Save lives at our Blood Drive on Monday, July 13

 

Did you know every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood, and that one pint of blood can save up to three 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 Monday, July 13 from 2 to 7 p.m.

The Blood Drive will be held in the Roost on the third floor of 406 Washington St. in downtown Toledo (use the doors right next to the Swamp Shop).

BONUS: Anyone who donates blood will receive 25% off all items in the Swamp Shop on July 13.

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

INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW:

  • Donors will need to wear face masks or coverings at the blood drive in alignment with CDC guidelines. We encourage donors to bring their own mask or covering that covers both their nose and mouth. If a donor does not have a mask, the Red Cross will provide one. If a donor does not want to wear a mask, we ask they postpone their donation for a later date.
  • Appointments will be scheduled to help manage donor flow and allow for social distancing.
  • Guests will not be able to attend drive (e.g. children or teens, unless teen is donating blood).
  • For detailed donor eligibility questions, please call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org.
  • For additional information go to redcrossblood.org to learn more about coronavirus and blood donation.

Captains announce Virtual Summer Reading Program, presented by the Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library

 

(Eastlake, OH) – The Lake County Captains Summer Reading Program has been a staple of every baseball season, helping students in Northeast Ohio discover the joys of reading and providing educators with a fun platform to encourage literacy. Last year alone, 36,000 students and 2,000 teachers across 130 schools participated in the Captains Summer Reading Program. That tradition continues in 2020, as the Captains are proud to announce a unique Virtual Summer Reading Program, presented by Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library.

The Captains Virtual Summer Reading Program is a free turn-key initiative that enables students to participate from home. To join the program, students simply download the Captains Virtual Reading Program Bookmark, read 20 minutes or one (1) book every day and fill out their bookmark with the titles of the books they read. Parents and guardians can take a picture of their students’ bookmark every Sunday and email it to [email protected]. One winner will be selected every week to receive a Captains Surprise Package with cool Captains gear.

“The reading program is my favorite project every year because it really makes an impact on our community,” said Captains General Manager Jen Yorko. “During a normal year, the kids who complete the program get to parade around our field and announce their names to the crowd. It really gives them a sense of accomplishment and we see how much pride it brings to their families. We thought it was important to still give students and families a way to experience that joy and to encourage our local students to get excited about reading. We couldn’t do it without the support of the Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library and our other local sponsors, Lake Health, the United Way of Lake County and The News-Herald.”

The Captains Virtual Summer Reading Program launches today, June 22, and will through August 16.

About the Captains

The Lake County Captains are the Class-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. For more information, visit the Captains’ website at www.CaptainsBaseball.com, Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/CaptainsBaseball, Twitter @LCCaptains and Instagram @LCCaptains. Fans can also get the latest Captains news and offers by signing up for the Captains’ newsletter, The Anchor.

Nominate your Hometown Hero today

 

Together we’ll get through this. At a time when many are still out on the job keeping our nation going during this crisis, the Toledo Walleye and Toledo Mud Hens want to recognize those going above and beyond through the ‘Hometown Heroes’ campaign sponsored by Marathon Petroleum, Cousino Restoration and the Blade Newsslide.

So many are doing so much. Healthcare workers caring for the sick. Police officers and firefighters keeping our communities safe. Grocery store employees keeping our shelves stocked. Truck drivers delivering our much-needed goods. Utility workers keeping our lights on and water flowing. People volunteering to help those in need.

We want to hear about your hero. Submit your nomination and we’ll highlight selected Hometown Heroes on our social media pages.

Thanks to everyone who’s helping to keep Toledo strong!

To nominate your hero, click here.

Captains Join Minor League Baseball’s CommUNITY First Campaign

 

(Eastlake, OH), April 28, 2020 — The Lake County Captains today announced they are joining MiLB CommUNITY First, a new national initiative developed by Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) in conjunction with Feeding America®, to raise funds for local food banks and to honor individuals risking their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Captains fans are encouraged to visit MiLB.com/CommUNITYFirst through May 31 to donate. Once on the site, fans can choose their donation amount and the Lake County Captains as the recipient of their donation to direct funds to the Northeast Ohio community. For every $10 donated, the Captains will donate one ticket to a future home game this season or in 2021 to local heroes of the pandemic at Lake Health and the City of Eastlake Police and Fire Departments.

School closures, rising unemployment and rising poverty due to quarantine and extended stay-at-home orders have disproportionately impacted people already at risk of hunger and could result in an estimated additional 17.1 million people experiencing food insecurity in the next six months, according to Feeding America. As the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization with a network of more than 200 affiliates, Feeding America has projected a $1.4 billion shortfall in the next six months alone.

In response, contributions from Captains fans and Minor League Baseball will help ensure families and individuals across the country most impacted by the pandemic are fed and cared for during these uncertain times. Join the national campaign by donating and selecting Lake County Captains at MiLB.com/CommUNITYFirst and use #MiLBCommUNITYFirst on social media to show your support.

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*About the Lake County Captains *

The Lake County Captains are the Class-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. For more information, visit the Captains’ website at www.CaptainsBaseball.com, Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/CaptainsBaseball, Twitter @LCCaptains and Instagram @LCCaptains. Fans can also get the latest Captains news and offers by signing up for the Captains’ newsletter, The Anchor.

About Feeding America

Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 40 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Captains announce United Way Ticket Package to support COVID-19 relief efforts

 

(Eastlake, OH) – In an effort to support COVID-19 relief efforts, the Lake County Captains are proud to announce a new ticket package in partnership with the United Way of Lake County (UWLC). Proceeds from the package will support the UWLC’s Lake County Relief Fund, which benefits food pantries, in-home grocery delivery for seniors, the Lake County Free Clinic and more.

Included with each $20 United Way Ticket Package purchase is a $5 donation to the UWLC Lake County Relief Fund, four (4) tickets to any 2020 Captains home game, four (4) ice cream vouchers, one (1) Skipper foam head, one (1) Captains autograph book and one (1) mystery bobblehead.

UNITED WAY TICKET PACKAGE

ABOUT UWLC’S LAKE COUNTY RELIEF FUND

“We know this crisis is challenging for our entire community and we’re so proud of the work being done by our partners at the United Way of Lake County,” said Captains General Manager Jen Yorko. “Their efforts are crucial to supporting Lake County residents in need and we want to help in any way we can, while giving our fans something to look forward to when baseball returns.”

Fans can donate to the UWLC at uwlc.org and they can learn more about the UWLC’s Lake County Relief Fund by visiting uwlc.org/lake-county-relief-fund.

The Captains’ front office staff is currently working remotely, but staff members can all be reached via email. A full staff directory can be found here. Fans with general questions can also email [email protected].

The Lake County Captains are the Class-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. For more information, visit the Captains’ website at www.CaptainsBaseball.com, Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/CaptainsBaseball, Twitter @LCCaptains and Instagram @LCCaptains. Fans can also get the latest Captains news and offers by signing up for the Captains’ newsletter, The Anchor.

RubberDucks Launch QuAkron Cares Program To Assist With COVID-19 Relief Efforts

 

(AKRON, OHIO) March 31, 2020 – The Akron RubberDucks are proud to introduce the QuAkron Cares Program in coordination with United Way of Summit County and the City of Akron. Fans can support those in need with donation to the Akron-Summit County COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund and receive two (2) undated 2020 vouchers.

Included in each $10.00 purchase with the Quakron Cares Program is a $5.00 donation towards the Akron-Summit County COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund as well as two (2) undated vouchers. This package is now available at the RubberDucks online team store.

QUAKRON CARES PROGRAM

VISIT THE ONLINE TEAM STORE

“We know this is a difficult time for many around Northeast Ohio, but we are excited and proud to help those in need with this donation package,” said RubberDucks General Manager Jim Pfander. “We are proud to support the hard work of the City of Akron and the Akron-Summit County COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund. We hope these packages will help during this crisis as well as offer a way to celebrate our community when we play baseball again.”

While the RubberDucks front office continues to work remotely, staff members are available by phone and email to answer any questions or concerns. The ticket office can be reached at [email protected].

The Akron RubberDucks are the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. Fans can purchase tickets by calling 330-253-5151 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, or visit www.akronrubberducks.com. For more information about the team, please call 330-253-5151, visit the website at akronrubberducks.com, Facebook page facebook.com/AkronRubberDucks, or on Twitter at @AkronRubberDuck, and Instagram at @akronrubberducks.

Akron RubberDucks To Honor Negro Leagues and Play as Akron Black Tyrites July 31

 

BUY TICKETS FOR FRIDAY, JULY 31

2020 RubberDucks Promotional Schedule

(AKRON, OHIO) March 20, 2020 – In celebration of the heritage of Negro Leagues baseball, the Akron RubberDucks will be undergoing their third rebrand of the season on July 31, donning the jerseys of the Akron Black Tyrites.

The 2020 season marks the 100th anniversary of Negro Leagues baseball, and the Akron RubberDucks and Trenton Thunder will both be honoring that heritage by wearing the jerseys of the Akron Black Tyrites and the Jacksonville Red Caps.

The RubberDucks are honoring Akron’s short-lived Negro League baseball team, the Akron Black Tyrites Ball Club, which played their only season in Akron during the summer of 1933. Be sure to come out to Canal Park and be a part of the celebration!

National Anthem Tryouts Set for Saturday, February 22

 

DAYTON, OHIO – A traditional sign that baseball season is just around the corner in the Miami Valley is National Anthem Tryouts, presented by the Dayton Daily News. Tryouts for national anthem performers for the 2020 season will take place on Saturday, February 22 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Mall at Fairfield Commons.

Finalists will perform the national anthem at Dragons games throughout the season, with the grand prize winner performing on Opening Day 2020 before the Dragons host the Great Lakes Loons on Thursday, April 9 at 7:00 p.m.

While all time slots have been filled with performers who registered at DaytonDragons.com, there are still opportunities to perform at the tryouts on a stand-by basis.
To register as a stand-by performer, you must come to the Saturday, February 22 tryouts at the Mall at Fairfield Commons. You will receive a stand-by number that will be called when a spot becomes available. Standby performers are not guaranteed a chance to tryout.

A panel of local citizens including media personalities, city officials, and community leaders will be judging the event. The panel will make its selections based on voice quality, creative style, stage presence, and appearance.

The Dragons Green Team as well as mascots Heater and Gem will entertain fans throughout the auditions at the Mall at Fairfield Commons on Saturday.
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Registration Underway for Dragons 5K

 

 

Dayton,Ohio-Registration is underway for the 10th annual Dragons 5K presented by Orthopedic Associates on Saturday, July 18, 2020 starting at 8:00 a.m. at Day Air Ballpark. The event began in 2011 and has become a local tradition as one of the Miami Valley’s largest races with over 2,000 runners and walkers participating annually.

All participants in the race receive four (4) lawn tickets to a Dragons game, Dragons 5K t-shirt, Dragons hat, NEW home plate finisher’s medal, and entry to the post-race party inside Day Air Ballpark.

Additionally, if participants sign up for the race in the first 30 days (by March 1), they will receive a bonus of two (2) stadium seat tickets to a Dragons game in April.

The registration fee is $25 in advance or $30 after July 12. Kids age 17 and under can sign up for $15. People can sign up today to reserve their spot at www.daytondragons.com/dragons5ksignup.

Participants may choose to run or walk the course and strollers are also permitted. The race will feature the same great family-friendly entertainment you see at every Dragons game, including Dragons mascots and Green Team! The race course will move through downtown Dayton and end back at Day Air Ballpark for a post-race party.

The post-race party inside Day Air Ballpark is open to all participants and their family/friends. Activities include fruit and water for participants, inflatables, health and wellness booths, and more!

The top three male and female finishers will receive a specially-engraved baseball bat. The top three male and female runners in each age group will be awarded a Dragons Den gift certificate. Also, top finishing groups and high school running groups will receive great group prizes with the grand prize being a luxury suite at a Dragons game.

For more information on the 2020 Dragons 5K presented by Orthopedic Associates, go to www.daytondragons.com/dragons5k.

Orthopedic Associates Returning as Dragons 5K Presenting Sponsor

The Dayton Dragons also announced today that Orthopedic Associates is returning as the presenting sponsor of the Dragons 5K on Saturday, July 18, 2020.

“The Dragons 5K has become a local tradition and we are very excited to have Orthopedic Associates returning as the Dragons 5K presenting sponsor at Day Air Ballpark,” said Robert Murphy, President & General Manager of the Dayton Dragons. “Orthopedic Associates have been the trusted orthopedic provider for the Dayton Dragons team so we are excited for our fans to get to know their amazing staff.”

David Mohler, COO of Orthopedic Associates said, “We are thrilled to once again sponsor the Dragons 5K. As the region’s leader in sports medicine, and especially as a proud orthopedic provider to the Dragons Team, this fun, family event is one of Dayton’s great summer highlights for the community. We encourage everyone to register and participate!”

The 2020 Dragons 5K is being presented by Orthopedic Associates. As the regional leader in comprehensive orthopedic care, Orthopedic Associates’ passion is helping Dayton’s families get back to doing what they love. Orthopedic Associates is proud to be the trusted orthopedic provider serving your Dayton Dragons for more than a decade. Learn more at www.OAdoctors.com.

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

Three Job Fairs Announced For February, March

 

(AKRON, OHIO) February 10, 2020– The Akron RubberDucks will be holding three job fairs for the 2020 season– the Food & Beverage Job Fairs on Thurs., Feb. 26 and Tues., March 9, and the annual Akron Baseball Job Fair on Tues., Feb. 25, for game-day and part-time positions. All job fairs are at Canal Park and run from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Food & Beverage Job Fair on Feb. 26 and March 9 covers positions working the concessions stands, suites, and The Game Grill + Bar. Positions available include: Bartenders, Cashiers, Cooks, In-Seat Servers, Food Runners, Stand Managers, and Warehouse Associates, Hosts/Hostesses, and Servers. Applicants are asked to bring a resume and prior experience is preferred.

For the Akron Baseball Job Fair on Feb. 25, available positions for the 2020 season (70 home games) include: Clean Team, Daytime Suite Cleaners, Fun Zone Attendants, Gameday Grounds Crew, Gate Security, Suite Lobby Attendants, Ticket Takers, and Ushers.

“We are looking for the best of the best to provide outstanding customer service here at Canal Park for all 70 of our home games in 2020, and our ballpark employees are crucial to achieving that goal,” said RubberDucks General Manager Jim Pfander. “The RubberDucks offer a great work environment ranging from those students who are home from college to those looking for a fun, part-time job working outside during the summer months.”
2020 Food & Beverage Job Fairs Details – Feb. 26 (5-7 p.m.) & March 9 (5-7 p.m.) :

What: Job Fair for all food and beverage-related positions at Canal Park and The Game Grill + Bar.

When: Wed., Feb. 26 & Tues., March 9 starting promptly at 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Where: Candidates should enter Canal Park through the administrative office entrance at 300 South Main Street, Akron, Ohio 44308.

Positions Available: Bartenders, Cashiers, Cooks, In-Seat Servers, In-Seat Vendors, Runners, Stand Managers, Warehouse Associates, Bussers/Barbacks, Hosts/Hostesses, and Servers.

Applicants are asked to bring a resume and prior experience is preferred.

No interviewing for the Akron Baseball Job Fair positions will take place during the Feb. 25 & March 9 Food & Beverage Job Fairs.

2020 Akron Baseball Job Fair Details – Feb. 25 (5-7 p.m.):

What: Job Fair for seasonal game-day and part-time positions for the 2020 season.

When: Tues., Feb. 25, starting promptly at 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Where: Candidates should enter Canal Park through the administrative office entrance at 300 South Main Street, Akron, Ohio 44308.

Positions Available: Clean Team, Daytime Suite Cleaners, Fun Zone Attendants, Gameday Grounds Crew, Gate Security, Suite Lobby Attendants, Ticket Takers, and Ushers.

For more information about either Job Fair, candidates can call 330-253-5151 or go to www.akronrubberducks.com.

Dragons Mascots, Green Team Performing at Local Schools

 

Dayton, Ohio-Opening night for the 2020 baseball season at Day Air Ballpark is nine weeks away, but Dayton Dragons mascots Heater and Gem along with the Dragons Green Team are already bringing the excitement of baseball season to local elementary schools. For the eighth straight year, the Dragons entertainment team is performing assemblies at Miami Valley elementary schools. The program continues into April.

Each 30-minute interactive, fun, high-energy performance includes a visit by Heater or Gem and members of the Green Team, the Dragons signature group that facilitates skits, contests, and sing-a-longs during Dragons games at Day Air Ballpark. Each assembly in 2020 focuses on “Healthy Habits,” making smart food choices and being physically active. The performances, typically held in the school gymnasium, include some of the same entertainment skits seen at the ballpark, plus some new material designed specifically for the schools.

All Dragons assemblies are performed free of charge for schools that sign up. Participating elementary schools on board so far stretch from Springboro to Sidney.

The assemblies provide an introduction to the Dayton Dragons School Program, an incentive-based school fundraiser that provides prizes to students and allows the schools to keep a portion of ticket sales to Dragons games.

The Dragons are providing prizes as part of the program including team merchandise, an invitation to a Donatos Pizza Party with Dragons players, a Dragons Frisch’s Kids Club membership, and the grand prize, a Google Chromebook.

The Dragons 2020 Opening Night game is set for Thursday, April 9 at 7:00 p.m. at Day Air Ballpark against the Great Lakes Loons (Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate).

For information on Dragons season tickets, group outings, and luxury suites, go to daytondragons.com or call (937) 228-2287.

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

CareSource Continues Partnership with Dragons to Salute Area Veterans

 

Dayton, Ohio–CareSource, a nonprofit multistate health plan, is partnering with the Dayton Dragons for the second year in a row for the CareSource Veteran Salute. The program is an extension of CareSource’s commitment to improve the lives of veterans and their families through innovative programs and partnerships to support their health and well-being.

CareSource’s Veteran Salute is open to any living military veteran in the Miami Valley. Five veterans will be selected from entries submitted between February 4, 2020 and June 30, 2020. Selected honorees will be recognized at a Dayton Dragons home game during an inning break at Day Air Ballpark, April through August 2020.

Each veteran will receive VIP treatment during their night, including pregame activities, in-game recognition, seating in a luxury suite at the ballpark, a special gift and more.

“At CareSource, we lead with heart. We see our service members, past and present, as the heartbeat of our nation and we are proud to partner with the Dayton Dragons to recognize our local veterans. This program is a way to bring their amazing stories of service to audiences across the region and thank all veterans for their valuable contributions,” said Rachel Goodspeed, Director of Veteran Relations and Outreach.

“The Dragons are excited to once again partner with CareSource to honor local veterans,” said Robert Murphy, Dragons President & General Manager. “We look forward to continuing to recognize these individuals who have served our country and sharing their stories with our fans at Day Air Ballpark in 2020.”

A look back to our veterans who were recognized during the 2019 season through CareSource’s Veteran Salute Program:

Robert Looper – U.S. Marine Corp, Korean War Veteran. Robert Looper joined the Marine Corps after graduating high school in 1949, and was sent to Korea once the Korean War began. Looper and his brigade survived negative 40-degree temperatures in the Taebaek Mountains, where 15,000 Marines fought over 200,000 Chinese. Looper participated in every single major battle in Korea and was also a Prisoner of War for 17 days before escaping. Looper was awarded the Purple Heart for his time in Korea.

Daniel and Nicole Powers – U.S. Air Force, Desert Storm Veterans. Husband and wife Daniel and Nicole Powers are no strangers to the military. Both joined the U.S. Air Force in college, and met while deployed in Iraq in 2006. Nicole was deployed multiple places including Saudi Arabia, Italy, and Iraq. During Daniel’s almost six years of deployment overseas, Daniel was an intelligence collector, where he would visit towns and gather human intelligence from local shops and people. Both have been deployed a number of times, and have over 40 years of combined service in the U.S. military.

John Brown – U.S. Army, World War II, Korean War, & Vietnam War Veteran. John Brown joined the Army when he was 18 years old, and is a veteran of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. During his career, Brown was stationed in Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for reviewing and preparing the daily summary of intelligence that was presented to the high-level staff, including President Nixon. Brown had top-secret clearance in the Counterintelligence Corp for most of his service career, and served in the Army for almost 30 years.

Gene Camp – U.S. Marines, Vietnam War Veteran. Gene Camp joined the Marines in 1968 and was sent to fight in the Vietnam War. On his last patrol before he was scheduled to go back home to the U.S., Camp’s battalion was ambushed and Camp was severely injured in an explosion. Camp was honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps in 1973 and was awarded three Purple Hearts for his time in Vietnam and has over 17 years of service.

Ed Damron – U.S. Army, Vietnam War Veteran. Ed Damron enlisted with the United States Army in September of 1970 at the age of 23 and was sent to fight in the Vietnam War. On September 6, 1971, Damron’s helicopter went down in the middle of a North Vietnamese Army (NVA) base camp with 5,000 enemy soldiers. Damron saved the lives of his helicopter pilot and gunner and hid in the enemy camp for over three hours before help arrived. Because of his heroic actions on that day, Damron was awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star, and later was awarded the Bronze Star.

Nominations for CareSource’s Veteran Salute program are open to the public. Any living military veteran from the Miami Valley is eligible to be nominated. To nominate a veteran, go to www.daytondragons.com/veteransalute

About CareSource

CareSource is a nonprofit, multistate health plan recognized as a national leader in managed care. Founded in 1989, CareSource administers one of the nation’s largest Medicaid managed care plans and offers a lifetime of access to care through health insurance, including Medicaid, Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicare Advantage and a dual-eligible program.

Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, CareSource serves nearly 2 million members in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. CareSource understands the challenges consumers face navigating the health system and is transforming health care with industry-leading programs that improve the health and well-being of our members.

For more, visit caresource.com, follow @caresource on Twitter, or like CareSource on Facebook.

About the Dayton Dragons

The Dayton Dragons are the Midwest League affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and play a 70-game home schedule at beautiful Day Air Ballpark in downtown Dayton, easily accessible from Interstate 75.

Individuals and groups seeking information about Dayton Dragons group tickets, lawn tickets, season tickets, 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.

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

Registration Open for National Anthem Tryouts

 

DAYTON, OHIO – A traditional sign that baseball season is just around the corner in the Miami Valley is National Anthem Tryouts, presented by the Dayton Daily News. Tryouts for national anthem performers for the 2020 season will take place on Saturday, February 22 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Mall at Fairfield Commons.

Finalists will perform the national anthem at Dragons games throughout the season, with the grand prize winner performing on Opening Day 2020 before the Dragons host the Great Lakes Loons on Thursday, April 9 at 7:00 p.m.

Pre-registration is now underway at www.daytondragons.com/nationalanthem. The first 200 entrants who pre-register for this event will receive a scheduled tryout time. In the event that all of the allotted spots are filled, you could still have a chance to perform at the tryouts on a stand-by basis.

To register as a stand-by performer, you must come to the Saturday, February 22 tryouts at the Mall at Fairfield Commons. You will receive a stand-by number that will be called when a spot becomes available. Standby performers are not guaranteed a chance to tryout so, interested performers are strongly encouraged to sign up at www.daytondragons.com/nationalanthem.

A panel of local citizens including media personalities, city officials, and community leaders will be judging the event. The panel will make its selections based on voice quality, creative style, stage presence, and appearance.

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

DBJ Selects Dragons, Robert Murphy for Community Awards

 

Dayton, Ohio-The Dayton Dragons have been honored as the Miami Valley’s “Customer Service Business of the Year” for the second straight year by the Dayton Business Journal. Additionally, Dragons President Robert Murphy has been selected as the 2019 Executive of the Year in the Dayton-area business community by the DBJ.

The Dragons and winners of other 2019 Dayton Business Journal awards were honored on Thursday night at the Dayton Business Journal gala at the Schuster Performing Arts Center. The Business of the Year awards program has celebrated the region’s best in business for 17 years.

“Thanks to Dayton Business Journal for selecting the Dayton Dragons for these honors,” said Murphy. “The Dragons have the best fans in sports in a great community with great corporate support. Our staff works hard to make each of our 70 home dates each season a special event for our guests, and this recognition is a reflection of our team’s commitment and dedication to being a difference-maker for our community.”

The Dragons completed their 20th season in 2019. They hold the longest streak of consecutive sold-out dates in the history of sports in North America. The streak is active at 1,385 straight sell-outs, starting with the Dragons first game on April 27, 2000.

For 14 straight years, the Dragons have finished first in the nation in season attendance for all Minor League Baseball clubs below the Triple-A level, and their 20 years have marked the top 20 seasons in attendance at the Single-A level in Minor League Baseball history.

Murphy has received several other local and national awards over the last several months. In April, he was selected for induction into the Dayton Business Journal Forty-Under-40 Hall-of-Fame, the highest honor in the program. Murphy was selected as professional baseball’s 2019 Executive of the Year by Ballpark Digest after being named 2018 Minor League Baseball Executive of the Year by Baseball America.

The Dragons will open their 21st season in the Midwest League on April 9, 2019 when they host the Great Lakes Loons.

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Attached photo, from left: Robert Murphy, Dragons President; Brandy Guinaugh, Assistant General Manager; Brad Eaton, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships; Eric Deutsch, Executive Vice President.

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

Fifth Third Field to Host Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on Oct. 19

 

DAYTON, OHIO – The 2019 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk will take place at Fifth Third Field on Saturday, October 19. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. with a rolling start from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

This event is part of a national fundraising effort. In 2019 alone, over 1 million walkers across the country collected more than $60 million to help fight this disease.

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and it is estimated that over 40,000 lives will be lost to breast cancer in 2019. Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women (excluding skin cancer) and second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in women.

You can help win the fight. The walk and donations go directly to the support, transportation, recovery, and other needs that arise with the diagnosis of breast cancer. The American Cancer Society also invests in groundbreaking breast cancer research to better understand, prevent, find, and treat the disease.

The Dragons website, www.daytondragons.com, and all Dragons social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) will remain pink for the month of October to help draw attention to the efforts by Kettering Health Network to increase breast cancer awareness in the Miami Valley.

To register for the walk and get more information, please visit www.makingstrideswalk.org/Dayton.

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