Save lives: Mud Hens Blood Drive is Wednesday, 7/5

Did you know every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood, and that one pint of blood can save up to 3 lives? To help meet demand for donations and to raise awareness about the need for new donors, the annual Mud Hens Blood Drive will be held on Wednesday, July 5, from 2-7 p.m.

The blood drive will be held inside the Top of Nine banquet area (see on map) located on the fourth floor at 406 Washington St. adjacent to Fifth Third Field.

  • All donors will receive a ticket voucher for a future Toledo Mud Hens game!
  • Meet the mascots!
  • All donors will be entered into a drawing to win some cool Mud Hens items!

To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-REDCROSS or visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code: MUDHENS.

Fans attending games on June 14 and 30 will also be able to schedule an appointment at the Red Cross table on the main concourse.

The American Red Cross Western Lake Erie Region serves 11 counties and needs to collect about 300 units of blood every day to meet patient need in 23 hospitals.

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

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Antonio and Sydnei Copher Celebrate their Anthem Home Runs for Life on June 14

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Dayton Dragons will host 14-year-old Antonio Copher and his 13-year old sister Sydnei for an Anthem Home Run for Life on Wednesday, June 14, at 7:00 p.m., when the Dayton Dragons take on the Great Lakes Loons at Fifth Third Field.

The Anthem Home Run for Life program provides children in the Dayton region who are battling serious medical conditions with a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Each honoree gets to take a lap around the bases at Fifth Third Field during a sold-out Dragons home game while the crowd cheers them on.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Dayton Dragons will host 14-year-old Antonio Copher and his 13-year old sister Sydnei for an Anthem Home Run for Life on Wednesday, June 14, at 7:00 p.m., when the Dayton Dragons take on the Great Lakes Loons at Fifth Third Field.

The Anthem Home Run for Life program provides children in the Dayton region who are battling serious medical conditions with a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Each honoree gets to take a lap around the bases at Fifth Third Field during a sold-out Dragons home game while the crowd cheers them on.

Antonio and Sydnei’s Story

Antonio Copher is in the eighth grade, and his sister Sydnei is in the seventh grade at East Dayton Christian School. Both Copher children are very artistic and have big dreams for the future. Antonio is active in choir and plays piano. He’d like to work for a tech company in the future or pursue a career in music. Sydnei loves dance, theatre, and playing the violin, and wants to be an anesthesiologist. Staying active is important for them, but it isn’t always easy. Both Copher children were diagnosed at birth with sickle cell disease.

Sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder in which red blood cells (which are normally round and flexible) are sticky, hard, and shaped like crescent moons. Some of the complications associated with sickle cell may include chronic pain, susceptibility to infection, organ damage, and stroke.

Because of sickle cell, the Copher children grew up with a chronic achy feeling, mostly in their backs. They took medication every day for the pain but still had to make visits to the hospital when it became unbearable.

Sickle cell is a lifelong disease, but Antonio, Sydnei, and their family are diligent about managing their condition. They don’t make trips to the hospital nearly as much anymore, and most of their treatment can be done either at home or at the doctor’s office.

Today, Antonio and Sydnei continue to stay active, eat right, drink plenty of water, and pay close attention to what their bodies tell them. Their parents have taught them how to take ownership of their treatment and learn how to cope with their condition. “You have to fight through the worst days to get to the best days,” Sydnei explained. Antonio said, “I don’t think of myself as being different…Things happen for a reason, and you should work to prepare yourself for the future – or even the next few minutes.”

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Dayton Dragons applaud all those who have been instrumental in Antonio and Sydnei’s lives, including their parents Antonio Sr. and Synthia and their specialist Dr. Dole. Please join us in cheering them on as they complete their Anthem Home Run for Life at Fifth Third Field on June 14.

More Information:  The Dayton Dragons are the Midwest League affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and play a 70-game home schedule at beautiful Fifth Third Field in downtown Dayton, easily accessible from Interstate 75. Individuals and groups seeking information about Dayton Dragons group tickets, lawn tickets, the season ticket wait list, sponsorship opportunities or booking a Dragons speaker are encouraged to contact the Dragons by calling at (937) 228-2287, emailing at dragons@daytondragons.com, or on the web at daytondragons.com.

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

“CHALLENGER DAY” Returns to Canal Park on June 4

(AKRON, OHIO) June 2, 2017 – The Akron RubberDucks and Northeast Ohio Roy Hobbs Baseball are partnered again to bring back “Challenger Day” on Sunday, June 4 at 12 p.m., prior to the finale of the three-game series between the Akron RubberDucks and the Reading Fightin’ Phils, which starts at 2:05 p.m. It will be the 19th year Challenger Day will be hosted at Canal Park, with the annual tradition started in 1999.

Challenger Day provides an opportunity for kids and adults with developmental disabilities to play a baseball game at Canal Park, and to meet and be cheered on by some of the RubberDucks players. Each participant will get to hit and play in the field, and get to experience what it is like to be a professional ballplayer for a day. Ages range from as young as seven to as old as 25.

“Challenger Day is one of the annual highlights of our schedule,” said RubberDucks general manager Jim Pfander. “It is important to be able to give these young baseball players a chance to play at a facility like Canal Park, but the real fun comes from the smiles on the athletes’ faces and those on the faces of the RubberDucks players who are there to cheer them on.”

Challenger Day participants play in area Little League programs that include the Challenger program or in the Ohio Challenged Athletes program. Participants this year will be from teams in Hudson, Tallmadge, Green, Canton, Tuscarawas County, Barberton, including players from Akron and Cuyahoga Falls.

Participants are scheduled to warm up at 11:45 a.m. with the game scheduled for 12 p.m. and it will last approximately one hour. At the conclusion, a team photo will be taken of the participants and the RubberDucks who cheered them on. Gates will open at 11:45 a.m. for any spectators.

Media are welcome to attend. If credentials or photos are needed, please contact director of public and media relations Adam Liberman at aliberman@akronrubberducks.com to make arrangements.

The RubberDucks are the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. For more information, call the RubberDucks at 330-253-5151 or visit www.akronrubberducks.com. The RubberDucks are on Facebook www.facebook.com/akronrubberducks and Twitter @AkronRubberDuck.

Tame your mane: Great Clips Charity Cuts 6/8

Are split ends throwing you a curve? On Thursday, June 8, 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.

GAME TICKET ($12) – BUY TICKETS

What you get:

  • June 8 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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Dragons MVP Field Day on Saturday

The Dragons MVP Program presented by Bob Evans provides thousands of area fourth and fifth grade students with “MVP Field Day” at Fifth Third Field this Saturday, June 3, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The students from Clark, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, and Warren Counties were all recognized by their teachers through the “Dragons MVP Program” as having done something extraordinary inside or outside of the classroom this school year.

The Dragons MVP Program provides students, who are recognized by their teachers, with a unique opportunity to attend this special event where they will have a chance to meet the 2017 Dayton Dragons and enjoy a day of fun activities at Fifth Third Field. Among the activities scheduled are inflatable games, carnival games, mascots, a special treat from Bob Evans, a free team poster, “baseball skills” stations with the Dragons players, and an autograph session.

FACTS ABOUT THE MVP PROGRAM

This is the 12th season for the Dragons MVP Program. More than 1,120 classrooms and 34,000 students participated during the 2017 season.

Each teacher selected five Dragons MVPs for their classroom, resulting in more than 6,000 students being recognized for their achievements in and out of the classroom.

The children selected as Dragons MVPs received a customized certificate and complimentary tickets to enjoy a Dragons game at Fifth Third Field with their families. At the game, they received a specially designed Dragons MVP ball cap. MVPs also received tickets to the “MVP Field Day” to be held at the stadium on June 3.

The Dragons MVP program presented by Bob Evans is also made possible courtesy of Sinclair College, WDTN-TV and Dayton’s CW Television.

More Information:  The Dayton Dragons are the Midwest League affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and play a 70-game home schedule at beautiful Fifth Third Field in downtown Dayton, easily accessible from Interstate 75. Individuals and groups seeking information about Dayton Dragons group tickets, lawn tickets, the season ticket wait list, sponsorship opportunities or booking a Dragons speaker are encouraged to contact the Dragons by calling at (937) 228-2287, emailing at dragons@daytondragons.com, or on the web at daytondragons.com.­

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

Cast a spell at Harry Potter 20th Anniversary Night

Calling all wizards and muggles! Fifth Third Field magically turns into Diagon Alley on Friday, July 14 as the Toledo Mud Hens celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Harry Potter series. The fun will leave you completely spellbound!

Mud Hens players and coaches will wear “Wizard Games” theme night jerseys which will be sold at a silent auction during the game. Look for the auction tables on the main concourse. Bids will be accepted through the end of the sixth inning. Proceeds benefit Family House and Helping Hens fund.

Tweet from @MudHens: We solemnly swear that we are up to no good. Harry Potter 20th Anniversary ‘Wizard Jerseys’: Friday, 7/14. ��� pic.twitter.com/D5cW3C4sXf

Accio, jersey! Good news, you can now pre-order your very own ‘Wizard Games’ jersey. Jerseys will ship late-July/early-August once they arrive in our warehouse. This is the only way to guarantee getting a jersey for yourself or any fan in your life. Quantities are extremely limited to head on over to the online Swamp Shop to pre-order yours today!

Join us for the pregame Wizard Party prior to the Friday, July 14 game! No muggles are allowed in this muggle-themed party that will include a magical buffet, Quidditch activities in Hensville Park, a costume contest, Harry Potter trivia, and a magic show! Tickets are $40 for adults and $35 for kids, which includes your Mud Hens game ticket and all of the activities. Wands will also be available for purchase at the party.

BUFFET MENU:

  • Dragon Fire Roasted Chicken Breast
  • Basilisk Burgers
  • Gillyweed Salad
  • Ron’s Red Head Potatoes
  • Golden Snitchos
  • Chocolate Frog Chip Cookies
  • Polyjuice Potion Punch
  • Luna’s Lemonade & Gillywater

Look for our very own Platform 9 ¾ on the main concourse for a unique photo opportunity for Mud Hens fans: don’t forget your wand, cape and broomstick!

GAME TICKET ($15) – BUY TICKETS

What you get:

  • July 14 Mud Hens game ticket
  • Postgame fireworks

Planning on entering our wizarding world? Let us know by clicking here!

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

Carnival to Benefit Hannah’s Vision, Inc.

A carnival to benefit the Hannah’s Vision, Inc. nonprofit organization (501c3 application in process) is going to be held Thursday, June 1st through Sunday, June 4th at Eastwood Field / Mahoning Valley Scrappers park. The carnival will have fireworks, rides, a variety of food vendors, multiple live bands, entertainers and craftsman performing throughout the event and more! Niles Police will be onsite for security, and this will be a family-friendly event with no alcohol.

Hours and bands schedule:

Thursday June 1st – 6pm to 11pm (music by County Mayo and Taylor Borton)

Friday June 2nd – 6pm to 12am (music by Highland Rose and John Dante and the Inferno)

Saturday June 3rd – 6pm to 12am (music by The Rage and Anger the Ant)

Sunday June 4th – 1pm to 11pm (music by The Acoustic Jones, K Street, Taylor Borton and The Black Wolf and The Thief)

Throughout the weekend: Clowns – Balloon animals – Ukulele duo – Daily 50/50 raffle (winner need not be present to win) – Animal Charity – Legacy Dog Rescue of Ohio – Dunking Booth

Saturday night Fireworks!

Sunday matinee – Open at 1pm with bands performing throughout the afternoon and evening.

Free glow-in-the-dark purple glasses to all (subject to quantity available of 5,000 for weekend).

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

Alex Hilgeford Celebrates Home Run for Life May 31

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Dayton Dragons will host 14-year-old Alex Hilgeford during the unique Anthem Home Run for Life program on Wednesday, May 31, at 7:00 p.m., when the Dayton Dragons take on the South Bend Cubs at Fifth Third Field.

The Anthem Home Run for Life program provides children in the Dayton region who are battling serious medical conditions with a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Each honoree gets to take a lap around the bases at Fifth Third Field during a sold-out Dragons home game while the crowd cheers them on.

Alex’s Story

Alex Hilgeford is an active 8th grader at St. Helen’s Catholic School. He spends his time camping, fishing, and hunting. His favorite passion is wheelchair basketball. While he sounds like a typical kid, Alex’s journey to this point has been far from typical.

In January of 2002, Alex was born with some unusual physical features. He had webbing behind both knees, a club foot, a cleft palate, and his tongue was attached to the roof of his mouth.

Alex immediately underwent testing in the neonatal intensive care unit so doctors could plan the next steps in his care. Because his symptoms were so rare, it took nearly eighteen months before Alex could be officially diagnosed with Popliteal Pterygium (Pop-la-teal Ter-ridge-e-um) syndrome.

Popliteal Pterygium syndrome is a very rare condition that affects the development of the skin and face. Individuals like Alex who have Popliteal Pterygium syndrome could be born with a host of issues such as a cleft lip, a cleft palate, and webs of skin behind their knees.

After diagnosis, Alex faced more than a dozen surgeries. The first surgery came when Alex was only three days old and continued until he was nine.

Following those surgeries, Alex still faced issues using his right leg. Dr. Albert told Alex and his family that amputating his leg and fitting him with a prosthetic was a good option to increase Alex’s mobility. So, at the age of 7, Alex made the incredibly courageous decision to go through with the amputation.

Alex’s decision has been the right choice for him, allowing him to lead an active lifestyle. He loves playing wheelchair basketball and hopes to make the 2024 Paralympics. For the past three years, he has joined the Amputee Coalition at Camp Joy, a camp that helps kids with limb loss and limb indifference enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle. He’s looking forward to the day when he can give back to the camp by volunteering as a camp counselor.

“I want kids to understand that whatever your situation, it’s not going to last forever,” Alex said. “You will come out okay on the other side. This isn’t the end of the road…It’s just a bump along the way.”

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Dayton Dragons applaud all those who have been instrumental in Alex’s life, including his parents Mindy and Drew, his siblings Eric and Kate, all extended family, Dr. Albert, and his entire medical team. Please join us in cheering on Alex as he completes his Anthem Home Run for Life at Fifth Third Field on May 31.

More Information:  The Dayton Dragons are the Midwest League affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and play a 70-game home schedule at beautiful Fifth Third Field in downtown Dayton, easily accessible from Interstate 75. Individuals and groups seeking information about Dayton Dragons group tickets, lawn tickets, the season ticket wait list, sponsorship opportunities or booking a Dragons speaker are encouraged to contact the Dragons by calling at (937) 228-2287, emailing at dragons@daytondragons.com, or on the web at daytondragons.com.

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

Dragons Host Hometown Heroes Celebration Night at Fifth Third Field

The Dayton Dragons and the Dayton Development Coalition will hold the first of two Hometown Heroes™ Celebration Nights Saturday, May 20 at Fifth Third Field when the Dragons play the Bowling Green Hot Rods at 7:07 p.m.

“Hometown Heroes™ Celebration Nights represent something truly special about the Dayton Region,” said Jeff Hoagland, DDC President and CEO. “Our desire to thank those who serve our country, combined with a true American pastime, has created an incredible night dedicated to our Hometown Heroes. We want to thank them for their service and let them know, no matter where they are stationed, Dayton will always welcome them home.”

The Celebration Nights are the highlight of the year-long Hometown Heroes™ program, which honors our community’s service men and women affiliated with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Springfield, Ohio Air National Guard Base. The DDC and the Dragons, with the generous support of local businesses, began the program 14 years ago as a way for the community to support the thousands of military families in the region.

Colonel McDonald, the installation and 88th Air Base Wing commander, will swear in 12 new Air Force recruits during the game.

Major General William Cooley, the commander of Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and Colonel Bradley McDonald, the Wright-Patt installation and 88th Air Base Wing commander at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base., will throw out a first pitch.

The Association of Defense Communities recently recognized Dayton as a Great American Defense Community, in part for the Hometown Heroes™ programs at the Dragons, Victoria Theatre Association, Dayton Art Institute, and Dayton Air Show. Hometown HeroesTM, working in close partnership with Dayton Hoopla/First Four events, UD & WSU Men’s Basketball, and the Fraze Pavilion, offers year-long events honoring our military community.

Staff Sergeant Kelly Perry from the Air Force Band of Flight. During the national anthem, the Wright Patterson Air Force Base Honor Guard will present the colors.

On the plaza, there will be a Security Forces Humvee, an Air Force Recruit Van, and the 445th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron will showcase equipment used on evacuation missions. The Dragons Entertainment staff will hand out mini flags, and fans can sign “Thank You” cards to send to troops overseas.

More Information: The Dayton Dragons are the Midwest League affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and play a 70-game home schedule at beautiful Fifth Third Field in downtown Dayton, easily accessible from Interstate 75. Individuals and groups seeking information about Dayton Dragons group tickets, lawn tickets, the season ticket wait list, sponsorship opportunities or booking a Dragons speaker are encouraged to contact the Dragons by calling (937) 228-2287, by email at dragons@daytondragons.com, or on the web at daytondragons.com

The Dayton Development Coalition (DDC) is the leading economic development organization for the 14-county Dayton region. Working closely with public and private regional partners, its mission is to retain, expand and recruit jobs. The DDC and the Dayton region ranked as the nation’s top metro for its size for economic development in 2008, 2009 and 2012 and runner-up in 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2015. With the State’s largest single-site employer in its backyard, the DDC also focuses on advocating for the critical missions at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and supporting the work of the United States Air Force. The DDC was ranked as America’s top military community, and was presented with the 2015 Community Excellence Award from the Association of Defense Communities. It was designated as one of the ADC’s Great American Defense Communities in 2016 – a testament to the collaborative efforts in support of Wright-Patt, America’s #1 Air Force Base as ranked by the Air Force Times (2014). For any questions regarding the DDC, contact Shannon Joyce Neal at (937) 231-5436.

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

Scrappes Host Youth Baseball Camp July 11-13

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers are excited to announce that they have partnered with Vlad Pediatrics to host a three-day Youth Baseball Camp July 11-13.

The Scrappers Youth Camp provides kids ages 8-13 year olds a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn from some of the very best players in Minor League Baseball. All exercises and instruction will be taught by Scrappers players and coaching staff, and will focus on baseball fundamentals, sportsmanship and healthy competition. Boys and girls of all ability levels are encouraged to participate and learn from the Scrappers players and coaches in a small group setting.

Camp registration includes instruction each day from 9 am until 12pm, a ticket to the Thursday, July 13 Scrappers game vs. the Brooklyn Cyclones, on field recognition prior to the July 13th game, a camp t-shirt, and lunch the final day of camp. To ensure that your child receives individualized attention, the Youth Baseball Camp has been limited to 100 campers and early registration is highly encouraged. The Scrappers Youth Baseball Camp is only $100 per child and forms can be found on the Scrappers website or at the Eastwood Field Box Office. You can also register online.

The Scrappers open the 2017 season at Eastwood Field on June 21 vs. the Auburn Doubledays. Single game tickets are on sale and can be purchased online at mvscrappers.com, at the Mr. Rooter Box Office at Eastwood Field or by calling 330-505-0000.

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

KHN Presents Strike Out Stroke Event

Dayton, Ohio – Abbey Hendershott, a stroke survivor, will throw out the first pitch at the Dayton Dragons game on Sunday, May 21, at 2:07 p.m. when Kettering Health Network presents the “Strike Out Stroke™” event. The Dragons will be hosting the Bowling Green Hot Rods at Fifth Third Field in downtown Dayton. Strike Out Stroke is a registered trademark of the “Retreat and Refresh Stroke Camp.”

Hendershott experienced a stroke at her home on March 23, 2015. Despite being a nurse and recognizing the symptoms of a stroke, she initially attempted to talk herself out of the fact that she could be having one because she was only in her mid-twenties.

Hendershott’s face did not move when she smiled and went numb when she tried to laugh at a joke that her sister-in-law told. She was also experiencing numbness on the left side of her body. Her sister-in-law immediately called 911 and Hendershott was transported to Sycamore Medical Center.

After a one-day stay at that facility, she was taken to Kettering Medical Center for further evaluation and seen by Dr. Short, a neurosurgeon. Hendershott was released from the hospital three days later.

Hendershott provides a simple piece of advice to people who think they may be suffering a stroke no matter their age, “If you are having any symptoms, do not wait.”

Kettering Health Network will be on the plaza from noon-2:30 p.m. with stroke awareness and prevention information and will also be passing out various stroke awareness items.

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

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Dragons and Vectren Honor Charles Fox as “Community All-Star”

The Dragons and Vectren will honor Charles Fox during the unique “Community All-Stars” program on Friday, May 12, at 7:00 p.m. when the Dayton Dragons take on the Quad Cities River Bandits at Fifth Third Field.

The Dayton community is a great place to live, work and play. But what makes Dayton truly great are the people that call Dayton home. We have great people and great organizations in our community that do incredible things each and every day. Throughout the season, the Dragons and Vectren will honor five “All-Stars” with a special inning break tribute in recognition of their service.

Charles’ Story

During his wife Charlotte’s battle with cancer, Charles Fox noticed the comfort she received from a soft blanket their daughter had given her. After Charlotte passed away in 2009, Charles decided he wanted to provide that same comfort to other cancer patients during their treatments. He began buying and donating blankets to the Kettering Medical Center Foundation to distribute to patients undergoing chemotherapy. Each patient receives a soft fleece blanket with love and well wishes.

Charles also established the Grammy CC Foundation of Love in dedication to Charlotte. While the foundation mainly focuses on donating blankets, they have also worked with local organizations to donate knitted hats to cancer patients.

“During her five year battle with cancer, Charlotte never gave up,” said Charles. “She persevered with grace, dignity, and tremendous courage. If Charlotte were here today, she would be so proud of the Grammy CC Foundation of Love and our efforts to help other patients with their own battles.”

The goal of the Grammy CC Foundation of Love is to provide cancer patients with gifts to let them know that they are in the hearts and prayers of others. If you want to learn more or get involved with the foundation, please visit www.grammycc.org.

For his efforts to provide comfort for cancer patients, Charles has been selected as a Dragons Community All-Star. The program honors those that have gone above and beyond to improve the quality of life in the Miami Valley.

The Dragons Community All-Stars Program is made possible by the generous support of Vectren. For more information or to nominate an All-Star in your life, visit www.daytondragons.com/communityallstar.

More Information: The Dayton Dragons are the Midwest League affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and play a 70-game home schedule at beautiful Fifth Third Field in downtown Dayton, easily accessible from Interstate 75. Individuals and groups seeking information about Dayton Dragons group tickets, lawn tickets, the season ticket wait list, sponsorship opportunities or booking a Dragons speaker are encouraged to contact the Dragons by calling (937) 228-2287, by email at dragons@daytondragons.com, or on the web at daytondragons.com.

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, May 5-7

Did you know an estimated 42 million people in America (one in eight) struggle with hunger? To help raise awareness and inspire action, Fifth Third Bank and the Toledo Mud Hens are teaming up to collect food during the May 5-7 homestand at Fifth Third Field in support of the SeaGate Food Bank of Northwest Ohio.

Fans attending the Mud Hens home games between Friday, May 5 and Sunday, May 7 are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the ballpark to help Fifth Third reach their goal of donating 1 million meals to the communities it serves in the month of May. Boxes will be readily available at all entrances.

Fifth Third chose the food drive as this year’s bank-wide service project in honor of Fifth Third Day which occurs annually on May 3.

The mission of SeaGate Food Bank is to enhance quality of life in NW Ohio by relentlessly working to eliminate hunger and improve nutrition. Every month, the food bank distributes food to more than 400 food pantries, soup kitchens and programs feeding the hungry in the Toledo region.

Friday, May 5 Toledo vs. Louisville at 7:05 p.m.

GAME TICKET ($12) – BUY TICKETS

What you get:

  •        May 5 Mud Hens game ticket

Saturday, May 6 Toledo vs. Louisville at 7:05 p.m.

GAME TICKET ($12) – BUY TICKETS

What you get:

  •        May 6 Mud Hens game ticket

Sunday, May 7 Toledo vs. Louisville at 2:05 p.m.

GAME TICKET ($12) – BUY TICKETS

What you get:

  •        May 7 Mud Hens game ticket

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

YSU Baseball to Raise Funds and Awareness for Childhood Cancer

The Youngstown State baseball team will participate in the Lace Up 4 Pediatric Cancer event in conjunction with the Go4theGoal Foundation to raise funds and awareness to combat childhood cancer at its game this Friday against Valparaiso at Eastwood Field.

Players and coaches for Youngstown State and Valparaiso will wear yellow shoelaces to raise awareness for childhood cancer. All money from admission tickets, as well as a portion of concessions sales, will be donated to the Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley. Donations will also be accepted.

Tweet from @YSUBaseball: YSU Baseball to Raise Funds and Awareness for Childhood Cancer at Friday���s Game – Youngstown State https://t.co/GnCdwU0V9v

To reward fans for supporting both the cause and the Penguins, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers will give away a Jim Tressel bobblehead or Scrappers t-shirts or other giveaway items to the first 100 fans.

Additionally, YSU’s Team IMPACT player Jacob Sypert will throw out the first pitch at Friday’s game. Sypert is a seventh grader from McDonald, Ohio, who is a cancer survivor. He and the Penguins have been partnered together as part of the Team IMPACT program for the last two season.

Tweet from @YSUBaseball: Happy 1 Year Anniversary to our guy, Jacob, on signing his NLI to be a part of our program! @Sypert4 @GoTeamIMPACT pic.twitter.com/tWdduhn01x

“I think is so important for our baseball team to have a chance to be involved with a great organization and a great cause like Go4theGoal and children’s cancer,” YSU head coach Dan Bertolini said. “Our Team IMPACT player Jacob Sypert has been affected by childhood cancer, and his mother approached me this fall about getting involved. I got a chance to meet with Karen from Go4theGoal in January and I couldn’t be more excited about partnering with them.”

For more information on Go4theGoal, visit go4thegoal.org.

First pitch on Friday is set for 5 p.m. in game one of the key three-game Horizon League series against the Crusaders.

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

Dragons Continue Heater’s Recycling Bin Initiative

The Dayton Dragons and Montgomery County Environmental Services encourage fans to participate in Heater’s Recycling Bin Initiative (RBI), a free educational program for the entire family. All participants will receive up to four Dragons lawn tickets for special RBI Nights and be eligible to win great prizes.

Fans that would like to take part in the program can download a tracking form at www.daytondragons.com/rbi. Track two weeks of recycling at home and submit your final numbers at www.daytondragons.com/rbi. Tracking forms can also be sent to the Dragons via mail, e-mail, fax, or by dropping it off at the stadium. When the Dragons receive the tracking form, participants will be sent four lawn tickets to one of two new “RBI Nights”. Those nights are Thursday, June 15th and Thursday, August 3rd.

In addition to the tickets, participants will receive an exclusive RBI water bottle, a special RBI recycling bin, and group recognition at the game. Participants will also have a chance to win the opportunity to throw out a first pitch at a Dragons game, a special VIP Dragons game experience, and a luxury suite with catering, VIP parking passes, and Dragons hats.

About Montgomery County Environmental Services

Montgomery County Environmental Services is more than 300 men and women who provide high-quality drinking water, solid waste, recycling, and wastewater reclamation services to the citizens of Montgomery County. We work to preserve public health, foster economic development, and protect the environment and our natural resources for future generations. We aim to be leaders and trusted stewards of the environment focused on service, collaboration, innovation, and financial responsibility.

We also offer educational programs to local schools, community organizations and businesses that want to learn more about conservation and sustainability in the Miami Valley region.
More Information: The Dayton Dragons are the Midwest League affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and play a 70-game home schedule at beautiful Fifth Third Field in downtown Dayton, easily accessible from Interstate 75. Individuals and groups seeking information about Dayton Dragons group tickets, lawn tickets, the season ticket wait list, sponsorship opportunities or booking a Dragons speaker are encouraged to contact the Dragons by calling (937) 228-2287, by email at dragons@daytondragons.com, or on the web at daytondragons.com

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