Cedar Rapids Kernels release 2018 Community Report

Cedar Rapids, IA – The Kernels have released their third annual report showcasing how the organization supported the Cedar Rapids community in 2018.

The twenty-page report highlights the work inside and outside of Veterans Memorial Stadium throughout the calendar year. The Kernels Organization as a whole gave over $429,000 in charitable donations which includes money granted by the Kernels Foundation for local recreational projects. Other community efforts showcased include the 20th Annual Kernels Summer Reading Program that promoted the importance of reading to 25,000 local children in Eastern Iowa and the “Home Run for Hunger” program that, since 2017, collected 7,200 pounds of food from farmers’ market vendors for the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP) food reservoir.

The entire 2018 Cedar Rapids Kernels Community Report can be viewed by visiting www.kernels.com and clicking on the Community tab on the home page.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels are the Midwest League affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. For more information, visit www.kernels.com and follow the Kernels on social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Drive Honored with SCSBA Champions of Public Education Award

Greenville, SC – The Greenville Drive have been selected by the South Carolina School Boards Association as a recipient of the Champions of Public Education Award in recognition of their commitment to public education in the Upstate.

The South Carolina School Boards Association has been issuing the Champions of Public Education Award since 2009, and each quarter, individuals, organizations and local businesses are recognized for their contributions to public education. These contributions include support of local education programs, actively working for the betterment of public schools, and doing their part to inspire support for public schools. Previous recipients of the award in support of Greenville County Schools include The Cliffs Communities, Hubbell Lighting, and Public Education Partners.

The Drive’s consistent efforts in outreach towards public schools is manifested in many ways. The Michelin Reading All-Stars Program works with public schools and library systems to promote reading enjoyment and academic success, and the program has reached almost 700,000 children over 11 years.

The Drive also hosted the inaugural Teach864 Night at Fluor Field this season, which recognized teachers in Greenville County Schools for their dedication and service to their students, their schools, and the local community.

In addition, the Drive have hosted Health Careers Night and Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Night the past few seasons, both of which are designed to educate, inform, and spark interest in those fields for students of all ages.

“Being committed to education is a major component of our community platform, and it is a tremendous honor to be recognized for that commitment with the Champions of Public Education award,” said Drive Owner and Team President Craig Brown. “Our schools in the Upstate are doing a commendable job preparing students to be the leaders of tomorrow, and we consider it a privilege to help out in the development of these young students through our education programs and specialty career nights.”

“The Greenville Drive franchise has been an exemplary community partner for Greenville County Schools for many years,” said Dr. Burke Royster, Superintendent of Greenville County Schools. “Craig Brown always responds affirmatively when we call on him. The Drive has assisted us in honoring all GCS employees through our employee appreciation night, raised the profile of teachers through the Teach864 Campaign, helped educate our families about careers in health and manufacturing, supported academic success in GCS student-athletes, and participated in our AdvancED accreditation review.

“Together, we have co-presented to groups such as TransformSC on the value of public-private partnerships. In short, the Drive has thrown its name recognition and brand value behind our public schools and we are incredibly grateful for their commitment to our cause.”

About the Greenville Drive

The Greenville Drive, the South Atlantic League affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, just completed its 13th season at award-winning Fluor Field in downtown Greenville. Since 2006, more than 400,000 fans a year have been welcomed to Fluor Field for both Drive games and additional community events. In 2017, the Drive was honored with the prestigious John H. Johnson President’s Award, presented by Minor League Baseball and given to “the total baseball franchise,” based on contributions to baseball in the community, promotion of the baseball industry, financial stability and contributions to league stability. 80 Drive alumni have gone on to play at the major-league level, 13 of which were members of the Red Sox 2013 World Series Championship Team.

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

Blue Rocks Win Carolina League’s Matt Minker Award For Community Service

Wilmington, DE– The Wilmington Blue Rocks were honored by the Carolina League this week for the fifth consecutive season with the Matt Minker Community Service Award. The team was selected by a league-wide vote of club executives and owners.

“I could not be more proud of everyone within the Blue Rocks’ organization,” said managing partner Dave Heller. “I am especially pleased for my partner and friend Clark Minker, since the community service award bears his late father’s name. I am delighted for everyone with the Blue Rocks who worked so hard to earn this tremendous team accolade. We take enormous pride in our work helping families within Delaware, southeastern Pennsylvania, southern Jersey and Maryland’s north shore, and this award is a nice recognition of those efforts.”

The Minker Award is earned by the Carolina League club which best demonstrates an outstanding, on-going commitment to charitable service, support, and leadership within its community. The award is named after the Blue Rocks’ founder, Matt Minker, who owned the club until his death in 2007. Minker, whose construction company built Frawley Stadium, remains the team’s honorary president.

The Blue Rocks participated in numerous school programs, charitable endeavors and hospital visits. The team works with area schools to promote academic achievement (DSEA Rocky’s Reading Challenge), citizenship (Grotto Pizza Outstanding Student Program) and overall knowledge (Discover Baseball and Education Day). The club also hosts three youth camps each summer, teaching local kids how to play the game of baseball.

The team helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for good causes such as Habitat for Humanity, Fight for the Gold, Boys and Girls Clubs of Delaware, Special Olympics Delaware, Food Bank of Delaware and many other charities through partnerships with local businesses such as Chase and Food Lion. Several times during the season, the team’s players and mascot also visited local hospitals, brightening the spirits of patients and their families.

“Matt Minker was instrumental in laying the foundation for the Blue Rocks founding and later success,” said Blue Rocks director of community affairs Kevin Linton. “It is fitting that this award recognizes his life’s work and we are thrilled as an organization to honor his legacy for a fifth consecutive season by earning this recognition.”

 

As the Carolina League’s recipient of the Matt Minker Award, the Blue Rocks received the 10-team league’s nomination for the John Henry Moss Community Service Award, given out by Minor League Baseball at its annual Winter Meetings, to be held this December in Las Vegas.

The Blue Rocks recently announced a two-year extension of their Player Development Contract to remain the Advanced-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Season seats for the 2019 season will be available on October 18, mini plans go on sale November 1, and groups packages are available for purchase November 8. For more information, please go to BlueRocks.com.

www.bluerocks.com

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

Fang’s Reading Club Is Back and Better Than Ever for 2019

GRAND CHUTE, WI – School is back in session and Fang’s Reading Club is open for enrollment! The incentive-based rewards program that encourages reading development in children from grades K through 5 is presented by Fox Communities Credit Union, Learning Rx, Myndology, and Tutor Doctor and now includes an easy, online ticket ordering option. Teachers and reading coordinators have until Friday, November 16 to get involved in this popular Wisconsin Timber Rattlers program.

Personnel at participating schools have the flexibility to design the program to meet the needs of their students. The Timber Rattlers and various sponsors will provide students with incentive prizes as they reach goals within the program. Students who meet all of their goals for the program are rewarded with a FREE ticket as part of their school’s Family Night at a Timber Rattlers game in 2019.

The Timber Rattlers and the sponsors of Fang’s Reading Club will provide:

  • 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.
  • Incentive prizes for students as they reach each goal set by the coordinator.
  • A FREE ticket to a 2019 Timber Rattlers game with a hot dog & soda voucher for students who complete the program.
  • Information to aid schools in setting up their Family Night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

Please head to Fang’s Reading Club page at the Timber Rattlers website for full details, including a sample timeline, dates for Reading Club games, and how your school can schedule a visit from Fang. You may also look at this year’s Reading Club brochure here.

The club had 200 schools and over 47,000 students participate in the program last year and Fang is looking to make this year’s club even bigger!

Contact Dayna Baitinger at dbaitinger@timberrattlers.com, (800) WI-TIMBER, or (920) 733-4152 if you have any questions or would like to register your class or school for Fang’s Reading Club.

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

Cougars Nominated for MiLB Community Service Award

GENEVA, Ill. – The Kane County Cougars have been nominated by the Midwest League for the John Henry Moss Community Service Award.

The award is presented to a Minor League club which demonstrates a commitment to charitable service as well as support and leadership within their local community and the baseball industry.

Community impact has been one of the pillars of the Cougars organization since 1991, but prior to the 2018 season the Kane County Cougars Baseball Foundation, Inc. launched a historic fundraising goal known as “A Million Smiles Campaign.” The first campaign of its kind in the history of MiLB, the Foundation worked towards reaching a donation total of one million dollars with each dollar donated providing a welcome smile for those in need. Reaching above and beyond that milestone this season marks the first time in the Cougars 28 year history that the one million dollar donation total has been achieved with the expansion of various programs including:

• Country Financial 50/50 Raffle
• Acres Group Pitch in for Charity
• Paramount Fence Home Runs for Charity
• Legacy Brick Program
• D-backs Give Back Program
• Cougars Reading Club
• Ozzie and Annie Reading Scholars
• Cougars 5K
• Tangled Roots Give Back Pledge
• Al Mueller Memorial Scholarship Fund
• AmazonSmile
• Highland Salutes
• Movers for Mom
• Holiday Turkey Giveaway

Nominees from all leagues are reviewed by the MiLB Awards Committee and recommendations are presented to the President and Executive Vice President of MiLB for the final decision. The winner will be announced at the Winter Meetings in December.

For the latest ticket and promotional information, follow your Cougars on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About the Kane County Cougars

The Cougars, Class-A Minor League affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, have been at the forefront of family-friendly entertainment since 1991. In 2015, the franchise became the first Class-A team in Minor League Baseball history to welcome 11 million fans through the gates. A total of 171 former Cougars have reached the Major Leagues including Miguel Cabrera, Nelson Cruz, Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez and Kyle Schwarber.

***

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

Connor Eller Receives Blue Jays Community Service Award

Right-handed pitcher Connor Eller has been selected as the 2018 Dunedin Blue Jays Community Service Award winner for his continued commitment to helping those in need in the Dunedin community and supporting Blue Jays community initiatives.

The Blue Jays Community Service Award has been given annually since 2012 to the Blue Jays player who best exemplifies the team’s commitment to enriching the Dunedin community through a variety of outreach programs that promote education, healthy lifestyles, and charity. Throughout the 2018 season, Eller represented the Blue Jays in the community through numerous appearances away from the ballpark as he worked to encourage local children and support local families.

“Connor has been a leader in the clubhouse and the community for the past two seasons. He’s exemplified everything this award stands for through his continued dedication to our community service projects,” Blue Jays Manager of Community Relations Kathi Beckman said. “We couldn’t be more proud to present him with the 2018 Community Service Award.”

Eller helped lead the 2018 Blue Jays Bookin’ It To The Ballpark Reading Program, the largest community outreach program in the franchise’s history, reaching fifteen-hundred elementary school students in 19 Pinellas County schools. He visited local elementary schools to support the program and promote literacy by reading to local students, answering their questions, and encouraging them in their studies.

“My favorite event was definitely the reading visits,” Eller said. “The kids get so excited when you walk in the door. Seeing their smiles when they come up and read with you is a joy.”

Eller was also active at the 2018 Blue Jays Bowling Tournament, an event that raised over $10,000 to benefit local families through Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay. He also volunteered to help local families at the Dunedin Cares, Inc. Food Pantry, helping to fight hunger in the Dunedin Community. At their annual Hometown USA celebration, the Blue Jays collected 1,126 pounds of food for Dunedin Cares, Inc. as part of Minor League Baseball’s annual BUSH’s Beans Food Drive. Alongside teammate Riley Adams and mascot DJay, Eller helped sort and distribute the food the team had collected to local families.

“It was really neat when Riley and I went to the Food Pantry. I think we gave back to the community in a different way. It was heartwarming to put yourself in other people’s situation and be able to help them and show love to them.”

Eller joins a distinguished list of former Community Service Award winners that includes Danny Barnes, Matt Newman, Taylor Cole, L.B. Dantzler, Jorge Saez, Tim Mayza, and Josh DeGraaf.

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

CT Tigers Announce ‘Hit The Books’ Summer Reading Program

The Connecticut Tigers are pleased to announce their 2018 ‘Hit the Books’ Summer Reading Program.

So what is ‘Hit The Books’ all about? The Connecticut Tigers and Liberty Bank believe reading is essential for children all year long so they are rewarding kids for reading during the summer time.

‘Hit the Books’ is a program designed to maintain children’s reading skills throughout the summer. Any student who reads four (4) books between June 1st and August 1st will be given a FREE ticket to the Connecticut Tigers regular season home game on Sunday, August 12.
CLICK HERE to download a ‘Hit The Books’ entry form.
Here’s how kids can qualify:
* Any student from kindergarten through 8th grade may submit (1) entry
* Read four (4) books between June 1 and August 1
* Complete the reading log and mail it back with a self-addressed stamped envelope to the CT Tigers by August 1st. Be sure to include an email address on the form because all notifications will be sent via email.
* Upon receipt, the Connecticut Tigers will mail the student a FREE Connecticut Tigers ticket to the home game on August 12
* Bring your free ticket to Dodd Stadium on August 12 to enjoy the family-fun environment of Tigers baseball
* All participating students will have the opportunity to be a part of the “Hit the Books’ celebration at Dodd Stadium on August 12 when they will be recognized on the field pregame for their efforts.
Any questions? Please contact the Connecticut Tigers over the phone at (860) 887-7962 or via email at info@cttigers.com.

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

View More

Shorebirds Summer Reading Program Begins

SALISBURY, Md. — The Delmarva Shorebirds are happy to partner with McDonald’s® Restaurants of Eastern Shore through the Shorebirds Summer Reading Program in 2018.

The Shorebirds Summer Reading Program provides incentives for over 10,000 children to participate in their local libraries’ summer reading programs. This summer, the Shorebirds and McDonald’s are partnering with over 25 public libraries by offering complimentary tickets and other offers that can be used as rewards or incentives with their existing Summer Reading Programs.

The Shorebirds will be making several trips to libraries on the Eastern Shore where Shorebirds players and/or Sherman will read to kids and talk to them about the importance of reading.

Youth that reach their reading incentives in Delaware and Virginia will be invited out to the Shorebirds game on Sunday, August 5th against the Charleston RiverDogs while participating youth in Maryland will be invited to the Shorebirds game against the Rome Braves on Sunday, August 19th.

“We know learning never stops, and providing kids an incentive to read more over the summer break will better prepare students for classes in the fall,” local McDonald’s owner/operator Tiffany Beach said. “The Shorebirds Summer Reading Program is an exciting way to encourage continuous learning and reward kids for their efforts. We are so happy to be a part of the program in 2018.”

“The Shorebirds are excited to partner with McDonald’s through our Summer Reading Program. We really believe that with the incentives that are provided by the Shorebirds and McDonald’s, along with visits from Shorebirds players and Sherman, that the children will not only realize that reading is important but also have fun in doing so,” said Chris Bitters, General Manager.

Here is the list of the appearances that have been booked so far:

June 27th-Frankford Library-2:00 PM
July 18th-Snow Hill Library-2:00 PM
July 25th-Crisfield Library-10:30 AM
August 1st-Wicomico Library-10:30 AM
August 6th-Millsboro Library-11:00 AM
August 16th-Talbot County Library-10:30 AM

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

Local Students Read For Over 290,000 Minutes During Reading Program

A record 19 local elementary schools participated in the eighth annual Dunedin Blue Jays Bookin’ It To The Ballpark Reading Program sponsored by TD Bank in 2018. Recognizing literacy as a key skill necessary for academic achievement, the Blue Jays have encouraged and rewarded local students for reading with their annual reading program since 2011. This year, over 1,500 elementary school students across Pinellas County combined to read for 296,383 minutes during the six-week program. In hours, those totals would equal 4,940 hours of reading or over 205 full days spent reading by local students.

The Blue Jays visited all 19 schools during the course of the program, bringing players and their mascot DJay to encourage students. Dunedin players read to and with the students, answered questions from students and teachers, shared their experiences on and off the field, and gave advice on school and sports.

Participating students tracked their reading on baseball-themed bookmarks provided by the Blue Jays, advancing around the bases of a baseball diamond as they read outside of class to score runs for their class. Students who scored two runs for the class by reading 20 minutes at home eight times were rewarded with a ticket voucher to attend a Dunedin Blue Jays game. At the end of the program, the Blue Jays returned with pizza and a classroom library donation for the class that read the most in each school. Of the 19 participating schools, students at Curtis Fundamental Elementary (56,363 minutes) and Lake St. George Elementary (36,920 minutes) read for the most total minutes.

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

Drive Celebrate Reading All-Stars on Sunday

The Drive’s homestand concludes on Sunday afternoon with a Reading All-Stars Celebration Game for students in Spartanburg, Anderson and Pickens Counties. Be sure to congratulate these hard-working students for their efforts throughout the day!

First pitch is at 4:05 PM, and the pregame festivities begin at 3:00 PM. In addition to receiving a t-shirt, participating in a pregame parade at 3:30 and a book fair, these students will be participating in fun on-field games and presentations throughout the day, and they will get a chance to meet Drive players prior to the game as well.

Stick around after the game for BlueCross BlueShield Kids Run the Bases!

Tickets for Sunday’s game are available now by stopping by the Main Street Box Office, by calling (864) 240-4528 or by CLICKING HERE. 

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

Reading All-Stars Celebrated on Wednesday

The Reading All-Stars Celebration Game for Greenville County elementary and middle school students will be made up at Fluor Field on Wednesday.

The doubleheader begins at 4:00 PM, and game two would start no earlier than 7:00 PM. Both games are scheduled for seven innings in length.

The Reading All-Stars celebration is scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM, where elementary school students will receive their t-shirts for completing the Reading All-Stars program, and middle school students will receive caps and an opportunity to meet Drive players in between games. All students will receive a complimentary book from Public Education Partners and get to participate in an in-game book fair.

Purchase tickets for Wednesday at Fluor Field at the Main Street Box Office, by calling (864) 240-4528 or by CLICKING HERE. 

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

View More

Reading All-Stars Celebrated on Monday Night

The Drive return to Fluor Field on Monday night, and they will team up with Michelin North America to hold the Reading All-Stars Celebration Game for Greenville County students.

First pitch for the game against the Augusta GreenJackets is at 7:05 PM, and the fun begins when the gates open at 6:00 PM. Greenville County students who completed the Reading All-Stars program this school year will be presented with a t-shirt from the Drive and Michelin, and they will also participate in a pregame parade around the Fluor Field warning track at 6:30.

During the game, kids will have the chance to participate in a book fair courtesy of Public Education Partners, who work to improve public education and student achievement in Greenville County Schools.

To purchase tickets, head to the Main Street Box Office, call (864) 240-4528 or CLICK HERE. 

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

Cougars Rank #6 in Charitable Giving Among All MiLB Teams

GENEVA, Ill. – The Kane County Cougars have been ranked #6 among all 160 Minor League Baseball (MiLB) for their charitable giving throughout the 2017 season, per the MiLB Charities Report which was released last week by the league. Collectively, MiLB clubs reported nearly $40 million in cash and in-kind donations, the highest in MiLB Charities history.

“When you find yourself ranked #6 out of #160 that is special, no matter the category,” said Cougars owner Dr. Bob Froehlich. “Then when you realize the category in is charitable giving among all of Minor League Baseball, it becomes so special that no words can describe how proud we are of what our Foundation has meant to Kane County.”

Of the nearly $40 million, the Cougars contributed $949,926 among their various charitable campaigns throughout the season. The Cougars charitable giving is highlighted by many different programs throughout the year including the Al Mueller Memorial Scholarship Fund which awards local college students working to further their education, Paramount Fence Home Runs for Charity program, the Cougars Reading Club, as well as the Cougars Summer Reading Program, the Highland Salutes program supports both active duty military and veterans along with participation in MiLB’s inaugural “Es Divertido Ser Un Fan” initiative that aimed to connect Hispanic/Latino baseball fans with their local teams.

Click here to view the full MiLB Charities Report.

Moving towards the 2018 season, the Cougars are pledging to increase their charitable giving via the new history-making “A Million Smiles Campaign.” Announced on Monday, the Cougars are the first MiLB team to set a charity fundraising goal of this magnitude. Each dollar donated throughout the season will provide a much-needed smile for those in need. Fans are encouraged to participate in the charitable giving campaign throughout the year by purchasing 50/50 raffle tickets with proceeds benefitting various local charities, participating in the Pitch In for Charity promotion on fireworks nights, purchasing a Legacy Brick to be displayed at the main entrance of the ballpark, registering for the 7th Annual Cougars 5K on May 19 or selecting the Kane County Cougars Foundation, Inc. as their favorite charity on AmazonSmiles.

For more information about A Million Smiles campaign, visit www.kccougars.com.

The Cougars 2018 season begins on Thursday, April 5 at 6:30 PM against the Clinton LumberKings. For more information, including the full schedule of theme nights, entertainment acts and giveaways scheduled, visit kccougars.com.

Follow the Cougars on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates on tickets and promotions.

About the Kane County Cougars

The Cougars, Class-A Minor League affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, have been at the forefront of family-friendly entertainment since 1991. In 2015, the franchise became the first Class-A team in Minor League Baseball history to welcome 11 million fans through the gates. A total of 161 former Cougars have reached the Major Leagues including Miguel Cabrera, Nelson Cruz, Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez and Kyle Schwarber.

***

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

“Wild About Reading” program reaches 1 million student milestone

FRESNO, Calif. – “Wild About Reading,” one of the hallmark community initiatives organized by the Fresno Grizzlies through most of the franchise’s history, is celebrating a milestone of over one million students reached through the program. With just shy of 100,000 (and counting) students participating during this school year at 156 schools, the literacy program has grown exponentially in the last six years.

Wild About Reading, which incentivizes students to read frequently beyond just their school curriculum, is now in its 15th year of operation. Reaching elementary schools in five counties (Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced and Tulare), the program has increased the total number of books read by area students by reaching at least 97,000 students each school year since 2012. The program has surpassed 100,000 students in a year three times, and this offseason the total number of students enrolled reached over one million during the life of the program.

Over 160 schools have been involved in the program the last three years – most holding a “kick-off assembly” featuring Grizzlies Mascot Parker T. Bear and Eddie the Owl from EECU. During the 2017-2018 offseason, Parker, Eddie and the Grizzlies’ front office staff staged 205 total assemblies in the five-county area, sometimes doing multiple assemblies for a school. In addition to EECU, other presenting sponsors of Wild About Reading are Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino, PG&E, Savemart Supermarkets and Gar Tootelian.

Since its beginnings in 2004, Wild About Reading has now reached over one million students, with incentives that include:

  • Five Wild About Reading Grizzlies games during the 2018 season, with two (2) complimentary tickets for readers that participate in the program, for reading 10 additional books outside of school curriculum and turning in the bookmark which tracks that progress to the Chukchansi Park ticket office.
  • Outstanding reader awards presented at games to four top students (nominated by teachers).
  • Two students will win a tablet at each Wild About Reading game this season, drawn randomly by seat number.
  • The school with the highest ticket redemption percentage to the Wild About Reading games wins a $500 bonus.

“A couple of seasons ago, we realized the one-million-student milestone was within reach, and it’s a great credit to how excited kids in the Central Valley are about reading,” said Whitney Campbell, director of community engagement and events for the Fresno Grizzlies. “We love having the incentive of Grizzlies baseball to promote more reading, but the students truly put in the time to realize reading is fun, baseball is fun, and combining the two is even more fun.”

Special thanks is also owed to the follow partners in producing the annual “Farm Grown” magazine, the activity and info book that accompanies the program kickoff at each assembly: Fresno Chaffee Zoo, Sun-Maid, Gar Tootelian, Dave & Busters, Farm Credit and Port of Subs.

#Growlifornia 

ABOUT THE FRESNO GRIZZLIES
The Fresno Grizzlies, Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, are a member of the 16-team Pacific Coast League and one of 30 clubs in the world playing the highest level of Minor League Baseball. The team plays at 12,500-seat Chukchansi Park in Downtown Fresno, which is also a year-round community gathering place, hosting myriad other special events beyond Grizzlies’ games, such as concerts, professional soccer and high school sporting events. The Grizzlies will enter the 2018 season – their 21st in Fresno – on the momentum of three consecutive winning seasons, including a PCL and National Championship in 2015. For information on 2018 Fresno Grizzlies season ticket and mini-plans, fans should call the Grizzlies’ ticket office at 559.320.TIXS between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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

Maxwell Elementary student wins the Legends ‘Hit the Books’ Reading Program Bookmark Design Contest

WHITAKER BANK BALLPARK (Lexington, KY) – Legends announce 10 year old LeQuon Greer, a 5th grader at Maxwell Elementary in Lexington, as the overall winner of the bookmark design contest that is part of the Lexington Legends Hit the Books reading incentive program sponsored by Waffle House.

Greer (picture with graphics attached) received a Legends prize pack that included Legends merchandise, a framed Hit the Books poster featuring his artwork, and membership in the 2018 Kids Club. He also will be invited to throw a ceremonial first pitch at a designated Legends game for his school. Bookmarks featuring his artwork will be distributed to students at every school that participates in the Hit the Books program. More than 43,000 students from over 110 Central Kentucky schools take part in the program, which runs through April 1 with bookmark redemption nights throughout the season.

In Hit the Books, a baseball diamond is used to record credit for a student’s reading. For every book a student reads, a teacher places his or her initials on a base. When the student has all three bases and home plate initialed by the teacher, the student may bring a Hit the Books bookmark to the Legends Box Office at Whitaker Bank Ballpark to exchange it for two (2) tickets to a Legends home game designated for their school.

“Hit the Books will continue to be an important part of community outreach for the Legends,” said Dominique Neel, the Legends Hit the Books coordinator and Account Executive. “We enjoy going out to the schools, meeting with students and providing an incentive for their efforts in reading. It’s great to be part of a program that has a positive impact in the educational development of so many students.”

Runners-up in the design contest were Tiffany Setters, 3rd grader at Bourbon Central Elementary in Paris, Kentucky and Audrie Kind, 8th grader at Garrard Middle School in Lancaster, Kentucky. Both of these students (pictures also attached) also received Legends prize packs and opportunities to represent their schools at a game with a ceremonial first pitch opportunity.

The 2018 season is the 18th for Legends baseball in Lexington, and will also mark the 15th year that the Legends have been associated with Hit the Books. Over the course of the program, over 350,000 students have participated in the reading program sponsored by Waffle House.

For more information about the Hit the Books reading program, contact Dominique Neel at dneel@lexingtonlegends.com or (859) 422-7851. The Legends, a Class A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and member of the South Atlantic League, kickoff the 2018 season at Whitaker Bank Ballpark against the Charleston RiverDogs, an affiliate of the New York Yankees, on Opening Day – April 5, 2018. For ticket information, call (859) 422-7867 or visit LexingtonLegends.com. All individual game tickets are now on sale.

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