Bees to Honor U.S. Military Personnel on Saturday, May 26

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SALT LAKE CITY – The Salt Lake Bees will honor men and women of the United States Armed Forces during Military Appreciation Night, sponsored by University of Phoenix, on Saturday, May 26 as the Bees take on the Las Vegas 51s at 6:35 p.m. The team will wear camouflage jerseys during the event.

The Bees are offering half-priced tickets for Saturday’s game, available to all military personnel and their families who provide military identification at the Spring Mobile Ballpark box office.

The pregame ceremony will include an on-field parachute jump by the Compulsive Flyers, a giant outfield flag display, the presentation of the colors by the United States Marine Corps and the performance of the national anthem by the 419th Fighter Wing Anthem Choir from Hill Air Force Base.

A concourse booth will be open throughout the game to allow fans an opportunity to send a message via postcard to active military personnel. The 419th Fighter Wing Anthem Choir will also perform “God Bless America” during the seventh-inning stretch and a postgame fireworks show will begin at the conclusion of the game.

The Salt Lake Bees return home for an eight-game homestand beginning tomorrow, Friday, May 25 against the Las Vegas 51s at 6:35 p.m. 2012 Bees season tickets are on sale now with prices starting at just $432 per person. For more information, call (801) 325-BASE or visit slbees.com.

 

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Salt Lake Bees. Click here to view the original story.

The 66ers Welcome the Arrowhead United Way on May 21st

The Inland Empire 66ers welcome the Arrowhead United Way to the game on Monday, May 21st @ 7pm. This baseball game night event is to celebrate all high school students who attended the Teens Make a Difference Annual Awards ceremony held at the Inland Center Mall on May 10th, 2012. This ceremony recognizes local high school students for their outstanding volunteer service throughout the community.

Please join us for a night of family friendly fun, and celebrate the POWER OF YOUTH! Tickets start at $6 and can be purchased at the box office on the night of the event.

Arrowhead United Way is a volunteer driven organization that actively supports health and human services by focusing on education, income, and health. These services address the underlying causes of the community’s issues and create lasting change. The organization was established in 1891 and is led by prominent respected community leaders; it is one of the oldest United Ways in the country. Arrowhead United Way encourages individuals to become more involved in the community by giving, advocating, and volunteering.

Arrowhead United Way is working to advance the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all. By focusing on education, income, and health, we strive to bring about lasting changes that address community problems. We all win when people emerge from crisis, achieve their potential and live independent lives.

Please join us for a night of family friendly fun, and celebrate in the POWER OF YOUTH!

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FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Media) Please contact:
Sheika Hurd, AmeriCorps Volunteer Coordinator
Sheikah@ahuw.org
(909) 884-9441 ext. 227
This article originally appeared on the official website of the Inland Empire 66ers. Click here to view the original story.

Over 12,500 Students to Attend Prevention Dimensions Day on May 15

SALT LAKE CITY (May 12, 2012) – The Salt Lake Bees, in conjunction with the Utah State Office of Education, will host Prevention Dimensions Day at the Bees vs. Albuquerque Isotopes game on Tuesday, May 15 at 10:35 a.m. The Bees will welcome over 12,500 students to this ninth annual event at Spring Mobile Ballpark which promotes drug and alcohol prevention.

The fifth and sixth grade students in attendance will enjoy an opening ceremony featuring more than 400 Utah elementary students. Also participating in the program will be Bountiful native Tade Biesinger, star of Broadway’s hit show “Billy Elliot,” Utah’s First Lady, Jeanette Herbert, and Verne Larsen from the Utah State Office of Education.

In addition, the Bees are teaming up with the Utah Food Bank in an effort to promote service through the Prevention Dimensions curriculum while encouraging students to donate a canned food item upon entry.

Prevention Dimensions is Utah’s Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities lesson set, which supports the Utah State Office of Education pre-kindergarten through 12th grade health core. The program began in 1982 as a joint effort between the Utah State Division of Substance Abuse, Utah State Department of Health, Utah State Office of Education, and Utah State PTA, and has been revised several times since. The mission of PD is to give students a strong foundation of effective violence and substance abuse prevention skills.
This article originally appeared on the official website of the Salt Lake Bees. Click here to view the original story.

Bees Players Participate in Miracle League Game

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“If I were to tell you about an organized youth baseball league, you might call it ordinary. If I were to tell you the athletes are physically and mentally challenged, you might call it touching. If you were to see them play, you would call it a miracle.”

That is the precept of The Miracle League Association. Helping children with mental and physical disabilities play the game of baseball with the assistance of buddies, there are currently over 250 Miracle League Organizations across the country and over 200,000 children and young adults with disabilities participating in these leagues.

Last Saturday morning, three Bees players participated as buddies with two teams in Salt Lake’s Miracle League. Outfielder Doug Deeds and right-handed pitchers Matt Meyer and Loek Van Mil took turns pitching, helping in the field and encouraging the youth as they made their way around the bases.

The kids were ready to play and full of enthusiasm. Deeds said, “Enthusiasm is a good word because they are living every day to the fullest. The kids are just out there playing the game and getting a lot of joy from it, doing things like running the bases and being part of a team.”

After the game, each of the kids received a baseball autographed by the players and took pictures with the players.

“Most kids are shy and timid at first then they start to warm up and give you high fives and by the end they want you to sign some autographs. It’s great seeing these kids out here,” said Meyer. “It’s great to see the kids’ faces light up and it brings you back to when you were playing as a little kid. Those memories are forever so it’s great to spend time with them.”

For more information about the Miracle League visit miracleleague.com.
This article originally appeared on the official website of the Salt Lake Bees. Click here to view the original story.

McAnulty and Conger Meet With Utah’s JJS

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Hank Conger knows about challenges.

The 24-year-old Salt Lake Bees catcher was drafted out of Huntington Beach, Calif., in the first round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Conger went from being an 18-year-old kid still living at home to being a professional baseball player out on his own within one month’s time.

Thursday, Conger spent part of his morning talking to a group at the Wasatch Youth Center in South Salt Lake about the difficult times he has encountered in professional baseball. Conger also answered questions from the crowd of around 40 youth about topics ranging from how he hits a baseball that comes at him so quickly to how he interacts with his teammates after a win.

“One of the biggest things I’ve learned as far as myself and my actions that I display is that I respect myself and, at the same time, I respect the team, the Bees, the Angels,” said Conger. “You look at yourself and respect yourself first. You tend to make better decisions in your life when you do that.”

Bees infielder/designated hitter Paul McAnulty met Wednesday morning with a group of youth at the Decker Lake Youth Center in West Valley City.

McAnulty talked about choices and how they lead you to where you are. He told the group about his choices, especially those he made earlier in his life, and how they have helped him achieve his dream of playing professional baseball.

“Choices lead you to where you are today. Some people might say it was your situation or your circumstance, but I believe you were in that situation or circumstance because of your choices,” said the Oxnard, Calif. native.

McAnulty continued with a reminder, “Don’t let other people tell you that you can’t do something. You can do or be whatever you want.”

The Bees are in the fifth year of the team’s mentoring program with Utah’s Juvenile Justice Services (JJS). The program includes player visits to facilities as well as inviting JJS groups to the ballpark for a player-given tour and tickets to a Bees game.
This article originally appeared on the official website of the Salt Lake Bees. Click here to view the original story.

Owlz Support Little League Teams

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As the Pioneer League affiliate of Angels Baseball, the Owlz have enjoyed a long standing tradition of excellence on the field. The Owlz have qualified for the playoffs in each of the 11 seasons the team has been in existence, and been fortunate enough to capture 4 Pioneer League Championships. Many of the fundamentals that have helped our players find success on and off the field were learned playing Little League Baseball.

The Owlz would like to help your team as they prepare for the upcoming season. As part of the special offers for your team the Owlz are proud to offer a 20% discount off your order from our online store, The Perch. The discount applies to all items in the store including sale items! This coupon code can be used by your players and also by friends and family members of your team as they help cheer on the next generation of Owlz players. To receive your coupon code, please contact Owlz General Manager Brett Crane by sending an e-mail to brett@oremowlz.com.

We also would like to feature your team on our website. Once you have taken a team photo, please send it to brett@oremowlz.com along with a brief 2-3 sentence description of your season highlighting your record and labels featuring your players and coaches.

We always love hearing about our Owlz teams from around the country. We wish you the best of luck with your upcoming season, and appreciate your support of Orem Owlz Baseball!

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

Tour de Habitat

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The Orem Owlz and Habitat for Humanity of Utah County will be teaming up on Saturday, June 11 at 6:30 p.m. for the Third Annual Tour de Habitat, Lakes to Peaks Bicycle Ride. Owlz mascots Hootz and Holly will be the guests of honor to kick off the Family Ride which will be part of the pre-parade activity for the Orem Summerfest. Those participating in the Family Ride will receive reserved seating for parade viewing later that evening, an event t-shirt, and Owlz 2011 game tickets. For more details and to register please visit www.habitatuc.org/events/tour-de-habitat.html.
This article originally appeared on the official website of the Orem Owlz. Click here to view the original story.

Kernels Continue to Help Flood Victims with Phase II

The Kernels Foundation presented a check to Amy Geiger and Board Members of the Cedar Rapids School Foundation on Thursday, September 9, 2010 prior to the Kernels playoff game against the Clinton Lumber Kings. The money was raised in part from a season-long 50/50 raffle at home Kernels games. The amount of $17,162 will be divided between six local schools affected by the 2008 flood, which include Jefferson, Harrison, Cleveland, Roosevelt, Metro, and Wilson. The monies will help provide equal opportunities to outdoor physical fitness activities and fitness programs to school children. The Foundation is committed to providing programs and introducing better life skills and leveling the playing field for the children in these neighborhoods as compared to the rest of the city. This year’s project was phase II in the Foundation’s efforts to continue to help the flood victims in Cedar Rapids.

The Kernels Foundation phase I project included building two new baseball fields and renovating a third that was damaged by flood waters. The Kernels Foundation, Minor League Baseball Charities, Baseball Tomorrow Fund, the City of Cedar Rapids, and others raised $170,000 in 2009 for the project. Because of the new playing fields, we were able to offer a free program to at-risk kids this summer. Seventy-five children were able to play baseball two nights a week at the Jones Park Complex for free, including the use of equipment and uniforms.

The Kernels Foundation presented a check to Amy Geiger and Board Members of the Cedar Rapids School Foundation on Thursday, September 9.

CarePro, the Kernels, and AEGON raise nearly $10,000 for community betterment

For the 3rd consecutive season, the Kernels teamed up with CarePro Health Services in providing a huge lift to Horizons “Meals on Wheels” by donating $5.00 to purchase a plate of hot, nutritious food for “Meals on Wheels” recipients for every run the Kernels plate in the 2010 season. The Kernels high powered offense, led the Midwest League in runs “plated” with 745 runs this season. At $5.00 per run “plated” by CarePro Health Services in their 3rd Annual “Plating for Plates” Campaign, CarePro Health Services Chief Financial Officer Gary Kaufman presented Horizons “Meals on Wheels” $3,725 on Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium before the Kernels game on Saturday Night, August 21st. The $3,725 contribution from CarePro Health Services to Horizons “Meals on Wheels” provided the area community home bound citizens who rely on “Meals on Wheels” for their sustenance with 745 additional plates of hot nutritious food!

AEGON’s “K’s for Kids First” initial campaign was a success as it ran through the 2010 baseball season. AEGON is one of the world’s largest providers of life insurance, pensions and long-term savings and investment products. For every strikeout (K) that Cedar Rapids Kernels pitchers recorded, AEGON donated $5 to Kids First, a law center that gives children a voice in divorce and custody conflicts by providing legal representation and services for them. AEGON presented a check for $5,580 to Kids First on Wednesday, September 1 for the 1,116 strikeouts the Kernels pitchers recorded for the remainder of the season.

Kernels mascot Mr. Shucks and AEGON officials present a check to Kids First on September 1, 2010.

Kernels Complete 12th Year of Summer Reading Program

Over 2,000 girls and boys were recognized on Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Sunday, August 22nd for reading 1000 minutes this past spring and summer in the 12th Annual Kernels Summer Reading Program, presented by Toyota Financial Services and supported by The Gazette, Rockwell Collins, and Copyworks. Cedar Rapids Kernels players and Kernels Mascot, Mr. Shucks, greeted the 1000 Minute Readers in right-center field to sign autographs and pose for pictures with them for 25 minutes prior to the game. The girls and boys and their families were then cheered by the crowd as they paraded around the Perfect Game Field.

Kernels players and Kernels Mascot Mr. Shucks visited a record 54 elementary schools throughout the eastern Iowa Corridor this past spring and summer to encourage over 25,000 students to stimulate their imaginations, discover new worlds, and make new friends through reading. Children were rewarded each 250 minutes that they read culminating with the Reader Recognition Day at the ballpark. After reading 250 minutes, the children reached 1st base and were rewarded with a free ticket to a future Kernels game and their name listed in the Cedar Rapids Gazette. After completing the next 250 minutes and arriving at second base, the kids received a free kid’s meal to Fazoli’s. The third leg, which takes the readers to third base and a total of 750 minutes of reading, rewards the readers with a Kernels equipment basket. Finally, after reaching home plate and 1,000 minutes read, children received a Kernels jersey and the opportunity to meet the players.

The Kernels congratulate all of the children who participated in the 12th Annual Kernels Summer Reading Program and thank 12th Year Presenting Sponsor Toyota Financial Services and contributing sponsors The Gazette, Rockwell Collins, and Copyworks for providing awesome rewards to the kids for their fantastic achievements.

Cedar Rapids Kernels players sign autographs on the field during Reader Recognition Day on Sunday, August 22.
Kernels players Michael Wing and Fabio Martinez participate in one of the Kernels 54 reading programs throughout the Cedar Rapids area this spring and summer

League of Dreams Takes Flight

The Cedar Rapids “League of Dreams” celebrated opening night June 15, 2010 at Jones Park. All participants were 2nd and 3rd graders from five local schools severely affected by the flood of 2008. The league consisted of six teams that played a total of twelve games that culminated on July 21st.

The “Cedar Rapids League of Dreams” is an outgrowth of the Jones Park Baseball Project which was announced last fall in response to the flood that devastated Cedar Rapids in 2008. The Jones Park Project was formed to upgrade the number and quality of baseball fields in Cedar Rapids. Now, the “League of Dreams” gives 75 kids a chance to play on one of those fields. The league was designed to help schools, children, and families hit the hardest by the flood to participate in a fun, relaxed, and informative baseball program.

The 75 youngsters and 6 coaches who comprised the new League of Dreams visited Perfect Game Field Thursday, July 1 for a Cedar Rapids Kernels pre-game ceremony. Jim Ecker from Perfect Game, Tom Barbee, President of the Kernels Foundation, and Mike O’Neil with the Parks and Recreation Department, presided over the ceremony.
The teams played a game on Perfect Game Field and enjoyed a picnic at Veterans Memorial Stadium on July 27th to wrap-up the season.

The youth baseball league, sponsored by the Cedar Rapids Kernels, Perfect Game USA, Rawlings Sporting Goods, Minor League Baseball Charities, the Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Department, with a big assist from the Baseball Tomorrow Fund, offered 75 girls and boys the chance to play baseball this summer at no cost. The newly formed League of Dreams will become an annual event each summer.

Perfect Game USA employee Jim Ecker gives instructions to League of Dream players prior to a game at Perfect Game Field

Bees Receive ASA Award

Salt-Lake-Bees-LogoThe Salt Lake Bees have been named the recipient of the 2009 American Spirit Award (ASA) in an announcement made today by the United States Air Force.

The club will be presented the award by Col. Michael Brice, Vice Commander of the Air Force Recruiting Service, on Saturday, August 22 following the Bees game and prior to the fireworks show.

US-Air-Force-LogoThe ASA is the United States Air Force Recruiting Service’s highest form of recognition, designed to recognize civilians or civilian organizations that have consistently displayed obvious and continual support of Air Force recruiting efforts and exhibition of patriotism and service to our country.

“We are honored to receive this award and appreciate the recognition from the United States Air Force,” said Bees General Manager Marc Amicone.  “The Bees have always been strong supporters of the men and women of our nation’s armed services and we will continue our part in honoring the sacrifices for freedom given on our behalf.”

The Bees are recognized for the club’s effort during the 2009 season including Military Appreciation Night on May 29 and the Airman’s Opener on June 1 to kick off 2009 Air Force Week in Salt Lake City.

Highlights of the Airman’s Opener included a KC-135 Tanker and four F-16 fighter aircraft fly-by over the ballpark and a Wings of Blue parachute drop to present the game ball.

“The Salt Lake Bees’ tremendous support has given us the opportunity to inform and educate the American public about their Air Force. In turn, that support has opened doors to many American youth, allowing them to serve their country in the world’s greatest Air Force,” said Col. Brice.  “I am looking forward to presenting this prestigious award to a great community partner Saturday evening.”

This is a first-time award for the Bees and the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies. The Bees are also just the second Triple-A baseball team to ever receive an ASA.

The first ever American Spirit Award was presented in the fall of 1980 to entertainment legend Bob Hope. Other well known recipients of the ASA include Dolly Parton, Jerry Reinsdorf, Paul Harvey, Rudolph Giuliani, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Indianapolis Colts.

Bees Take Baseball to Shriners Hospital for Children

Salt Lake Bees players Terry Evans, Adam Pavkovich and Brandon Wood left Spring Mobile Ballpark in the dust Wednesday morning for a visit with patients at Shriners Hospital for Children.

A temporary home to nearly 20 children with special orthopedic needs, today’s Shriners’ patients ranged from those with spinal cord injuries, broken bones and missing limbs. The Bees players brought in their own rehabilitation for the children, playing catch, shooting hoops, playing ping pong and just plain chatting it up. The near two hour visit was a positive for both the players and the patients. “It was a great opportunity to come up here today. I had fun getting to know the children and their families,” said Wood.

Outfielder Terry Evans knows that “it’s easy for people to lose perspective of the struggles that some have to go through. Anything that we can do to brighten a kid’s day and help them forget they’re in a hospital or about to have surgery or whatever, we’re happy to do it.”

The players took photos and left autographed photos with the children.

Brandon Wood enjoyed visiting with patients at Shriners Hospital.