Inc. President Jim Hempel said. “It will allow us to replace our 30-year-old backstop with some much-needed updates. It will make the field safer and provide our fans with a much better viewing experience.”

4SA, which acquired fields at Aspen Park in the Sun Valley neighborhood in Bellevue, will use funding for fencing, new sod, and dugouts for fields used for free camps and clinics, tournaments and games for 4Seams Academy travel teams, as well as provide free/discounted field use for low-income teams.

“The Chasin’ Dreams Grant will help 4SA build a home field for hundreds of baseball & softball players throughout the Omaha/Metro area,” Co-Owner of 4Seams Academy and Secretary of 4SA Sean Schrader said. “The Grant will help with the cost of bringing these fields up to date. 4SA will build or is in the process of building roofs over the dugouts and installing fences at each field. It will also help with much needed equipment, such as mounds, bases, and paint for our future home. Future renovations include padded backstops, safety netting and permanent outfield fencing. 4SA appreciates everything the Omaha Storm Chasers have donated and want to thank them for their generosity”

The Elkhorn Athletic Association will use funding to add roofs to the existing dugouts at Arbor View Elementary Field, which is used by Elkhorn youth.

“Elkhorn Athletic Association is honored and thankful to receive a grant for building dugout covers on Arbor View Elementary School baseball field from the 2022 Chasin’ Dreams community outreach program,” EAA Executive Director Bruce O’Neel said. “EAA has a long-standing relationship with the Omaha Storm Chasers and enjoys having EAA night at Werner Park each year for our players and families. We admire and respect the Omaha Storm Chasers for being community-minded and investing in youth sports.”

The next and final round of applications for a 2022 Chasin’ Dreams grant is due by July 1 and can be found online here. For more information, organizations are encouraged to contact Community Relations Coordinator Jenna Kniss at [email protected] or by phone at (402) 738-2193.

The Omaha Storm Chasers are scheduled to begin the 2022 season on April 5 at Indianapolis before welcoming fans to Werner Park for the home opener on April 12 vs. Louisville. The full 2022 schedule can be found here and single-game tickets are now available here.

For more tickets and more information, please visit omahastormchasers.com, call the Werner Park Ticket office at (402) 738-5100, and follow the team on social media. You can follow the team on Twitter @omastormchasers, on Instagram @omahastormchasers, and “like” the team on Facebook at facebook.com/omahastormchasers.

Tides Organization to Continue Youth Field Renovation Project

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The Norfolk Tides today announced the return of The Youth Field Makeover Project, a contest in which a local youth field will be renovated by Tides groundskeepers and front office staff. This field makeover will include an upgrade to the playing surface, an improvement to existing dugouts, based on need. The recipient of the makeover will be determined by a fan vote on the Tides website in March.

“Year in and year out, this is a special project that allows our staff to give back to very deserving members of the Hampton Roads community” said Tides General Manager Joe Gregory. “Each time we help renovate a field, we’re just thrilled to be making a difference.”

Those interested in having the Tides make over their facility should submit a picture of their field to Heather McKeating at [email protected]. Along with the photo, fans are asked to include a brief synopsis of why their league’s field should receive this enhancement. The deadline to submit this information is March 11, with online voting set to take place on the Tides website after March 14.

Since the inaugural renovation in 2012, the Tides have renovated 15 local fields: Eason’s Crossroads (Gates, NC), Ocean View Little League (Norfolk), Smithfield Recreation Association (Smithfield), Bennett’s Creek Little League (Suffolk), Phoebus Little League (Hampton), Shore Little League (Nassawadox), Cradock Little League (Portsmouth), Little Creek National (Norfolk), Gloucester Youth Baseball (Gloucester), Surry County Pony Baseball (Surry), Deer Park Youth Field (Newport News), Plaza Little League (Virginia Beach), Thalia/Malibu Baseball (Virginia Beach), Churchland Little League (Portsmouth) and Albemarle (North Carolina).

The project is made possible thanks to the Tides Youth Baseball Fund, a program established by the Tides in 1990 as a way to raise money for youth baseball and softball programs in Hampton Roads. The Youth Baseball Fund is partially financed by scoreboard announcements at Harbor Park throughout the season, and those wishing to make a donation directly to the Youth Baseball Fund can do so via norfolkides.com under the “Harbor Park” section.


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Altoona Curve Launch Charitable Nonprofit

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CURVE, PA – The Altoona Curve are pleased to announce the launch of Altoona Curve Charities, a 501c3 organization devoted to supporting local youth programs and organizations that promote exercise, health, activity, and education for the betterment of youth and community.

Altoona Curve Charities provides support to local organizations for the betterment of Altoona and the surrounding area by contributing time and funds that align with the Curve’s mission.

“The Curve have long been community partners, focused on improving the lives of all of our fans and the creation of Altoona Curve Charities will give us another tool to support programs and organizations that work toward that goal,” said Curve General Manager Nate Bowen. “We look forward to engaging with many of our existing relationships with community partners and forging new ones in 2022.”

Local support from Curve Charities has already touched the Altoona area with its contributions to a field renovation at the East End Little League in 2018 with new sod, infield dirt and edging led by the Altoona Curve Grounds Crew. The renovation came after East End Little League’s field suffered thousands of dollars in damage from vandalism and drew hundreds of neighbors, community members and Curve Front Office employees to donate their time to creating a brand-new, safe environment for kids to play baseball.

“The renovation of East End Little League was the first step for our organization toward taking a more pro-active approach in support of local youth baseball and softball,” said Curve Charities Director, Annie Choiniere. “Our 2022 Grant Program will accept applications in the fall and we look forward to creating rewarding experiences on the diamond for kids all over Blair County through this program.”

Applications for the 2022 Curve Charities Grant Program, which will be accepted from October 1 to December 15, 2022, can be submitted by visiting www.milb.com/altoona/community/altoona-curve-charities

In addition to the Grant Program, Curve Charities will oversee and administrate a 50/50 raffle at Curve home games in 2022, presented by Loyal Gaming Rewards.

Fans can purchase 50/50 raffle tickets at every Curve game and one lucky fan will win 50% of the total amount collected during each game, with the remainder going to support Curve Charities’ 2022 programming. Winners will be pulled at Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday games at Peoples Natural Gas Field with winning tickets posted at www.milb.com/altoona/community/altoona-curve-charities/5050

The Curve are slated to begin the 2022 season on Friday, April 8 with a three-game series against the Harrisburg Senators. For tickets and more information, visit AltoonaCurve.com, call 877.99.CURVE or stop by the PNG Field box office. Additionally, the Stockyard Team Store is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., during every home game and online 24/7/365.

Bats Join MiLB In Launch Of “The Nine” Outreach Program

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LOUISVILLE, KY. – The Louisville Bats, in conjunction with Minor League Baseball, today announced the team will be at the forefront of a nation-wide outreach program to help connect Black communities to baseball. The new program, “The Nine,” will feature local outreach initiatives from 60 participating teams across Minor League Baseball during the 2022 season.

Named for the number Jackie Robinson wore during his only season playing in MiLB with the Triple-A Montreal Royals in 1946, The Nine will connect MiLB teams’ existing, Black-community focused development efforts with new national programming and future special events in a coordinated and centralized campaign. The new inclusion initiative follows MiLB’s Copa de la Diversión Latino fan engagement platform introduced in 2017 that included 76 MiLB teams in 2021.

The Bats initiatives for The Nine during the 2022 season will include:

  1. Dedicating a memorial at Eastern Cemetery for Felton Snow, a former baseball player for the Louisville Black Caps and Louisville White Sox of the Negro Southern League. The Bats, Louisville’s chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), Louisville Urban League and Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory will help host a special recognition ceremony for the dedication later this season.
  2. The Bats front office staff will completely renovate two youth baseball fields at Shawnee Park this March. All labor will be volunteers and the Bats’ staff will be joined by participants from the Louisville Sports Commission and HUMANA.
  3. Continuing the “Playing it Forward” initiative with item drives for youth sports equipment during the 2022 baseball season. The Bats have partnered with Humana and Louisville Sports Commission each of the last three years for the campaign, working to provide new or gently-used youth baseball or softball equipment to low-and moderate-income families.
  4. Paying tribute and honoring the history of the former Negro League teams of Louisville on Friday, Sept. 2 vs. Indianapolis.

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For additional information on The Nine, visit MiLB.com.

Drillers Help to Renovate Historic Lacy Park 

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The Tulsa Rumblers, a sandlot baseball club, and the Tulsa Drillers teamed up to give the Lacy Park ballpark a much-needed makeover.

The field is more than just your average neighborhood sandlot. In the 1950s, it was home to Tulsa’s Negro League semi-pro team, the T-Town Clowns. The Tulsa Rumblers started playing pickup ball on Sunday afternoons at Lacy in 2019, but the field was in desperate need of repairs

When public funding to fix the ballpark wasn’t available, a grassroots community project took shape with help from the Tulsa Drillers staff, the Rumblers, and other local sandlot clubs.

“It’s inspiring to see a group of hard-working, passionate volunteers come together to improve this piece of Tulsa’s history,” said Anna America, Chief of Culture and Parks and Recreation said. “This project alone will save Tulsa Parks tens of thousands of dollars in renovation costs.”

Lowe’s donated $8000 in building supplies for the project. Drillers staff members, the Rumblers and other local sandlot players are providing the labor.

The Drillers also auctioned off their “T-town Clowns” replica jerseys worn during the Juneteenth game, raising more than $3500 for the project.

“All of us on the Drillers staff are excited to be able to help with the renovation work at Lacy Park,” said Drillers President Mike Melega. “Lacy Park has played an important role in the history of baseball in Tulsa. With the work now being done to the facility, it should continue to be a great place for the community to come together and enjoy the great game of baseball while also helping younger folks understand its wonderful history.”

Volunteers will spend several days renovating the broken stadium lights, refurbishing the dilapidated bathrooms and fieldhouse, and fixing the bleachers.

Volunteers and community members will celebrate the ballpark’s new look Sunday, July 11 at 5 p.m., with a sandlot game against Drillers staff members. The public is welcome to attend and even play in the game.

Spokane Indians Team Up to Restore War Veterans Memorial Field in Wellpinit

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WELLPINIT, Wash. – The Spokane Indians front office once again teamed up with local community partners to make a big difference in our region. On Wednesday, June 16th the front office joined the Boys & Girls Club of Wellpinit, Spokane Tribe Fuels Department, Spokane Tribe Maintenance Department, Tribal Department of Natural Resources, Tribal Water Department, members of the Wellpinit High School girls softball team, and community members Gladys Rhoads and Billy Shawn Flett Jr. to restore War Veterans Memorial Field in Wellpinit, Washington.

The renovation had many areas of improvement, including the installation of four large autumn blaze maple trees for shade, new field bases & measurements, new dugouts, new player benches, new signage, new trash cans, and a new main water line. The complex also had its perimeter fence repaired, bleachers repaired and painted, and the installation of a new gravel pathway and entrance. In total, 120 bags of infield Turface mix, 25 yards of bark, and 12 tons of gravel were used in the refurbishment project of War Veterans Memorial Field. The project was made possible with the approval of the Spokane Tribe Business Council and by the contributions of materials from Wittkopf Landscape Supply, a SiteOne Company.

“We’ve obviously proud of our partnership with the Spokane Tribe of Indians and are always looking to do projects together,” explained Otto Klein, Senior Vice President of the Spokane Indians Baseball Team. “The field renovation project was a fun, collaborative effort to improve a youth sports facility in the heart of the reservation. We can’t wait to see the players’ reactions when they play their next game.”

The restoration and improvement project is an extension of the historic partnership with the Spokane Tribe of Indians and the Spokane Indians Baseball Team. It is also the second time the Indians front office has helped lead a field renovation project. In 2019, the front office helped refurbish Redband Field located in Spokane’s Peaceful Valley.

About the Spokane Indians

The Spokane Indians are the High-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies located in Spokane, Washington. Avista Stadium is home to the $5 Kids Bench Seat courtesy of MultiCare. Parking at all Spokane Indians games is FREE. The Spokane Indians Team Store is open M-F 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, and 10:00 AM to the end of the game on all game days. Reserve your seats today.

Little League Field Renovation Thanks to Savage Auto Group

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

On Tuesday, March 27th Savage Auto Group broke ground on an exciting project. Through Baseballtown Charities and the help of two experienced athletic field experts, the organization funded the renovation of two Little League fields in the Liberty Complex. This offseason makeover will allow for better playability, a professional setup, and safer play.

After four days of around the clock work, the project was extremely successful! The development was led by Dan Douglas, Head Groundskeeper for the Reading Fightin Phils and Todd Vanek, owner of King Sports Turf. Douglas says that the fields will be in impeccable condition for the athletes to play on when the time comes. “Safe fields start with proper construction. We were able to reconstruct the infields so that they transition seamlessly to the existing outfields.”

In preparation for the start of the baseball season, the Wilson fields, Liberty 2 and Coach Pitch, were restored and modernized in the highest-quality manner. The infield was laser graded with superior infield mix and the edges were cut cleanly to correctly integrate and allow for proper water runoff. This creates an even and level playing field and generates a better drainage system for rain.

Additionally, base anchors were reset to match the new infield grade. The bases on both fields were set at 60’ and each field had new bases, professional quality home plates, and pitching rubbers installed. Additionally, Liberty 2 received a newly constructed 46’ pitcher’s mound.

Thanks to Savage Auto Group, these players will get to utilize a high caliber, safe field built by experienced hands. Baseballtown Charities encourages other teams and facilities to consider updating and renovating their fields to better suit their athletes. President of Savage Auto Group, Tim Profit, notes the positive impact this project will have for the kids in Reading and the surrounding areas. “It is important for us to be involved in the community, especially to create a constructive environment for kids to have a safe place to play,” said Profit. “While the field renovations do just that, they also represent something that the baseball teams can be proud of and work to take care of. We are excited to be a part of it and encourage other groups to do the same.”

Baseballtown Charities helps support expanding the sport of baseball in the greater Reading community. Having a safe, first-rate place to play is equally as important to those trying out Little League for the first time and baseball veterans. Thanks to Savage Auto Group, many kids will have the opportunity to play ball in a beautiful park. If this is something you, your team, or your complex would like more information about, please feel free to contact [email protected].

The Liberty Complex is located at 836 Ruth Street, Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania 19608. Wilson Youth Baseball occupies these fields and is a parent and community-based organization committed to “Teaching integrity, respect, and sportsmanship on the field and in the game of life.”