Twins Reach Out To Blue Wahoos, Help Out Community In Time Of Need

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In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Sally on Sept. 16, the Minnesota Twins reached out to their Double-A affiliate in Pensacola.

A $10,000 donation was on the way to help the community.

Dave St. Peter, the Twins president, contacted Blue Wahoos owner Quint Studer last week, following the hurricane’s destructive wrath in the Pensacola area.

“He said, ‘We want to do something, can you find out how we can help.’ And so, I started thinking of the right way,” Studer said. “Instead of saying, ‘Oh we have stadium damage, send the money here,’ I wanted to find out what’s the best way to contribute .

“I did some digging and what I kept hearing is the United Way of West Florida seems to be the right place, because they will make sure it is utilized in the best way.”

Studer connected the Twins with Laura Gilliam, president and chief executive officer of the United Way of West Florida. Alex Hassan, the Twins’ director of player development finalized the contribution.

In a thank you note to St. Peter, Gilliam wrote, “We are grateful for this generous donation from the Minnesota Twins. It will be put to good use to help individuals in our community recover from the devastating effects of Hurricane Sally.”

The effects of Hurricane Sally on the Pensacola community have been extensive. The eyewall of the slow-moving category two hurricane sat over the community overnight, dumping over two feet of rain and subjecting buildings, trees, and structures to sustained winds that reached 100 miles per hour.

Power was knocked out for hundreds of thousands of citizens and damage totals to homes and businesses are still being calculated. Early estimates place the damage totals well over $30 million and parts of the community remain without power a week after the storm.

Studer said two of the first people to contact him last week, once the storm has passed, were Major League Baseball’s executive office and the Twins executive office, which is directed by team owner Jim Pohlad.

“Both of them asked if there was anything we need,” Studer said. “Mr. Pohlad and the whole Twins organization, they are just so community oriented. It’s the same way in Minneapolis when you look at all the great things they do in their city.

Blue Wahoos’ Employees Available To Lend A Hand At Local Non-Profits

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In their season without baseball, the Blue Wahoos were still able to spend the summer bringing the community into the ballpark.

Through varied events, the Wahoos worked to provide an outlet for families in the community to enjoy a safe, affordable night out while most other entertainment options were limited due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. All-in-all, the team held over 130 community events during the months they would have been playing baseball in a regular year.

With school back in session, the team transitioning into their would-be off-season, and many of the restrictions lifted across the community, the Blue Wahoos are again pivoting to help the community in new ways.

Beginning this week, the Blue Wahoos have made their staff available to help local non-profit organizations across Pensacola.

“It’s a good opportunity for us to meet our mission to make a difference in our community by reaching out area non-profit organizations,” said Anna Striano, the Blue Wahoos merchandise manager and community relations coordinator, who is directing efforts for staff help to area organizations.

“Everybody has been so appreciative of what we have been doing here at the stadium with our events and we’re so thankful for the support of our community. This is an opportunity for us to reach out and take it a step further and give people the help they are needing now.”

Area non-profits who would like to request volunteer help from the Blue Wahoos can do so by clicking this link. Through the link, registered 501c(3) non-profit organizations can supply the dates help is needed, a description of the project volunteers will help complete, and the number of helpers needed.

“Our mission as an organization is to help improve the quality of life in our community, and this is a great direct opportunity to do that,” team president Jonathan Griffith said. “A Minor League Baseball team has people on its staff with such varied skills, from groundskeeping to sales to website building to graphic design to event planning. We’re confident we can help find a staff member with the right skills to help local organizations no matter the project.”

The volunteer effort meets a quest by team owners Quint and Rishy Studer when they announced their decision in April to maintain full employment for the front office staff. The Blue Wahoos are among just a small handful of professional sports franchises at any level that did not reduce their staff during the ongoing pandemic.

“Quint and Rishy kept all of us on, and in return, the plan has been for us to help if we can with non-profit agencies,” said Striano. “If we have available hours, we can offer our staff to do whatever a non-profit organization might need. Whatever we can do to ease some of the burden that the COVID situation has created for them. We know that a lot of non-profits have probably been hit really hard. Lay offs have affected numerous local non-profits and the pandemic has made it difficult to find needed volunteers.”

Thanks to the commitment by the Studers, all front office employees, trainees, and interns kept their jobs for the season.

“It has been incredible to watch (the Studers) lay out and live out the mission they set for the organization,” Striano said. “In Minor League Baseball, and this being a smaller business industry, you get to know a lot of people working with other teams. Watching many of my friends in this industry be furloughed or lose their job entirely was heartbreaking and made me incredibly grateful for the opportunities we have here. It’s special to be with the Blue Wahoos.”

Even Without Baseball, Blue Wahoos Create Special Night For Hall Of Fame Batboy 

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His face aglow, Wade Vadakin stood near home plate at Blue Wahoos Stadium, soaking in the cheers and relishing a special moment in his inspiring life.

There’s no minor league baseball season, of course, in this summer of the coronavirus pandemic. No games to work as he has done the past two-plus decades.

No runs to celebrate.

And his former team, the Mobile BayBears, where he became the beloved face of the franchise as team batboy for its 22 seasons in Mobile, now no longer exist.

But the Blue Wahoos, who “signed” Vadakin exactly one year ago Tuesday (Aug. 11, 2019) to join their team as batboy, were able to now honor him for his 2020 induction into the Southern League Hall of Fame.

“It feels great. It feels a little awkward, because I spent my whole career working in Mobile,” said Vadakin, 41, who has overcome so much in his life since being born with congenital brain-stem damage and visual impairment, along with battling diabetes since he was 13 months old.

The Blue Wahoos honored him during their August 8th “Summer Spectacular,” following the movie, “Sandlot,” and before fireworks lit the sky above Pensacola Bay. The event was a rebrand from the planned Fourth of July show, which had to be postponed during the surge of COVID-19 cases in the area and rising concerns.

Blue Wahoos team president Jonathan Griffith, who traveled to Mobile last year before the teams’ last-ever series, presented Vadakin with the Hall of Fame award as people were gathered in safe distances throughout the infield.

“We were going to do (presentation) on opening day (back in April). And of course, that didn’t happen,” Griffith said. “Then we were going to do it on the Fourth of July celebration and that didn’t happen.

“But (August 8) is the biggest event we’ve had all summer. Now we were able to honor him in a safe way… and his history in the Southern League.”

Vadakin was thrilled, along with his parents, Jeff and Kit, who have taken care of him and have driven him to all the games from their family home in Fairhope.

“With that team (BayBears) being gone, I have hooked on with this team here,” said Vadakin, clutching the Hall of Fame plaque with both hands and a vice-grip of pride. “When I first got that voice mail about being inducted, I thought, could this be real?

“Could this actually be happening. I am still trying to wrap my head around this whole thing… It’s crazy.”

It’s also notable for so many reasons.

Vadakin was given a key to the city by a former Mobile mayor in 2012 after working his 1,000th game for the BayBears. He’s worked hundreds more through 2019 season when the BayBears had their farewell season and transferred into the Rocket City Trash Pandas in Madison, Ala., near Huntsville.

Former baseball star Jay Bell, a Tate High grad, who rose in MLB stardom and a World Series title, would have been the Trash Pandas manager this season.

During the past decade, Vadakin has beat back cancer in 2014 and double-pneumonia in February 2019.

Vadakin has been featured on his own baseball card and in other ways during his two-plus decades as BayBears batboy.

“You exemplify what Minor League Baseball is really about and your presence has made a major impact on everyone who has known you,” said Lori Webb, the Southern League president, in a video message played at Blue Wahoos Stadium during the on-field presentation.

“Wade, you officially become a member of a very select circle of folks who have made an indelible mark in the Southern League.”

This year’s SL Hall of Fame Class includes former Cincinnati Reds manager Sparky Anderson, who is enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. as one of the greatest managers in MLB history.

Another Cooperstown member, former Seattle Mariners third baseman Edgar Martinez, is part of the Southern League 2020 class, along with current Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker and former Charlotte O’s owner Frances Crockett Ringley.

“I’m honored to be considered a member of this great, great group,” Vadakin said. “Just look at the people who have been inducted over the years… my all-time favorite player Willie Mays (who grew up in Westfield, Alabama, near Birmingham) Randy Johnson, Bo Jackson. Turner Ward… just unbelievable.

“I’ve been part of four (Southern League) championship teams over in Mobile. This ranks right there. Being chosen for the Hall of Fame, that’s right up there with one of those championship rings.”

Once it became known the BayBears were ending their franchise in Mobile, Griffith met with Blue Wahoos owner Quint Studer about the possibility of bringing Vadakin to Pensacola for selected home games.

“(Family) were pretty devastated when the BayBears announced they were going to leave and go to Madison,” Griffith said. “It’s been such a part of his Wade’s life, part of the family’s life.

“I just felt like we needed to make sure we try to take care of that and offer him a job, an opportunity to work in Pensacola. And we weren’t sure he would take it or not. So, it worked out well and we are happy to have Wade on our staff now.”

The Blue Wahoos will continue to offer movie and fireworks nights through the next several weeks, including this Saturday (Aug. 15) with the showing of Walt Disney’s “Angels In The Outfield,” followed by fireworks. Admission is $5.

Masks will be required for entrance, or be provided for those who don’t have one. The team’s request is for people to wear the masks whenever on the concourse, or in line for concessions. The Blue Wahoos staff will be wearing masks and everyone handling tickets or money will be wearing gloves.

The rescheduled Fourth of July event on Aug. 8 attracted nearly 2,000 fans, the largest attended event of the year, so far, for the Blue Wahoos.

“I think it shows that, when you can do an event in open air, and the weather is good, people will come out,” Griffith said. “I think we’re able to give people space to have events.

“People want to come out. You have to do it in a safe way.”

Blue Wahoos Help Recognize Two Area Scholarship Winners In MiLB Rising Stars Program 

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A partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida enabled the Blue Wahoos to help celebrate national recognition for two area high school graduates.

Dashawn Appleberry from Rocky Bayou Christian School in Niceville, along with Rhett Hardy from Pine Forest High School, were both recipients of Rising Star Student awards for $500 through a scholarship program with Minor League Baseball and the national Big Brothers Big Sisters organization.

They were among 20 winners nationwide in a program MILB Charities founded in 2016 for deserving BBBS student enrollees in Minor League Baseball communities across the nation. A partnership began in 2004 with the national Big Brothers Big Sisters organization and Minor League Baseball.

“Think of this, there are 162 teams (in MiLB) and there are 20 scholarships,” said Blue Wahoos owner Quint Studer, who participated in a Zoom conference call Monday to honor the two area seniors. “So that means one out of every eight teams could possibly get somebody to be named a winner and we have two.

“On behalf of the Blue Wahoos, we would like to thank Minor League Baseball…we’re just carrying a message. It is wonderful testimony to the quality of applicants we have right here (in Northwest Florida).”

Appleberry, whose family moved to the area from New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina’s wrath in 2005, will be the first from his family to attend college. He will begin classes later this month at Florida State where he will major in Computer Science.

He graduated with a 3.85 cumulative grade point average. He has been mentored by his Big Brother Richard for the past 10 years.

Hardy, who was a member of the Pine Forest baseball team, attained a 4.87 GPA and will attend the University of Florida where he will major in Biomedical Engineering. He has spent three years with his Big Brother mentor, shadowing him once a month in a School To Work program at Navy Federal Credit Union.

“They both blew it out of the park, no pun intended, to apply for this scholarship,” said Dana Hall, director of development for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida. “We are so excited they were selected. This is going to help them kick-start their next adventure.”

Appleberry and Hardy are classified as “Littles” in the BBBS program. Their mentors are business employees in the community and classified as “Bigs”.

“We have done several events with the Blue Wahoos…recruitment events, spirit nights, a Big/Little first pitch,” Hall said. “We have been incredible partners with Blue Wahoos.

“So when this opportunity came out from our national office, we really wanted to encourage all of our Big Brothers to get with their Little Big Brother/Sister and apply for this scholarship.”

The MILB partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters included scholarship stipends to graduating seniors who start college this fall semester. The application process included either a written essay submitted online or a video presentation of qualifications.

“I’m very grateful I was one of the few who got picked,” said Appleberry during the Zoom video conference.

“I want to thank everybody who helped get me this scholarship,” said Hardy, who was a member of the National Honor Society at Pine Forest.

Hall thanked Studer and the Blue Wahoos for all the support the team has provided during the nine years of the franchise. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year as part of the national organization.

“Quint is a huge advocate of not only our mission, but just mentoring in general,” Hall said. “The Pensacola Blue Wahoos have done so many things in our community. Even with the pandemic going on, they have gone above and beyond with just giving us a little sense of normalcy and still bringing the community together.”

Blue Wahoos Join With V. Randolph Brown Consulting To Evaluate And Improve Diversity And Inclusiveness

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The Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Beloit Snappers have jointly hired V. Randolph Brown Consulting, an organization that specializes in helping companies evaluate their diversity, inclusion, and equity. V. Randolph Brown will evaluate the inclusiveness of the organizations, identify areas for improvement, and develop action plans to help both teams eliminate bias and become more equitable to fans and staff.

“We do many things well. We measure employee engagement, provide lots of development opportunities, are transparent, include peers in staff selection, and did not lay off any staff during the ongoing pandemic. However, I am convinced we can and must be better in the areas of eliminating bias and becoming more diverse and inclusive,” Quint Studer, owner of the Blue Wahoos and managing partner of the Snappers, said.

V. Randolph Brown Consulting, based in Cincinnati, provides companies across America with strategic consulting, advisory, education, and training services on topics including diversity, equity, and inclusion. Their portfolio includes advising the National Basketball Association and NCAA.

The firm will work with both teams to identify and eliminate possible bias in their organizations, educate and train the team’s full- and part-time staff, and improve the teams’ hiring and staff development processes.

“The Blue Wahoos staff has been representative of our community demographically, however being representative is not enough. We need to seek out and actively eliminate bias within our organization to ensure that Blue Wahoos Stadium is a welcoming, inclusive gathering place for all members of our community,” Studer said. “Beloit is one of the most diverse cities in Wisconsin. As we expand the team’s staff in preparation of the new ballpark opening in 2021, we need to be sure that our hiring and training processes are correct. We will not window dress this. We will dig in and do this right.”

The Studer Family of Companies, which includes both the Blue Wahoos and Snappers, has established a Diversity and Inclusion Task Force to work alongside V. Randolph Brown Consulting to advance the organization’s efforts to promote a culture of inclusiveness and embrace its diversity. The task force will provide training to Studer Family of Companies staff and to the local community, identify causes and charities to receive fundraising dollars, and implement changes within the organization based on the firm’s recommendations.

 

2020 Nick Adenhart Scholarships Awarded

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Cedar Rapids, IA – The Cedar Rapids Kernels in collaboration with the Kernels Foundation and the Adenhart Family recently awarded to two Eastern Iowa high school graduates with a $1,000 scholarship. On Sunday, June 7th, Ella Popenhagen from Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School and Logan Schmitt from Independence High School were recognized during a special check presentation on Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium in front of their families and members of the Kernels Foundation.

Ella Popenhagen participated in track and field, cross country and swimming. She was named Captain and to the Metro Team for both swimming and track and field for the Cougars. Popenhagen served as a member of Student Government at Kennedy High School and was a member of National Honor Society. Her other school and community activities include Best Buddies Club, Show Choir, St. Luke’s Hospital Volunteer and Special Olympics. Popenhagen plans to attend The University of Northern Iowa and pursue a degree in Movement and Exercise Science.

Logan Schmitt participated in football, basketball, track and field and baseball all four years of high school for the Mustangs. Schmitt was named Captain of the baseball team his junior and senior seasons. Schmitt was a member of National Honor Society, a school mentor and participated in numerous community activities in Independence. Schmitt plans to attend Kirkwood Community College this fall and eventually earn a degree in medicine. Congratulations to these two outstanding youths in Eastern Iowa. Photos of the check presentations attached.

Read More: Cedar Rapids Kernels

Read more about the Nick Adenhart Memorial Scholarship

Mighty Mussels partnering with Emerge SWFL

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FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels are excited to announce a partnership with a new community-focused website, Emerge SWFL. Their goal is to provide answers to the most commonly asked questions that Southwest Florida businesses are facing during this challenging time.

The website also includes a collection of information, tools, resources and, most importantly, FREE services that local business leaders are donating to help keep Southwest Florida’s economy moving. If this sounds like something you need, visit emergeswfl.com.

If you want to join Emerge SWFL for free and contribute your company’s services and expertise to help our community during this time of crisis, please visit emergeswfl.com/join.

The Mighty Mussels have contributed in various ways during this crisis, including donating food to local organizations and first responders, and putting together a takeout/delivery bingo game on social media to help support our local restaurant partners.

The Mighty Mussels and Emerge SWFL will be working diligently to help keep local business going and not let COVID-19 slow us down!

 

2020 Nick Adenhart Memorial Scholarship Deadline Approaching

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Cedar Rapids, IA – The application deadline for the eighth annual Nick Adenhart Memorial Scholarship, administered by the Kernels Foundation, is Friday, April 10th.

Nick Adenhart was a bright young pitcher who played for the Cedar Rapids Kernels in 2006, and he was a rising star in the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim organization. Only hours after Nick’s 2009 season debut on the mound for the Angels, Nick was tragically killed by a drunk driver on April 9, 2009 at age 22.

Nick’s family would like to honor him by awarding two $1,000 scholarships in his memory. The Kernels Foundation is privileged to administer the scholarships on behalf of Nick’s family.

Applicants must be a graduating high school senior from an area high school and attend a two or four-year accredited college or university and take 12 or more hours per semester. The applicant must have played an organized sport in the last two years, must be a great teammate, must demonstrate hard work and determination, and must have a clear vision of their career goal.

With the recent closure of Veterans Memorial Stadium and area high schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic scholarships can are being accepted one of two ways:

Nick Adenhart Memorial Scholarship
C/O Cedar Rapids Kernels
PO Box 2001
Cedar Rapids, IA 52406

Scholarship applications may be downloaded from the Kernels website at www.kernels.com under the ‘COMMUNITY’ tab.

For more information, please contact Doug Nelson at 319-363-3887 or email at [email protected].

 

Nominations Open for 2020 Kid Heroes Ceremony

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Cedar Rapids, IA – The Cedar Rapids Kernels are seeking nominations for their third annual Kid Heroes Recognition Ceremony sponsored by O’Brien Family McDonald’s. This special group will represent kids who have used the services of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.

The ceremony for the 2020 Kid Heroes will be at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Sunday, July 26, 2020. Those children selected as Kid Heroes and their families will be honored on the field prior to the game and will receive four complimentary tickets to that game.

The Kernels will begin taking nominations for the third annual Kid Heroes Recognition Ceremony on Monday, March 30th. The first 20 submissions will make it into the group, so we urge people to turn in their nominations right away. Nominations will be taken until Friday, May 8th, OR, until 20 submissions are received.

To give all these outstanding kids the opportunity to be honored in the Kid Heroes Recognition Ceremony, we ask that those kids included in previous ceremonies from 2018 and 2019 not be nominated.

Nominations can be made online with our online form. A special thank you is extended to our loyal sponsor, O’Brien Family McDonald’s restaurants and the partnership with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.

For more information on the Kid Heroes Recognition Ceremony, or if you have questions, please contact Jessica Fergesen at (319) 896-7608 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Click here to access the online form | Kid Heroes Nomination Form
Single-game tickets for the Kernels 2020 season are available online now from May 11-August.  https://www.milb.com/cedar-rapids/tickets/single-game-tickets

 

Kernels hosting Spring/Summer Job Fairs

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During the job fair, the Kernels management staff will be holding on-site interviews for the following positions: concessions, warehouse, ticket office, ticket takers, promotions team, ushers, souvenirs and stadium operations.

The Kernels are looking for people who are reliable, hard-working and passionate about pleasing our fans. Applicants must be 16 years of age to work at the Kernels. The Kernels are an equal opportunity employer. Applications are also available online at www.kernels.com.

Job Fair Times:
Friday, February 28 | 4:00 – 7:00 pm
Saturday, February 29 | 9:00-11:00 am

The Kernels Ticket Office opens for single-game ticket purchase on Monday, March 23 at 10:00 am. Opening night for the Kernels is Monday, April 13 vs. Wisconsin at 6:35 pm.

 

Wings celebrate Negro Leagues 100th Anniversary June 19

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Red Wings to wear throwback Rochester American Giants jerseys

The Rochester Red Wings are joining Minor League Baseball in celebrating the 100th anniversary of Negro Leagues baseball on Friday, June 19 at Frontier Field.

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

The Rochester American Giants – a minor league team affiliated with the Negro Leagues – called the Flower City home in the 1940’s. The Wings will honor that team by wearing replica jerseys. The jerseys will be auctioned off using the LiveSource mobile app with proceeds benefitting the “They Stepped Up To The Plate” Foundation – a local non-profit led by Honeoye Falls resident Jeff Klein and his family whose mission is to spread the stories of former Negro League players.

“We look forward to the opportunity to educate and inform our fans about the Rochester American Giants and many of the other great players and teams from the Negro Leagues as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Negro Leagues,” said Red Wings General Manager Dan Mason. “Our fans will have the incredible opportunity to meet and hear from some former Negro League Players as well as check out an incredible traveling display of Negro League photos and artifacts. We are fortunate to be working with Jeff Klein and his family on this event and we look forward to helping raise some funding for the ‘They Stepped Up to the Plate’ Foundation so that they can continue to educate fans in our community about these great men who played in the Negro Leagues.”

The night will also feature appearances from Ernest Fann, who was a catcher for the Raleigh Tigers, and Ike Walker, a Rochester resident who was a catcher on the 1963 Satchel Paige All-Star Team. Both men will be available on the Frontier Field concourse before the game for a meet-and-greet and will take part in a pre-game interview on the field.

The discussion will also include Sean Gibson – the great grandson of Josh Gibson, one of the most prolific Negro League players of all time. Sean is the executive director of the Josh Gibson Foundation and will have a traveling Negro Leagues display that will be available for fans to check out on the concourse during the game.

The night will conclude with a post-game fireworks show.

Inaugural Wahoos Classic A Home Run For Area Economic Impact

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Virginia, Oklahoma series brings success on field, box office, local businesses

The teams’ first look at the baseball setting which frames Blue Wahoos Stadium created a lasting impression during the inaugural Wahoos Classic.

Before unpacking their equipment, players on both the Oklahoma Sooners and Virginia Cavaliers reached for cellphones.

“It’s really cool to play in a stadium that is kept up super-nice like this,” said Oklahoma first baseman Tyler Hardman, who created his own memory by blasting the only home run struck in last weekend’s, three-game event – a cannon shot that headed into the water beyond left field and helped the 19th-ranked Sooners to a series-deciding victory.
“You get out the first day and everyone has phones out taking pictures of where you’re going to play,” said the Sooners’ junior first baseman, after his team won the twinbill 7-2 and 5-1, following a 6-0 loss in Friday’s opening game. “It is just really cool to have that experience on different fields and we’re super appreciative for it.”

The event was beneficial in other ways, too.

Blue Wahoos team president Jonathan Griffith said the three-game event, which included a schedule change into a doubleheader last Saturday, thus avoiding inclement weather the next day, generated approximately $500,000 in economic impact for the Pensacola area.
Money spent included hotel rooms for the teams, support staff, players’ parents and fans traveling to Pensacola, ticket sales, transportation, meals at area restaurants, merchandise purchased at the stadium and concession sales.

Saturday’s doubleheader attracted more than 1,400 fans, which was among the largest crowds for a non-Blue Wahoos game at the ballpark. Included in attendance were a large number of Major League Baseball scouts representing various teams to check out talent on the field.

“We basically had 600 people coming from out of town for the games,” he said. “They flew down here. They used local bus companies. They used local restaurants for catering. They used local hotels and some Airbnbs.

“We had rooms booked through ResortQuest, our Highpointe Hotels. By using a lot of local businesses in town who we work with, it drove business to all of those different locations.

“To me, it’s about what did it do for the local economy here.”

The games were televised by Cox Sports Television and aired throughout the nation, including the Washington, D.C. market and in Oklahoma. The weather for both game days was clear-blue sky and multicolor sunsets, so that part became good fortune.

“Live television for two days is a big deal,” Griffith said. “That was essentially a television broadcast of ‘Come Visit Pensacola’ all over the country.”

The event was first broached seven years ago by UVA, which was looking for a season-opening place to play in 2020. Like most major college programs, Virginia fills a schedule years in advance.

Griffith said discussions have begun for the Cavaliers to return, possibly for an expanded event with more teams. That’s fine with Virginia baseball coach Brian O’Connor.

“Very, very happy,” O’Connor said. “Pensacola is a great community. They were great hosts. It’s a beautiful ballpark. They did a terrific job. The field plays really, really good. I hope we have the opportunity come back here, because it’s a first-class operation.

“It was a good crowd for two teams that are not from here. Really nice, energetic crowd so a good environment to play college baseball in, for sure.”

It was the first time either team had been to Pensacola or had anyone from the teams visit the ballpark. The newness of the venue, plus the reputation of Blue Wahoos Stadium, were among reasons why Oklahoma leaped at Virginia’s invitation to be the opponent.

“I think it was a breath of fresh air playing in a minor league stadium that they take care of so well,” said Sooners’ head coach Skip Johnson, who is in his 27th year as a college baseball coach. “The ground crew was unbelievable. I mean, everything we asked for, needed, they were always there for us.

“The biggest thing was more of the hospitality. The field played great, the mound was good. If I would have lost I would have said the same thing.”

The Wahoos Classic began a busy prelude to the Blue Wahoos opening day on April 9 against the Tennessee Smokies.

On March 6-8, Pensacola Sports is presenting the annual Cox Diamond Invitational, sponsored by Cox Communications. The participating teams are Troy University, Louisiana-Lafayette, Samford and Michigan State, which is returning from a previous year in the event.

On March 16, Escambia High will host Gulf Breeze in one-game event. That will be followed on March 17 by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater – alma mater of Blue Wahoos owner Quint Studer — traveling to Pensacola with other NCAA Division III teams — to play a full week of games.

The busy month concludes on March 26-27 with the “Battle of the Bay” prep tournament featuring Pensacola Catholic, Tate, West Florida High and Pace in a two-day tournament.

Kazoo’s Reading Program Promotes Childhood Literacy

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A visit from Kazoo is certainly one way to break up a long day at school.

On February 6th, Oakcrest Elementary students received a visit from Kazoo and the Blue Wahoos as part of Kazoo’s Reading Program. In two 30-minute sessions, hundreds of thrilled Pensacola youngsters read Kazoo Makes the Team and witnessed a performance from the mascot himself. The kids left with a bookmark and a challenge: read four books in one month and receive a free ticket to a 2020 Blue Wahoos game.

In its existence, the reading program has made countless visits to local schools in Florida and Alabama, working to promote literacy and a love of reading early in life. In 2019 alone, Kazoo made trips to 32 schools and met 14,000 students, who combined to read over 56,000 books.

“The Blue Wahoos helped us celebrate literacy,” said JC Cotton, Assistant Principal of Florosa Elementary School in Mary Esther. “To hear the screams and see our kids’ faces when Kazoo popped out from behind the curtain was absolutely tremendous. Kazoo and the Blue Wahoos did a terrific job of sharing their love of reading with our kids. Definitely a memorable moment from our school year!”

The reading program is just one part of the organization’s mission to make Pensacola the greatest place to live; the Wahoos and the Studer Family of Companies believe that investing in the area’s kids is the best way to strengthen the community and improve quality of life.

Your child’s school can still sign up to participate in Kazoo’s Reading Program! Share this article with their teachers and encourage them to submit a form for their class here.

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

Blue Wahoos Join National Girls And Women In Sports Day Celebration

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

 

 

Wednesday, February 5th is the 34th Annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day, dedicated to honoring the achievements of women in sports, and the Blue Wahoos are celebrating being led by a front office in which women are well-represented.

Both the Vice President of Operations and the Chief Financial Officer, two of the most influential voices in the organization, are women. In total, five departments are headed by women. Two – both Finance and Human Resources – are staffed entirely by women.

“My priority is promoting good people. My intention isn’t to promote or hire men or women specifically,” Wahoos’ CFO Amber McClure shared on her all-female department.

In recent years, Minor League Baseball has focused efforts on encouraging teams to increase gender diversity in hiring. The Women in Baseball Leadership Committee was founded in 2008 and numerous programs emphasizing professional development and mentorship have grown out of their efforts. Among these programs is the Women in Baseball LIFT (Leaders Inspiring Future Talent) Mentorship Program, which pairs women new to the industry with mentors with years of experience in Minor League Baseball. Two women with the Wahoos are honored to be LIFT mentors: Merchandise manager Anna Striano and Vice President of Operations Donna Kirby.

“This is my fifth year in Minor League Baseball, and I would say it’s just an inspiring time to be a woman in sports,” Striano said. “I noticed a major increase in the number of women at the Winter Meetings in 2019 just compared to the year before.”

On her experience with the Wahoos, she added, “Just about every woman in the front office has been recognized for their contributions to the organization. We feel like our work is actually being valued, and that’s empowering.”

One of the younger front office leaders is group sales manager Bailie Tate.

“There are so many women in management positions here that it feels like we’ve at least achieved equality within the organization,” said Tate, who began her career with the Wahoos as an intern in 2017 and has earned multiple promotions to now lead the department. “Every year I’ve worked here I’ve been promoted, and I’ve never felt like the standard was different for me.”

Throughout the day on Wednesday, the Wahoos will be honoring these women and others whose strengths and diverse perspectives make the organization successful. You can follow along and get to know these valued team members on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

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

Red Wings to Host Job Fair on February 29

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

 

The Rochester Red Wings are in search of highly-motivated and customer-oriented game day employees for the upcoming 2020 baseball season. The annual job fair will take place on the suite level of Frontier Field on Saturday, February 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Wings are hiring for the following positions:
• Concession Stand Attendants – Stand Managers, Assistant Managers, Cashiers, Cooks and Preps
• Warehouse Workers
• Kitchen Staff – Line Cooks, Cold Prep, Grill Cooks, Hot Prep, and Dishwashers
• Suite Attendants/Runners
• Bartenders and Beverage Room Attendants
• Picnic Attendants – Team Leaders, Servers, Event Set Up
• Accounting Room

Those interested in employment must be at least 18 years old to receive an interview. Parking is available in the VIP lot off of Morrie Silver Way, and job seekers can enter through the double glass doors next to the Ticket Office windows.

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