Saturday’s ‘Strike Out Cancer Night’ includes FREE TICKETS to all survivors

There are heroes all around us….fighters and survivors who have taken on cancer and won! There are also those that lost their battles…taken from us too soon, but with permanent places in our hearts and our memories.

On Saturday, July 29, the Bisons will honors those heroes that have won their battles and remember those that didn’t. As the team hosts the Louisville Bats (7:05 p.m.) at Coca-Cola Field, we ask your help to STRIKE OUT CANCER, presented by WNY Imaging Group with proceeds benefiting the Breast Cancer Network of WNY and the American Cancer Society.

CLICK HERE FOR GAME TICKETS

On STRIKE OUT CANCER night, we will honor ALL CANCER SURVIVORS with a FREE TICKET to the game. Just CLICK HERE by the end of the day on Friday, July 28 to register for your free ticket. One survivor will also be chosen at random to throw out the first pitch on Strike Out Cancer Night.

On Saturday, we will also encourage all fans to WEAR LAVENDER in support of the fight against all cancers. Anyone who does will receive a FREE RAFFLE TICKET for one of a number of great gift items. Additional raffle tickets will be available at the game. You could win one of over 50 gift cards or a great piece of sports memorabilia such as a signed Rasmus Ristolainen stick, a signed Marcell Dareus helmet or a Jim Kelly signed photo and book.

We’ll also honor all of the brave men, women and children who have fought, or are currently fighting against all forms of cancer, with a PLACARD MOMENT during the game. The entire ballpark will have the chance to stand up and show us who they’re fighting for by writing that person’s name on the placard.

CLICK HERE for even more information on Strike Out Cancer Night.

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

Tame your mane: Great Clips Charity Cuts 7/30

Are split ends throwing you a curve? On Sunday, July 30, the Great Clips Charity Cuts event aims to help you tame that mane while enjoying great baseball action at Fifth Third Field!

Great Clips stylists will be providing free haircuts on the Main Concourse during the game, with donations being accepted to benefit Children’s Miracle Network.

The Toledo Mud Hens take on the Rochester Red Wings on Sunday, July 30 at 6:05 p.m.

GAME TICKET ($15) – BUY TICKETS

What you get:

  • July 30 Mud Hens game ticket
  • Postgame Fireworks
  • Postgame Kids Run the Bases

Click the links to check out the menus and make reservations:

NINE at Hensville: ninehensville.com | Chef Tony has put together a menu that he describes as “traditional Americana” where he uses local ingredients from area farms and producers to create made-from-scratch dishes with a modern taste and composition. NINE is housed in the former Folger Butcher Shop, a historic 1865 building. Exposed brick, reclaimed wood and handcrafted tables give NINE a casual vibe that fits a fun, downtown, neighborhood restaurant.

Fleetwood’s Tap Room: fleetwoodshensville.com | Have a drink at Hensville’s new craft beer bar, located on the first floor of the Fleetwood Building across the street from Fifth Third Field. Fleetwood’s Tap Room features 48 beers on draft, a wide selection of whiskeys, an eclectic menu, and an outstanding outdoor patio that overlooks Hensville Park.

BirdCage Bar & Grill: birdcagebarandgrill.com | The BirdCage Bar and Grill is located on the Club Level at Fifth Third Field and provides incredible views of the on-field action! Your ticket to the Mud Hens game gives you entry to the BirdCage, where you and your guests will enjoy a great dining experience created by Chef Tony House, featuring a display of hand-carved meats, antipasti, classic salad, and seasonal entrees.

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

Strike out hunger with a Food Drive, July 27

Did you know roughly one out of every eight Americans struggle with hunger? The Toledo Mud Hens are teaming up with Bush Brothers to host a food drive on Thursday, July 27, in conjunction with National Baked Beans Month.

Fans are encouraged to bring canned food items to Fifth Third Field on Thursday and drop them off at the collection bins located at Guest Services on the main concourse. All donations will be taken to the Seagate Food Bank for distribution to the people they serve.

GAME TICKET ($12) – BUY TICKETS

What you get:

  • July 27 Mud Hens game ticket

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

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Red Sox Foundation and Pawsox Foundation Partner with Rhode Island Little League to Support all 48 Leagues in the State

The Red Sox Foundation and the PawSox Foundation, the charitable arm of the Pawtucket Red Sox, today announced a partnership to support all 48 Little Leagues throughout the Rhode Island. The relationship will include leadership and instructional skills training for coaches and administrators.

“We are proud to partner with our Triple-A affiliate, Pawtucket Red Sox, to support Rhode Island Little League and expand on the important work the Red Sox Foundation has begun with Boston’s inner city youth through Rookie/RBI programs and Little League teams in Massachusetts,” said Red Sox Foundation Board Member Mike Egan. “As a former little leaguer, I know how important playing the game as a child can be to fostering a lifelong love for the game, and we look forward to helping the league pass along the invaluable lessons about teamwork and camaraderie that baseball imparts.”

The partnership will assist the 48 leagues with production and development, and will include sponsorship of three events: the Rhode Island Little League State Tournament, which opens on Saturday, July 22; the Rhode Island Little League Volunteer of the Year Award, which will be presented in August; and a coaches’ clinic this fall.

“The support of the Red Sox Foundation, PawSox Foundation and its partners on the Rhode Island Little League program is real and tangible,” said Rhode Island Little League Board Member John Pesaturo. “The sponsorship that is available to each league provides them with funding along with opportunities for teams to come to Fenway Park and for some, a special mascot visit to their home town. Chartered Leagues from Providence to Newport are enjoying a new connection as part of Wally’s team thanks to the Red Sox Foundation!”

“As Rhode Island’s professional baseball organization, we are eager to embrace and enhance our support of the Ocean State’s Little Leagues,” said PawSox President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg. “We are continually inspired by the commitment of coaches and administrators who devote so many hours to our children, and we are constantly gratified to see these children learn the lessons of life that baseball can teach.”

The tournament’s opening ceremonies will take place in Johnston, Rhode Island, hosted by Johnston Little League at Kennedy Field at 1583 Hartford Ave. The Volunteer of the Year, a coach selected based on nominations by peers and teams, will be honored at Boston’s Fenway Park on Rhode Island Day, August 1st, and again at Pawtucket’s McCoy Stadium later in the month. Applications were made available by John Pesaturo, Rhode Island Little League, District Administrator, and were due July 3rd. The coaches’ clinic will take place in the fall.

The 48 Rhode Island Little Leagues, comprised of over 1,100 teams and over 16,000 children from ages 5 to 16, allow Rhode Island’s children play baseball and softball, and learn the importance of teamwork, sportsmanship, and inclusion.

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

LIMITED SPOTS REMAIN: 2-Day Youth Camp

Want to take your game to the next level and develop the skills that may one day make you a member of the Herd?

The Buffalo Bisons annual 2-Day Youth Baseball Camp, presented by ADPRO Sports, is Tuesday, July 25 – Wednesday, July 26 (9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. both day). CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.

This two-day event gives you the unique chance to learn and practice your skills in hitting, fielding, pitching, catching, base running and bunting and more! And who better to learn from than Bisons Manager Bobby Meacham and other current Bisons coaches and players?!?!

For only $100, you get back-to-back days of non-stop baseball! The camp runs from 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. both days as each day will end with a post-camp autograph session. Participants also get a camp T-shirt to take home and 2 tickets to a Buffalo Bisons game. This is an offer you can’t pass up!

The Buffalo Bisons 2-day Youth Camp is open to boys and girls, ages 6-14. Space is limited so don’t hesitate in signing up. You can call (716) 846-2251 to reserve your spot or CLICK HERE for the Bisons Youth Baseball page.

To insure great one-on-one teachings for those involved, SPACE IS LIMITED! So don’t wait and sign up your child today!

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

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MONDAY: Bisons to hold ‘Food Drive’ in honor of National Baked Beans Month

Fans, did you know July is National Baked Beans month? As part of National Baked Beans Month, the Bisons are teaming up with Bush’s Beans and the Food Bank of Western New York to help strike out hunger.

Prior to the Herd’s game against the Durham Bulls on Monday, July 24 (7:05 p.m.), the Bisons will be holding a Food Drive to help feed those in need in the local community.

Fans can bring their non-perishable food items to the collection bins located outside of the Coca-Cola Field Ticket Office. In return for their much-needed donations, fans will be given a coupon for Buy-One, Get-One Free Ticket coupon for Monday’s game between the Bisons and the Bulls!

The Food Bank of Western New York was founded in 1979, after a group of religious and community leaders came together to develop an effective and comprehensive way to fight hunger in the region. Today, they assist as many as 129,000 individuals in a month through our 329 member agencies, including food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, youth programs, group homes and senior centers.

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

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Bisons to hold Hillside School Supply Drive before game on Sunday, August 6

The Buffalo Bisons and Hillside Family of Agencies will be teaming up to help kids in need bring in the new school year the right way with a School Supply Drive at Coca-Cola Field on Sunday, August 6.

Any fan who brings in new or unused school supplies will receive a buy-one, get-one free ticket coupon for the Bisons’ home game that day against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (1:05 p.m.). Collection bins will be located outside the Coca-Cola Field Ticket Office starting an hour before first pitch.

Sunday’s matchup against the IronPigs will also be another Buster’s Kid Club game. As part of Buster’s Kid Club Sunday, fans will be able to enjoy Carnival Day at the ballpark. Bounce houses, face painting, balloon animals and much more will be set up in the Center Field Party Area.

Kids will also have the opportunity to run the bases after the game like their favorite Bisons players.

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

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Show your appreciation for our Veterans Friday, 7/28

The Toledo Mud Hens will be saying thanks to those who have served our country, during Veterans Appreciation Night presented by Owens Community College on Friday, July 28. Please join us at Fifth Third Field that evening to honor all current and former military service personnel, as well as our police officers and firefighters.

VETERANS APPRECIATION NIGHT FESTIVITIES

Our pregame ceremonies will include a Color Guard and ceremonial first pitches. Each unit/detachment in attendance will be recognized on our video board as well as during our radio/TV broadcast.

JERSEY/BAT RAFFLE

Stop by our raffle table on the main concourse for your chance to win a Mud Hens team-signed jersey or a team-signed bat. Raffle tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20. Proceeds will benefit U.S. Veterans Inc., a local veterans support organization.

TICKETS FOR ACTIVE MILITARY PERSONNEL

Special $12 tickets are available to veterans and active military personnel and their families. Order tickets here by using the promo code VETS.

DONATE TICKETS TO VETERANS

Show your appreciation for the sacrifices made by our veterans by donating tickets for veterans to attend a Mud Hens game. Contact our box office at 419-725-HENS.

The Toledo Mud Hens will take on the Rochester Red Wings Friday, July 28 at 7:05 p.m.

GAME TICKET ($15) – BUY TICKETS

What you get:

  • July 28 Mud Hens game ticket
  • Postgame fireworks

Click the links to check out the menus and make reservations:

NINE at Hensville: ninehensville.com | Chef Tony has put together a menu that he describes as “traditional Americana” where he uses local ingredients from area farms and producers to create made-from-scratch dishes with a modern taste and composition. NINE is housed in the former Folger Butcher Shop, a historic 1865 building. Exposed brick, reclaimed wood and handcrafted tables give NINE a casual vibe that fits a fun, downtown, neighborhood restaurant.

Fleetwood’s Tap Room: fleetwoodshensville.com | Have a drink at Hensville’s new craft beer bar, located on the first floor of the Fleetwood Building across the street from Fifth Third Field. Fleetwood’s Tap Room features 48 beers on draft, a wide selection of whiskeys, an eclectic menu, and an outstanding outdoor patio that overlooks Hensville Park.

BirdCage Bar & Grill: birdcagebarandgrill.com | The BirdCage Bar and Grill is located on the Club Level at Fifth Third Field and provides incredible views of the on-field action! Your ticket to the Mud Hens game gives you entry to the BirdCage, where you and your guests will enjoy a great dining experience created by Chef Tony House, featuring a display of hand-carved meats, antipasti, classic salad, and seasonal entrees.

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

All Star Auctions: Leblebijian game-worn jersey

Bisons fans! You voted third baseman Jason Leblebijian into the Triple-A All-Star Game and now is your chance to click your way towards some great All-Star Game memorabilia.

The Tacoma Rainiers, the Pacific Coast League hosts for this year’s mid-summer classic, is auctioning off all the game-worn jerseys from this game to benefit a very worthy cause. That includes the one-of-a-kind game-worn, autographed jersey from starting third baseman, Bisons’ Jason Leblebijian.

CLICK HERE to bid on Leb’s jersey

CLICK HERE to view all the jerseys available from the IL and PCL All-Star squads.

The 2017 Triple-A All-Star Game, presented by Gildan, is on Wednesday, July 12 at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, WA. (9:05 p.m., MLB Network, ESPN 1520 AM). The jerseys from the game will be autographed by each player from both leagues and auctioned via silent auction to benefit the CHI Franciscan Foundation. The mission of the Franciscan Foundation is to support the CHI Franciscan Health system in creating healthier communities and ensuring the availability of quality health care for all, regardless of ability to pay.

All auctions will run until 9pm Pacific Standard time on Wednesday, July 12, so BID NOW and win yourself a great piece of all star memorabilia.

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

Catch ‘Battle of the Badges’ softball Sunday, July 16

A local rivalry is renewed: the Toledo Police vs. Toledo Fire feud will be settled on the diamond at Fifth Third Field, during the Battle of the Badges charity softball game on Sunday, July 16. The 7-inning contest will start approximately one hour following the conclusion of the Toledo Mud Hens vs. Columbus Clippers game which starts at 4 p.m.

Enjoy a great day out at the ballpark while supporting a great cause. Battle of the Badges tickets are $13 and are good for both games, and include a $2 donation to Toledo Police and Toledo Firefighters Local 92 Charities.

BATTLE OF THE BADGES TICKET ($13) – BUY TICKETS

Note: when ordering online use the promo code TPD or TFD.

What you get:

  • July 16 Mud Hens game ticket
  • Battle of the Badges softball game

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

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Support Pink in the Park: Sunday, July 16

We’re getting our pink on to put the spotlight on breast cancer research and awareness. Join us on Sunday, July 16 for Pink in the Park Night, presented by Kroger. Help us to “Pink out” Fifth Third Field and show your support for an important cause.

Three team signed pink Mud Hens jerseys and a team signed pink bat will be raffled off during the game, with proceeds to benefit Susan G. Komen of Northwest Ohio. Look for the raffle table on the main concourse. Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20, with winning numbers being drawn at the end of the sixth inning.

GAME TICKET ($12) – BUY TICKETS

What you get:

  • July 16 Mud Hens game ticket

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

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PawSox to Refurbish Fairlawn Little League’s Deluca Field at Nathanael Greene Elementary

The PawSox and the City of Pawtucket will partner with Infielder Mike Miller and “More than a Game,” to refurbish Fairlawn Little League’s Deluca Field at Nathanael Greene Elementary next month. In addition to fixing up the baseball diamond, the club will present a free youth clinic on July 11, the day of Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game.

“More Than a Game” is an organization that constructs fields, donates equipment, and presents clinics in various communities. Miller has worked extensively with the organization during off-seasons in his home state of California.

Led by Miller, PawSox players and More Than a Game staff members will fix up the field on Monday, July 10, then present a free youth baseball clinic at Deluca Field on Tuesday July 11 from 11 am-1 pm. Food and refreshments will be provided to participants in the clinic.

“We are so grateful for our partnership with the Pawtucket Red Sox, an organization that places a high emphasis on service to their community,” said Marshall Murray, CEO of More Than a Game. “We hope our combined resources will empower athletes to do more in Pawtucket and the surrounding region, and we look forward to an impactful collaboration.”

“We would like to see more children participate in Pawtucket’s Fairlawn Little League,” said Joe Bradlee, the PawSox’ Director of Communications & Community Relations. “As Rhode Island’s professional baseball team, we hope we can help ensure that this field is attractive, welcoming, and safe.”

“More Than a Game has given me a platform as a professional athlete to give my time and energy to communities that are underserved,” Miller said. “To be able to work with both MTAG and the PawSox, two amazing organizations, gives me an opportunity to reach out to many kids who share my passion of baseball and develop key relationships within those communities.”

“Thank you to Mike Miller, More Than a Game, the PawSox, and the players for their donation and for volunteering their time,” said Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien. “The clinic is a great opportunity for our kids to learn the great game of baseball from some of the best players in the league. We appreciate the PawSox for their commitment to the City and its youth organizations.”

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

PawSox Introduce First Four “Academic All-Stars”

The Pawtucket Red Sox tonight introduced the first four selectees to the “PawSox Academic All-Stars” program before the opener of their twin-bill at McCoy Stadium.

The program puts the spotlight on one middle school student from each of Rhode Island’s 39 cities and towns. The children are selected by educators based on academics, citizenship, and character.

“We welcome the opportunity to recognize young people throughout the state who are succeeding in school and contributing to their communities,” said PawSox President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg. “Teachers remind us that a small gesture from the community’s baseball team can have a large impact on a child’s self-esteem, particularly in middle school. We hope their moment in the spotlight-or in the sunlight-is a source of pride for their students, their friends, and their families.”

In pre-game ceremonies, each threw a Ceremonial First Pitch, and each received an authentic baseball bat engraved with their name. Each also receives a host of gift certificates from the PawSox and their sponsors.

The first four students were from Burrillville, Coventry, Newport, and Woonsocket.

The first four students were Ever Gallo, a 12-year-old 6th grader from Burrillville Middle School, and three 14-year-old 8th graders: Allison Abbruzzese of Feinstein Middle School in Coventry; Gavin Crowley of Thompson Middle School in Newport; and Andrew Simonini from Woonsocket Middle School at Villa Nova.

“It is important that our community recognizes promising students who are making an effort to better themselves and the lives around them,” said PawSox Senior Vice President/Club Counsel Kim Miner, who oversees the PawSox Foundation. “That is why these students we have sought value scholarship, citizenship, and character.”

The club will continue to recognize “PawSox Academic All-Stars” throughout the season. Educators seeking more information can find it at pawsox.com or by calling the PawSox, 401-724-7300.

The PawSox Academic All-Stars is the club’s second major community initiative in the area of education. Last November, the club introduced its PawSox Scholars program, in which two 8th-graders, one from Pawtucket and one from neighboring Central Falls, receive a college scholarship of $10,000 from the PawSox Foundaton.

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

RailRiders Announce HOPE Week Activities

Moosic, Pa. – What began as an ode to the parent club and the community has turned into an annual tradition in NEPA. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) are proud to announce that beginning on Monday, June 19, the RailRiders will join the New York Yankees in support of HOPE (Helping Others Persevere and Excel) Week 2017, a unique week-long communal program that brings to light extraordinary stories intended to inspire individuals into action in their own communities.

Initiated in 2009 and now in its eighth campaign in NEPA, HOPE Week is rooted in the fundamental belief that acts of goodwill provide hope and encouragement to more than just the recipient of the gesture. Each day from Monday, June 19, through Sunday, June 25, members of the RailRiders front office staff or club will reach out personally to connect with an organization, cause or individual. 2017 marks the sixth straight year that each of the Yankees’ six U.S.-based affiliates will participate in the program, making the initiative one that the entire organization proudly stands behind.

“Being a part of the Yankees family is special. HOPE Week is one of the unbelievable programs that solidifies the ‘Yankee way’ and how important it is to impact your community,” said RailRiders Team Pesident/COO Josh Olerud.

On Monday, June 19, will hold a special meet and greet between SWB players and military veterans. Local veterans from St. Francis Commons Veterans Program in Scranton will receive tickets to the game and will have a special meet and greet with players at the field before the game. These veteran groups in attendance will receive special recognition during the Hometown Heroes in-game announcement.

From 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 20, players, coaches and front office staff will help box up meals for the Commission on Economic Opportunity’s “Senior Box Program” at the Weinberg Northeast Regional Foodbank in Pittston, PA. The CEO’s “Senior Box Program” provides meals to over 2,000 senior citizens in the area every month.

Wednesday, June 21, will feature a visit to the Janet Weis Children’s Unit at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Hospital. Players, coaches, front office staff, and CHAMP will visit the patients in the Children’s Unit of the Geisinger Wyoming Valley Hospital from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The visit will include reading to and visiting with the kids, coloring CHAMP and other fun pages and each child will get a special gift to keep. During the game, autographed memorabilia will be auctioned off and the proceeds will be given to the Ronald McDonald House of Scranton towards their efforts to support families of children who are in the hospitals in the local Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area.

RailRiders players will make a special visit on Thursday, June 22, to see a local Nanticoke area high school senior varsity baseball player, Aaron Kreitzer, who is in the hospital battling leukemia. Kreitzer will also be presented with his own custom RailRiders jersey. Since his diagnosis, Kreitzer’s high school baseball team, fellow students, and the whole Greater Nanticoke area community have rallied around him and his family throwing charity softball tournaments and fundraising benefits.

SWB will kick-off their annual RailRiders Vs. Cancer fundraiser on Friday, June 23. Fans will be informed of the fundraiser, the date of the head shaving will be announced, and past year’s fundraising campaign success will be highlighted. The RailRiders will also get to choose a local pediatric cancer program to receive half of the funds raised in this season’s campaign. Fans at the ballpark will be given the team fundraising website information.

From 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 24, players, coaches and staff will volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. They will put the finishing touches on a home in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., for a low-income family to purchase in July. The Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity restored the home for a single mother and her five-year-old daughter.

The team will wrap up their HOPE Week on Sunday, June 25, by participating in Minor League Baseball’s Joe Torre “Safe at Home” Domestic Violence Awareness Initiative. MiLB Charities has teamed up with the Joe Torre “Safe at Home” Foundation to raise awareness for domestic violence and educate fans about the resources available to help those in need. The first 500 fans at the game will receive Topps Card Sets featuring MLB veterans and top prospects and a signed Joe Torre Baseball will be raffled or auctioned off for the charity of our choosing. A representative from the Joe Torre Foundation will also be in attendance.

Our Community Organization of the Game will be the Mary Kay Foundation whose mission is to serve and support women with cancer and women and children affected by domestic violence. The Mary Kay Foundation will be selling their t-shirts during the game to raise money for their local programs. There will also be a “supply” drive (Items such as hygiene products, diapers, baby food and formula, school supplies, bus tickets and a no-longer used cell phone can make an important difference).

HOPE Week is just a part of the RailRiders’ community outreach this season, and the RailRiders look forward to continuing their involvement both during and after HOPE Week. Any inquiries regarding the weeklong festivities should be directed to RailRiders director of community relations Jordan Maydole by calling 570-969-2255 (ext. 3140) or by e-mailing jmaydole@swbrailriders.com.

The 2016 Gildan Triple-A National Champion RailRiders hit the road for four games in three days against the Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays) beginning Friday, June 16. First pitch at Coca-Cola Field is set for 7:05 p.m. The boys of SWB return home on Monday, June 19, against the Syracuse Chiefs (Washington Nationals). Every Monday home game at PNC Field is Dollar Dog Night, presented by the Times-Tribune. For tickets or more information, please call 570-969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.

– SWB RailRiders Baseball – The Place to Be! –

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

MiLB, Derrick Hall Pro-State Foundation team up to educate fans about prostate cancer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. and PHOENIX — Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) and the Derrick Hall Pro-State Foundation are partnering for the second consecutive year to bring prostate cancer awareness information to millions of baseball fans across the country this Father’s Day weekend. The effort is being coordinated by Minor League Baseball Charities, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to giving back to and enhancing the communities MiLB teams call home, and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

As part of the collaboration, MiLB teams will distribute prostate cancer awareness literature, including customized brochures, and branded mini bat keychains to fans attending Father’s Day games on Sunday, June 18. In addition, each team will recognize an outstanding dad in its local community or someone who is battling or has survived prostate cancer and present him with an engraved full-size Louisville Slugger Father’s Day commemorative bat at the game, courtesy of the Derrick Hall Pro-State Foundation.

The Derrick Hall Pro-State Foundation, a certified 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in January 2013 by Arizona Diamondbacks President & CEO Derrick Hall as a comprehensive tool for those who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and their families to help them understand the challenges and choices they face.

“I am extremely grateful to Minor League Baseball for helping continue to spread awareness about the importance of prostate cancer screening and early detection,” said Hall, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2011. “For the second consecutive year, the collective reach of these ballparks to men around the country has already helped many overcome the challenges of prostate cancer and will continue to save so many lives. The journey can be quite frightening but a positive state of mind is powerful medicine and hopefully this information will help those diagnosed realize that they’re not alone.”

“The Derrick Hall Pro-State Foundation initiative on Father’s Day is one of the many charitable causes that Minor League Baseball, Minor League Baseball Charities and our teams have chosen to support in our ongoing quest to be good citizens in our communities and make a lasting impact on our fans,” added Pat O’Conner, Minor League Baseball President & CEO.

For a list of Minor League Baseball games this Father’s Day weekend, visit MiLB.com/schedule. To learn more about Minor League Baseball Charities and its Charity Partners Program, visit MiLB.com.

About Minor League Baseball

Minor League Baseball, headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, is the governing body for all professional baseball teams in the United States, Canada and the Dominican Republic that are affiliated with Major League Baseball® clubs through their farm systems. Fans are coming out in unprecedented numbers to this one-of-a-kind experience that can only be found at Minor League Baseball ballparks. In 2016, Minor League Baseball attracted 41.3 million fans to its ballparks to see the future stars of the sport hone their skills. From the electricity in the stands to the excitement on the field, Minor League Baseball has provided affordable family-friendly entertainment to people of all ages since its founding in 1901. For more information, visit www.MiLB.com.

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