Blue Wahoos Share Holiday Spirit, Community Impact In December

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A classroom door opened at Pensacola’s Montclair Elementary School and joyous screams ensued.

Yes, Kazoo was in the house.

The Blue Wahoos beloved mascot was part of a special Literacy Night program December 15 for young grade school students. Joined by Lauren Scott, the Blue Wahoos community relations and merchandise manager, along with Erik Bremer, the voice of the Blue Wahoos as broadcast director, the group delighted and enlightened children that day with a special appearance before school let out for the holiday break.

“You see that kind of reaction and it’s special,” Scott said. “The kids are screaming ‘Kazoo! Kazoo!’ and they know us through Kazoo, even though many haven’t been to a baseball game yet.

“So it’s neat and we had a lot of fun doing it, reading to the kids and just interacting with them. Erik was getting everyone involved so it was a great time.”

Blue Wahoos beloved mascot Kazoo greets thousands of parade spectators at Pensacola’s annual Christmas parade downtown on December 10.
Dan Venn/Blue Wahoos

The experience that day was part of the Blue Wahoos busy December. A lot has happened this month at a time presumed to be a slow period in the professional baseball world.

In the days leading up to Christmas, the Blue Wahoos staff participated in two Christmas parades, spent one day restoring a baseball field at Pensacola’s Catalonia Square, had team executives attend the Baseball Winter Meetings in San Diego, been host to private parties and events at Blue Wahoos Stadium, plus provided team representation at other community events.

“It has been a whirlwind, but in a great way,” said Steve Brice, who joined the Blue Wahoos in mid-November as the team’s executive vice president and general manager, working in tandem with team president Jonathan Griffith. “I love being busy.”

Members of the Blue Wahoos front office staff joined together on Dec. 15 to help renovate a City of Pensacola youth baseball field as part of an annual project.
Dan Venn/Blue Wahoos

During a time traditionally viewed as the slowest point of an off-season, the Blue Wahoos have kept active within the Pensacola community heading into the Christmas and New Year holiday weekend.

Kazoo and team staff members were part of the Gulf Breeze Christmas Parade on December 3, followed by the Cox Pensacola Christmas Parade on December 10.

Working in two shifts, the group also recently helped restore two baseball fields at Catalonia Square, a City of Pensacola park which is also known for being where Pro Football Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks began his youth football career. A lot of weed-pulling, debris clearing and removal of glass shards occurred.

“Even though the field might not have looked like it was in too rough of shape from afar, it still took us most of the day to fix it,” Scott said.

The project was part of an annual commitment the Blue Wahoos make in the community in a partnership with Waste Management, a Blue Wahoos corporate partner. Each season since the inaugural 2012 season, the Blue Wahoos staff and groundskeeping crew have taken on a project at one area baseball field to upgrade and restore the conditions.

It’s another way the team meets a mission to improve the quality of life in the Pensacola community.

Participating in the Christmas parades provides opportunity for the Blue Wahoos to reconnect with fans and further awareness.

For Brice, it was his first experience in both the community parades. He was tossing beads, candy and passing out Blue Wahoos hats to throngs of people in the massive downtown Christmas parade.

“I jokingly said to someone, I feel like I’m part of The Beatles right now,” Brice said. “People were yelling, “Go Wahoos!’ and everyone wanted a hat, or one of the cushy baseballs we had. There were so many people that night downtown and to be part of that was really great.”

The biggest challenge? Trying to figure how much candy, beads, hats and other items to participate in two parades.

“Even prepping for it was wild because I had cases of candy here and (co-staff worker) said, ‘Oh that’s not enough. I literally bought Sam’s (Club) out of candy,” said Scott, who joined the Blue Wahoos in March and was promoted to a dual role as merchandise and community relations manager. “That was wild having to go back and almost double everything to have enough.”

“In the baseball season it was so busy and everyone was telling me, ‘oh the offseason that’s the chill time”. And the whole time I have been like, yes there are not games on the field, but I am still really busy and it’s different thing.”

But as Scott pointed out, it’s also been a good thing in ways to stay connected in the Pensacola area and keep the Blue Wahoos awareness with community impact.

Appalachian League celebrates 2022 charitable contributions

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The Appalachian League announced that the league’s charitable outreach grew to more than $3.4 million of gift-in-kind and monetary donations this year. Additionally, the league and its clubs volunteered more than 11,000 hours of community service.

The league’s reach impacts the towns and cities their 10 teams call home across North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Appalachian League executives, team staff members and players volunteered through food pantries, reading programs, baseball clinics, toy drives, youth centers, hospital visits and numerous service organizations.

“As league members, we appreciate the opportunity to continue giving back through volunteering, donating and providing outreach to the communities that have supported our clubs for more than 100 years,” stated Elizabethton River Riders GM and Appalachian League Charity Committee Chair Kiva Fuller.

In January, Appy League representatives participated in the 27th annual MLK Day of Service. Volunteering in 11 communities across four states, team members were involved with food pantries, book drives, local YMCA and libraries, as well as the House of Hope and Good Samaritan Ministries.

In conjunction with the League All-Star Game, league executives volunteered at the City Gate Dream Center in Burlington, N.C. Along with moving items to the center’s storage unit, the group packaged and bundled diapers for families in need.

On the day of the All-Star Game, the Sock Puppets hosted a successful Play Ball youth clinic at Burlington Athletic Stadium where all 2022 All-Stars participated.

Prior to the GM meeting in Bluefield on Oct. 18, Appalachian League clubs participated in a service project at the Bluefield Union Mission. A total of 19 league and club representatives packaged meals and prepared personal hygiene kits for families in need.

More details and a full breakdown of the 2022 Appy League Community Impact Report can be found here.

The 2023 Appy League season begins Tuesday, June 6. The full schedule for the upcoming season can be found here.

The Appalachian League is a part of USA Baseball and powered by MLB. For more information on the Appalachian League, please visit appyleague.com or follow the league on Twitter and Instagram (@AppyLeague).

Flying Squirrels win MiLB CommUNITY Champion Award

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SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Richmond Flying Squirrels have been named the recipient of the 2022 Minor League Baseball CommUNITY Champion Award, MiLB announced on Sunday night.

The CommUNITY Champion Award recognizes a Club that demonstrates an outstanding, ongoing commitment to charitable service, support and leadership within their local community and the baseball industry. The award was presented during the Opening Night Reception and Awards Program of the Baseball Winter Meetings at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.

“Making an impact in the community is a pillar of our organization,” Flying Squirrels CEO Todd “Parney” Parnell said. “We strive to be a valuable community partner and aim to use our platform to make positive impacts in the Richmond region. We are grateful for this recognition from Minor League Baseball and for our community.”

In 2022, Flying Squirrels Charities expanded its areas of focus in an effort to fully encompass all the ways the Flying Squirrels impact the greater Richmond community. The newly rebranded Flying Squirrels Charities focuses on four pillars: Education, Athletics, Social Determinants and Inclusion. Flying Squirrels Charities raises funds through a number of avenues including in-stadium initiatives during the season and events around the region all year.

With Flying Squirrels Charities this year, the team has partnered to support local organizations including Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation, Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Richmond, Friendship Circle of Virginia (FCVA), Metropolitan Junior Baseball League (MJBL), Fox Elementary School and more.

The Flying Squirrels are visible in the greater Richmond community well beyond the baseball months. Mascots Nutzy and Nutasha have made more than 400 community appearances this year around the Commonwealth of Virginia. Additionally, Flying Squirrels front office staff, players and coaches have volunteered this year with organizations and events including children’s hospitals, Miracle Leagues, Feed More, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Salvation Army and others.

The Flying Squirrels continue to promote educational causes in schools around the Richmond region, including the “Go Nuts for Reading Program,” which challenges elementary and middle school students to read eight books over a two-month span to receive a free ticket to a Flying Squirrels game. This year, more than 10,000 students from 68 participating schools completed the challenge.

The Flying Squirrels launched their Executive Trainee Program, offering opportunities to students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities the opportunity to gain hands-on, professional experience working in various capacities with the team. The program is designed to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce with the goal of elevating more minorities into leadership positions throughout the professional baseball industry.

Through these and many other initiatives, the Flying Squirrels aim to make Richmond a better, more inclusive place, while simultaneously helping grow the game of baseball.

The Flying Squirrels open the 2023 season on Friday, April 7 at The Diamond against the Reading Fightin Phils. Ticket packages for the 2023 season are available now at SquirrelsBaseball.com.

2022 Shorebirds Summer Reading Program Presented by Caprichos Books Donated Over 200 Books

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SALISBURY, MD – The Delmarva Shorebirds Summer Reading Program presented by Caprichos Books rewards kids for completing their library’s summer reading program with two free tickets to a Shorebirds game.

For the 2022 season, over 30 libraries across Delmarva participated in the program and over 8,000 tickets were distributed to the participants. The Shorebirds and Caprichos Books visited 12 libraries with Sherman to read to the kids as well as facilitate a book exchange with books provided by Caprichos Books.

Through the book exchange, the Shorebirds were able to donate over 200 books to local free little libraries across Delmarva to help spread the joy of reading in our community. “We are very appreciative of Caprichos Books and our local libraries for helping us donate this incredible amount of books to little libraries on the Eastern Shore,” said Shorebirds Community Relations Manager, Sam Lehman. “Literacy on Delmarva is very important to the Shorebirds and something we like to expand upon each year through our community initiatives like the Summer Reading Program.”

Caprichos Books enjoyed partnering with the Shorebirds Summer Reading Program and the reach it had on the community. “This was such a great opportunity to visit all over Delmarva with the Shorebirds and I am proud of how many people we were able to reach in our first year partnership. Caprichos Books looks forward to continuing to meet and support readers and literacy programs with the Shorebirds and library partners,” explained Caprichos Books owner, Liz Decker

To learn more about the Shorebirds’ community initiatives, upcoming events, and the 2023 season, visit the shorebirds.com or follow the Shorebirds’ Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts.

Enrollment Open for 2023 Fang’s Reading Club

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GRAND CHUTE, WI – It is never too early to start thinking about reading and baseball! Registration is open for the 2023 edition of Fang’s Reading Club. Teachers may begin enrolling their schools in the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers program that encourages reading development in children from Kindergarten through fifth grade! This year’s program is presented by Fox Communities Credit Union, Myndology, and Luv 2 Play Appleton. Teachers and reading coordinators have until December 31 to get involved in this program.

Registration can be done through this link on the Timber Rattlers website. You may also check out other details on the program at that link.

Personnel at participating schools have the flexibility to design the program to meet the needs of their students.

Fang’s Reading Club provides the following:

An introductory letter to be sent to parents at the start of the program

Baseball related verification aids to help parents and teachers track the progress of participants

Information to aid schools in setting up their Family Night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium

An easy, online ticket ordering option

A Timber Rattlers game ticket with a hot dog and soda voucher as part of their school’s Family Night in 2023 are free to students who meet all their goals for the program. Sponsors and the Timber Rattlers will have a special prize waiting for those who complete the program at the ballpark when they attend their game!

You may also download this year’s Reading Club brochure here.

There were 135 schools and over 35,000 students to participate in the program last year. This year’s club can be even bigger with your help!

Contact Dayna Baitinger at [email protected] or (920) 733-4152 if you have any questions or would like to register your school for Fang’s Reading Club.

Bluefield Ridge Runners announced as recipient of Lee Landers Community Service Award

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The Appalachian League announced that the Bluefield Ridge Runners have been named the recipient of the 2022 Lee Landers Community Service Award. The Lee Landers Community Service Award is presented to the club that demonstrates an outstanding, ongoing commitment to charitable service, support and leadership within their local community and within the baseball industry.

The staff of the Bluefield Ridge Runners has contributed $259,307 in cash and in-kind services through July 31, along with 866 hours to various community organizations. The Ridge Runners participated in Project Graduation, charity car shows, concerts, food drives and flood relief efforts. The Ridge Runners have also contributed to community organizations such as Rotary International, the Chamber of the Two Virginia’s, Sacred Heart Catholic Church Food Bank, Bluefield Area Little League, the Union Mission, the annual Mountain Festival, the Bluefield Restoration Committee and the Bluefield Beautification Committee.

“The Bluefield Ridge Runners are honored to be presented the Lee Landers Community Service Award for 2022,” said Ridge Runners general manager Rocky Malamisura. “The receipt of this award affirms the efforts of the club to be an integral part of the surrounding community.”

This season, Ridge Runners players volunteered a recorded 370 hours in the community at places like food pantries to reading programs and autograph sessions. Two baseball camps were provided by the Ridge Runners at no cost to the participants, which allowed more than 70 children to benefit from these camps. The Bluefield Club also participated in the Play Ball initiative with area Little Leagues and Vet Tix.

ThAdditionally, Ridge Runners catcher Parker Redden (Delaware) was named the Appalachian League Humanitarian of the Year. When the Ridge Runners were in town, Redden drove approximately 35 miles each way to volunteer at Freedom Farms, a nonprofit, faith-based organization for at-risk youth in West Virginia.

“It is especially satisfying to uphold the values of the award’s namesake Mr. Lee Landers,” Malamisura added. “Service before self is a trademark of what we value here with the Ridge Runners. Our staff, coaches, players and patrons strive to give back to the community that has itself given so much to us.”

Lee Landers served as the Appalachian League president from 1996-2018 and passed away May 17, 2021. Lee always placed others first and encouraged all clubs and staff to become involved and give back to their communities. Lee’s involvement over the years included: Roman Cultural Society, Jaycees, Police Benevolent Association, D.A.R.E, Senior Olympics Board, Baseball Chapel, American Heart Association and Springfield Chamber of Commerce.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio Coming to Day Air Ballpark

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Dayton, Ohio – The Dayton Dragons are excited to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio to Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District. Home games from Friday, July 22 to Sunday, August 14 will be dedicated to supporting this program.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio is a program that is of no cost to the families. When a child is enrolled in the program, they receive a book in the mail each month until their fifth birthday. This program is made possible with financial support from the Ohio General Assembly and affiliates across the state as well as Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine. Montgomery County currently has an enrollment rate of over 46% of children of five years and younger.

From Friday, July 22, through Sunday, August 14, the Dragons will include books with first-game certificates for first time Dragons fans under the age of five while supplies last, as well as bookmarks that allow parents or guardians to directly sign their children up for the program. On Sunday, August 14, the Dragons will host Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio Day with a sign-up booth, first pitch, graduation ceremony and more to highlight the program.

For more information on this program, visit https://ohioimaginationlibrary.org/

Single-game tickets for these games and all Dragons 2022 home games are available at www.daytondragons.com or by phone at (937) 228-2287.

More Information:_ The Dayton Dragons are the Class-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and play a 66-game home schedule at beautiful Day Air Ballpark_ in the heart of the Water Street District. 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 [email protected]_, or on the web at daytondragons.com._

GRAND SLAM Home Run Readers Amass Nearly 3 Million Minutes

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Reading Program Reaches Record Heights

Rockland County, NY (June 20, 2022) – With nearly 3 million minutes of reading in the books for this season, the New York Boulders’ “Home Run Readers” program continues to build its successful reputation – one book at a time.

In conjunction with NY529, the partnership with the Boulders has helped promote literacy in elementary and middle schools throughout the Lower Hudson Valley, the Bronx and Northern New Jersey. First started in 2013, this year’s program saw a record 38 schools participate with more than 3,500 students opening the books.

The challenge ran from April 25 and ended on May 15.

The rules were simple: only out of school reading counted.

Each school designated a coordinator to record each student’s reading times, as well as a total for their school.

When all was said and done, each reader fell into one of five prize categories:

  • Under 400 minutes earned you a single and a participation certificate
  • At least 400 minutes had you on second base with a double, a participation certificate and two tickets to a specified Boulders’ game this season.
  • Up to 800 minutes and you legged out a triple to go along with a participation certificate and four tickets to a specified 2022 Boulders’ game
  • 1300 minutes or more had you circling the bases with a home run, a participation certificate, four tickets to a specified game where you also had the privilege of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.

The top reader for the year, Yankilvio Molina of the Highland Falls Intermediate School in Highland Falls, NY, will be rewarded with on-field recognition at a Boulders’ game, as well as an autographed baseball and a photo taken with manager T.J. Stanton and Boulder Bird.

Teachers who had their classes participate, along with their designated program coordinator and school principal were awarded five tickets to a future Boulders’ game, as well as a 10% discount at the team store located inside Clover Stadium.

This year’s top five reading schools were:

  1. Little Tor Elementary School in New City, NY
  2. Highland Falls Intermediate School in Highland Falls, NY
  3. Edgemont Elementary School in Montclair, NJ
  4. Greenwood Lake Middle School in Monroe, NY
  5. A. MacArthur Barr Middle School in Nanuet, NY

Each of the top five schools were awarded a suite to a 2022 Boulders’ home game for 14 staff members.

Information regarding season tickets and packages for the Boulders’ 2022 season are available by calling 845-364-0009 or sliding to www.NYBoulders.com.

All Aboard: READing RailRoad Returns

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MOOSIC, PA (May 2, 2022) – The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are pleased to announce the return of their READing RailRoad program this spring and summer courtesy of Red Robin. READing RailRoad allows children aged 4-13 the chance to read five books and be rewarded for their work with a free ticket to an upcoming home game at PNC Field and a coupon from Red Robin.

“The READing RailRoad is a simple way to keep your child reading outside of their school,” stated Jordan Steiner, the RailRiders Director of Community Relations. “We all know how rewarding sitting down with a book already is and this is a great way to add some fun and incentive plus a sense of accomplishment doing just that!”

Printable bookmarks are available on the Community tab of swbrailriders.com or at any of the participating libraries in the area. Those libraries include:

Abington Community Library

Clymer Library

Hazleton Area Public Library

Hoyt Library

North Pocono Public Library

Osterhout Free Library

Pike County Public Library

Pittston Memorial Library

Taylor Community Library

Tunkhannock Public Library

Print your bookmark now!

Parents/Guardians must register their child or children by sending their name, their child’s name, phone number, and mailing address to [email protected]. As each book is finished, the reading log on the bookmark must be completed and the parent/guardian must initial each numbered box. When all five books are read, parents must send a completed copy or photo of the bookmark to [email protected].

The ticket link to redeem one free Field Reserved ticket per participant will be emailed to the parent/guardian once the child has completed the five books and submitted proof. Additional tickets for friends and family will be available for purchase through the link.

All tickets are digital and there is a limit of one (1) Field Reserved ticket per child who participated. There is also a limit of one (1) bookmark per child this season.

The ticket voucher is redeemable for any 2022 regular season home game – tickets and seating are subject to availability. The coupon for Red Robin is good for a free kid’s meal with the purchase of any adult item.

For more information or to print the bookmark, visit our Community tab.

Bookmark Contest Winners Announced

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March 20, 2022 – The Everett AquaSox is excited to announce our 2022 Reading Program Bookmark Contest winners! We received hundreds of entries into the contest and thank everyone who entered. Our winners are all participants of the Everett AquaSox “Hit A Home Run in Reading” program.

The winners are: Annelise (Age 7) – Cedar Wood Elementary, Olivia (Age 5) – Columbia Elementary, Brady (Age 7) – Cedar Wood Elementary, Serena (Age 10) – Totem Falls Elementary.

For over a decade, the AquaSox have been facilitating a free, local, incentive-based program encouraging kids to read daily. This past year, we dad over 10,000 kids participate from various elementary schools in the area. Teachers, Librarians, and PTA coordinators from each school partnered with the AquaSox and assisted with implementing the program to encourage independent reading as a foundation for life-long learning.

If you would like more information about the reading program and how to get your school connected, please reach out to our Director of Community Relations, Nellie Kemp at [email protected]

Opening Day is April 8. 2022 season tickets, ticket plans, group outings and picnics outings can be purchased by calling (425) 258-3673 or visiting the AquaSox Front Office at 3802 Broadway in Everett.

For updates on the 2022 season, community initiatives and Webbly appearances, follow the Frogs on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit our website, AquaSox.com.

Wind Surge Re-launches Reading Program in Partnership with Credit Union of America

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The Wind Surge are excited to finally relaunch the Wichita Wind Surge Reading Program, in partnership with Credit Union of America.

The mission of the four-week reading program is to improve literacy while rewarding students for making time outside of the classroom to read. Sports promote health through physical activities, the brain is a muscle that needs exercise. Reading stimulates language skills and helps them to engage better with peers and educators.

We love to see children who participate gaining rewards while goals are met. After a student meets a goal, they get a “HIT.” Each “HIT” collects new prizes from sponsors – Whole Foods, Red Robin and Chick-Fil-A. Children must complete each base goal before moving forward.

Participating schools will have the option to host a kick-off assembly. A member from the office and Windy the mascot will come and explain the program’s process while getting children excited about receiving a free ticket.

All classrooms will be given a poster to track each student’s progress throughout the program and teachers will determine each week’s reading goal to fit their own lesson plans.

There are no additional requirements, only prizes for students. Prizes will be delivered to the school by Wind Surge staff members.

“We’re just really excited to help the teachers,” Director of Fan Experience Bob Moullette said. “It’s been a long two-and-a-half years for educators. Anyway, we can incentivize the reading goals already set in the classrooms to help them out and reward all the kids to come out to the ballpark, is a win win for everyone. We’re excited to get those schools out here representing.”

Visit windsurge.com to learn more! If you have any questions or are interested in signing your school or class up. Please contact Neleigh Higgins at [email protected] or 316-221-800.

RiverDogs Partner with CCSD for Sixth Year of “Reading Around the Bases”

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The Charleston RiverDogs and the Charleston County School District have announced plans to commence the sixth year of their literacy initiative, “Reading Around the Bases.” The program began during the 2016-2017 school year to promote having fun while reading with second graders throughout the county.

Starting on Tuesday, January 25, second graders from over 20 elementary schools in CCSD will begin a 10-week baseball-themed incentive program. Every student will receive a Reading Challenge packet that includes a scorecard and tracking sheet. To move around the bases on the scorecard, a student must read a certain number of pages: 100 pages for a single, 200 pages for a double, 300 pages for a triple, and 500 pages for a home run.

This year’s kickoff event for “Reading Around the Bases” will be at Murray-LaSaine Montessori School on James Island on January 25 at 9:00 a.m. RiverDogs President and General Manager Dave Echols, other members of the front office staff and Charlie T. RiverDog will participate in the event. Media outlets are welcome to attend.

“The RiverDogs are proud to continue the outstanding relationship with the Charleston County School District that has existed since I have been a part of the organization,” added RiverDogs President and General Manager Dave Echols. “Literacy and education are vital for the development of young members of the Charleston community, and we are excited to continue impacting students in the sixth year of this tremendous program.”

Special guests from the RiverDogs will visit schools in CCSD over the course of the next few months to provide encouragement and engage the students as volunteer readers.

“We continue to be impressed with and grateful for the effort the RiverDogs put into in this initiative, and for their continued support of our district,” said CCSD’s Chief Academic Officer, Karolyn Belcher. “Credit goes to Christy James and our teacher-librarians as well. They do so much work behind the scenes to make this a memorable and enjoyable program for our students.”

The top-25 second graders from each participating school will be honored at a select RiverDogs game during the upcoming season.

The RiverDogs will open the 2022 season at home against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on Friday, April 8. Season tickets, flexible ticket plans, and group tickets, including options to the Segra Club at Riley Park, are available at riverdogs.com/tickets or by contacting the RiverDogs front office at 843-577-3647 (DOGS). The Segra Club is also open for events year-round. Visit segraclub.com for more information.

Read With Ballplayers January 15 At The Bodacious Bookstore!

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In conjunction with Fish Fest at Blue Wahoos Stadium, Miami Marlins prospects Jordan McCants and Jeff Lindgren will visit the Bodacious Bookstore and Café on Saturday, January 15 for a morning of family-friendly fun at Books With Ballplayers! From 11:00 AM until noon, McCants, Lindgren, and Blue Wahoos mascot Kazoo will read with children in attendance and participate in a question and answer session. The event is free to the public. Interested participants are encouraged to arrive early as space is limited.

In accordance with Major League Baseball health and safety protocols, face masks are required for all guests at Books With Ballplayers.

The Bodacious Bookstore and Café opened in August 2019 at 110 E. Intendencia Street in downtown Pensacola offering a wide selection of books for both children and adults, a children’s area highlighted by a replica lighthouse, and a full menu of coffee, tea, smoothies, and café-style food.

Following the Books With Ballplayers event, McCants and Lindgren will head to Blue Wahoos Stadium for the first annual Fish Fest event at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Held from 2:00 – 4:00 PM, the event will feature autographs, question and answer sessions, a yard sale, behind-the-scenes tours, and more. Free tickets to Fish Fest and more information on the event can be found AT THIS LINK.

Swoop & Stu’s Reading Club Returns for 2022

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SOUTH BEND, IN – With winter break over and many schools resuming class, the South Bend Cubs are proud to announce the return of Swoop & Stu’s Reading Club, presented by Indiana 811 and NIPSCO. Teachers and administrators have until February 7 to register.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR CLASS OR SCHOOL

Swoop and Stu’s Reading Club is an incentive-based reading program where teachers set goals for their students to match the reading levels in their classroom. Each goal corresponds with a base on a baseball diamond and intended to last four weeks. The program begins March 2 to coincide with National Read Across America Day established by the National Education Association (NEA).

Students will be rewarded with prizes from the South Bend Cubs and local businesses for each goal completed. After students complete all four bases, they will receive a complimentary ticket to a South Bend Cubs home game, valid for the school’s designated Reading Club Night.

Registration is open until February 7 with packets scheduled to be delivered to participating schools the week of February 21. South Bend Cubs mascots Stu and Swoop will make appearances to selected schools who participate in the program. Due to the number of requests, appearances are limited.

Teachers and administrators can contact South Bend Cubs Account Executive Kyle Vincent at [email protected] with questions or to sign up. Additional information can be found here.

About the South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs are the High-A minor league affiliate of the 2016 World Series Champion Chicago Cubs. Over the past 34 years, the team has won four Midwest League titles, most recently in 2019, and has captured eight division titles. In 2019, the South Bend Cubs hosted the Midwest League All-Star Game. In June 2017, Four Winds Field, home of the South Bend Cubs, was voted Best Class A ballpark in the country by Ballpark Digest. In 2015 the team was named Ballpark Digest’s Team of the Year and received the John H. Johnson President’s Award, the highest award in minor league baseball. The team is owned and operated by Swing-Batter-Swing, LLC whose principal shareholder is Andrew T. Berlin of Chicago, Ill.

Timber Rattlers Give Back Announces End-of-Year Funds Raised

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GRAND CHUTE, WI – Timber Rattlers Give Back, the official 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, raised more than $185,000 through the Foundation’s events, programs, donations, and fundraising initiatives in 2021.

“The Timber Rattlers are fortunate to live in a supportive community and the team works hard to develop and implement programs and events to give back to the community,” said Dayna Baitinger, Director of Community Relations for the team.

Nine jersey auctions held during the season were the main fundraisers for the Timber Rattlers this year. The auctions included team-worn jerseys based on promotions for the Udder Tuggers, Los Cascabeles, Military Appreciation, Milwaukee Brewers, and Video Game.

The team is finalizing their jersey designs for the 2022 season and will unveil those designs early next year.

The annual Charity Golf Outing which was held on Tuesday, September 21 was another significant fundraiser. Nearly 100 area golfers and front office personnel collected $15,000 through the golf and raffles that were held after the outing.

An almost daily driver of donations to Give Back was the 50/50 Raffle that was held during every home game during the 2021 season. Fifty percent of all money raised during each night’s raffle went to the person with the winning ticket and the other fifty percent went to the foundation. There was over $65,000 raised for charity through the raffle during the year. The largest fund-raising night of the 50/50 raffle during the 2021 season was on Saturday, August 14 with the winner collecting $2,304 and the same amount going to Give Back.

Whiffer’s Fitness Program and Fang’s Reading Club were popular program run by the team for area youth through the mascots. The reading club is an incentive-based program that allows schools in Northeastern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula to get children from Kindergarten through fifth grade involved in reading. The fitness program helped to get kids in the Fox Cities to get and stay active.

Wisconsin front office members tended to their on-site vegetable garden to grow and harvest over 400 pounds of food in the Greenstone Farm Credit Services Ballpark Garden at Neuroscience Group Field. The harvest was taken to St. Joe’s Food Pantry. Fang celebrated his birthday in August with his annual Cans for Cake food drive and over 500 pounds of non-perishable food items were collected and donated to St. Joe’s.

Some of the charities helped by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in 2021 included Make-A-Wish Wisconsin, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Fox Valley Veterans Council, Children’s Cancer Family Foundation of Northeast Wisconsin, St. Joe’s Food Pantry, Harvest of Hope Fund, Hunger Task Force, Community Christmas, Fond du Lac Salvation Army, The Salvation Army-Fox Cities, Treffert Center, and Miracle League of the Fox Valley.

Additionally, 2,000 hats were presented to area Little League programs. Numerous other charities received over 10,000 ticket vouchers to be used in their own fundraisers by the Rattlers.

Timber Rattlers Give Back was established in 2019 and is dedicated to making a positive difference in our community. We aim to provide financial support and help raise awareness of charitable causes in the Fox Valley community in the areas of education, youth sports, and basic needs by using the platform made possible by Minor League Baseball and stadium ownership.

Thank you to everyone who assisted in our charitable works in 2021. We could not have accomplished this without the support of the players, coaches, and community. We look forward to growing Give Back even more in 2022.