Conger Reads at Millcreek Library

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Bees catcher Hank Conger spent Thursday morning reading to children at Millcreek Library as part of a Salt Lake Bees Storytime event.

Conger entertained the children while reading several books, including a story about dinosaurs playing baseball. After reading, he answered questions and signed autographs.

The 24-year-old California native and Angels’ top catching prospect reiterated the importance of reading and how to make it fun.

Bees players have visited libraries across the Wasatch Front during the 2012 season to help promote reading while continuing the team’s strong tradition of community involvement.
This article originally appeared on the official website of the Salt Lake Bees. Click here to view the original story.

Shoemaker Visits Shriners Hospital

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During the team’s last homestand, starting pitcher Matt Shoemaker made a visit to the in-patient wing of Shriners Hospital for Children – Salt Lake City. Shoemaker went room-to-room, spending time with patients and their families. He also took photos and signed autographs for the children.

“It was fun to see the kids smile and be able to interact with them,” said Shoemaker.

Shriners Hospitals for Children® – Salt Lake City provides state-of-the-art medical care in a family-centered environment. The colorful, light-filled hospital is designed to let children with a host of orthopaedic and neuromusculoskeletal disorders learn new skills, make friends and receive care in a safe, supportive and high-tech setting. Every staff member – from surgeons to therapists, nurses to orthotists – is dedicated to helping children achieve their best quality of life.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Salt Lake Bees. Click here to view the original story.

Efren Navarro Visits With Youth

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Efren Navarro knows what it is like to want to give up, but more importantly, he knows what it takes to keep going.

On Monday morning, Navarro visited with youth in the Observation and Assessment program of Utah’s Juvenile Justice Services in South Salt Lake City. He offered insight into what it is like to play professional baseball, to live out a dream and what it takes to make it happen.

“Now is an important time in your lives. You are figuring out who you are and deciding what you want to be. You don’t want to live your life with regrets,” Navarro stressed. “Work hard to achieve your dreams and don’t give up.”

Navarro also emphasized the importance of education. He shared stories of when he was in high school and not taking school as seriously as he should have. But too many people believed in him and would not let him give up so easily.

He told them that changes don’t just happen overnight even once you decide you want to make that change. It can be hard and frustrating. His advice, “keep working. And don’t give up.”
This article originally appeared on the official website of the Salt Lake Bees. Click here to view the original story.

Bees to Honor U.S. Military Personnel on Saturday, May 26

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SALT LAKE CITY – The Salt Lake Bees will honor men and women of the United States Armed Forces during Military Appreciation Night, sponsored by University of Phoenix, on Saturday, May 26 as the Bees take on the Las Vegas 51s at 6:35 p.m. The team will wear camouflage jerseys during the event.

The Bees are offering half-priced tickets for Saturday’s game, available to all military personnel and their families who provide military identification at the Spring Mobile Ballpark box office.

The pregame ceremony will include an on-field parachute jump by the Compulsive Flyers, a giant outfield flag display, the presentation of the colors by the United States Marine Corps and the performance of the national anthem by the 419th Fighter Wing Anthem Choir from Hill Air Force Base.

A concourse booth will be open throughout the game to allow fans an opportunity to send a message via postcard to active military personnel. The 419th Fighter Wing Anthem Choir will also perform “God Bless America” during the seventh-inning stretch and a postgame fireworks show will begin at the conclusion of the game.

The Salt Lake Bees return home for an eight-game homestand beginning tomorrow, Friday, May 25 against the Las Vegas 51s at 6:35 p.m. 2012 Bees season tickets are on sale now with prices starting at just $432 per person. For more information, call (801) 325-BASE or visit slbees.com.

 

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Salt Lake Bees. Click here to view the original story.

Over 12,500 Students to Attend Prevention Dimensions Day on May 15

SALT LAKE CITY (May 12, 2012) – The Salt Lake Bees, in conjunction with the Utah State Office of Education, will host Prevention Dimensions Day at the Bees vs. Albuquerque Isotopes game on Tuesday, May 15 at 10:35 a.m. The Bees will welcome over 12,500 students to this ninth annual event at Spring Mobile Ballpark which promotes drug and alcohol prevention.

The fifth and sixth grade students in attendance will enjoy an opening ceremony featuring more than 400 Utah elementary students. Also participating in the program will be Bountiful native Tade Biesinger, star of Broadway’s hit show “Billy Elliot,” Utah’s First Lady, Jeanette Herbert, and Verne Larsen from the Utah State Office of Education.

In addition, the Bees are teaming up with the Utah Food Bank in an effort to promote service through the Prevention Dimensions curriculum while encouraging students to donate a canned food item upon entry.

Prevention Dimensions is Utah’s Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities lesson set, which supports the Utah State Office of Education pre-kindergarten through 12th grade health core. The program began in 1982 as a joint effort between the Utah State Division of Substance Abuse, Utah State Department of Health, Utah State Office of Education, and Utah State PTA, and has been revised several times since. The mission of PD is to give students a strong foundation of effective violence and substance abuse prevention skills.
This article originally appeared on the official website of the Salt Lake Bees. Click here to view the original story.

Bees Players Participate in Miracle League Game

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“If I were to tell you about an organized youth baseball league, you might call it ordinary. If I were to tell you the athletes are physically and mentally challenged, you might call it touching. If you were to see them play, you would call it a miracle.”

That is the precept of The Miracle League Association. Helping children with mental and physical disabilities play the game of baseball with the assistance of buddies, there are currently over 250 Miracle League Organizations across the country and over 200,000 children and young adults with disabilities participating in these leagues.

Last Saturday morning, three Bees players participated as buddies with two teams in Salt Lake’s Miracle League. Outfielder Doug Deeds and right-handed pitchers Matt Meyer and Loek Van Mil took turns pitching, helping in the field and encouraging the youth as they made their way around the bases.

The kids were ready to play and full of enthusiasm. Deeds said, “Enthusiasm is a good word because they are living every day to the fullest. The kids are just out there playing the game and getting a lot of joy from it, doing things like running the bases and being part of a team.”

After the game, each of the kids received a baseball autographed by the players and took pictures with the players.

“Most kids are shy and timid at first then they start to warm up and give you high fives and by the end they want you to sign some autographs. It’s great seeing these kids out here,” said Meyer. “It’s great to see the kids’ faces light up and it brings you back to when you were playing as a little kid. Those memories are forever so it’s great to spend time with them.”

For more information about the Miracle League visit miracleleague.com.
This article originally appeared on the official website of the Salt Lake Bees. Click here to view the original story.

McAnulty and Conger Meet With Utah’s JJS

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Hank Conger knows about challenges.

The 24-year-old Salt Lake Bees catcher was drafted out of Huntington Beach, Calif., in the first round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Conger went from being an 18-year-old kid still living at home to being a professional baseball player out on his own within one month’s time.

Thursday, Conger spent part of his morning talking to a group at the Wasatch Youth Center in South Salt Lake about the difficult times he has encountered in professional baseball. Conger also answered questions from the crowd of around 40 youth about topics ranging from how he hits a baseball that comes at him so quickly to how he interacts with his teammates after a win.

“One of the biggest things I’ve learned as far as myself and my actions that I display is that I respect myself and, at the same time, I respect the team, the Bees, the Angels,” said Conger. “You look at yourself and respect yourself first. You tend to make better decisions in your life when you do that.”

Bees infielder/designated hitter Paul McAnulty met Wednesday morning with a group of youth at the Decker Lake Youth Center in West Valley City.

McAnulty talked about choices and how they lead you to where you are. He told the group about his choices, especially those he made earlier in his life, and how they have helped him achieve his dream of playing professional baseball.

“Choices lead you to where you are today. Some people might say it was your situation or your circumstance, but I believe you were in that situation or circumstance because of your choices,” said the Oxnard, Calif. native.

McAnulty continued with a reminder, “Don’t let other people tell you that you can’t do something. You can do or be whatever you want.”

The Bees are in the fifth year of the team’s mentoring program with Utah’s Juvenile Justice Services (JJS). The program includes player visits to facilities as well as inviting JJS groups to the ballpark for a player-given tour and tickets to a Bees game.
This article originally appeared on the official website of the Salt Lake Bees. Click here to view the original story.

Owlz Support Little League Teams

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As the Pioneer League affiliate of Angels Baseball, the Owlz have enjoyed a long standing tradition of excellence on the field. The Owlz have qualified for the playoffs in each of the 11 seasons the team has been in existence, and been fortunate enough to capture 4 Pioneer League Championships. Many of the fundamentals that have helped our players find success on and off the field were learned playing Little League Baseball.

The Owlz would like to help your team as they prepare for the upcoming season. As part of the special offers for your team the Owlz are proud to offer a 20% discount off your order from our online store, The Perch. The discount applies to all items in the store including sale items! This coupon code can be used by your players and also by friends and family members of your team as they help cheer on the next generation of Owlz players. To receive your coupon code, please contact Owlz General Manager Brett Crane by sending an e-mail to brett@oremowlz.com.

We also would like to feature your team on our website. Once you have taken a team photo, please send it to brett@oremowlz.com along with a brief 2-3 sentence description of your season highlighting your record and labels featuring your players and coaches.

We always love hearing about our Owlz teams from around the country. We wish you the best of luck with your upcoming season, and appreciate your support of Orem Owlz Baseball!

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Orem Owlz. Click here to view the original story.

Tour de Habitat

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The Orem Owlz and Habitat for Humanity of Utah County will be teaming up on Saturday, June 11 at 6:30 p.m. for the Third Annual Tour de Habitat, Lakes to Peaks Bicycle Ride. Owlz mascots Hootz and Holly will be the guests of honor to kick off the Family Ride which will be part of the pre-parade activity for the Orem Summerfest. Those participating in the Family Ride will receive reserved seating for parade viewing later that evening, an event t-shirt, and Owlz 2011 game tickets. For more details and to register please visit www.habitatuc.org/events/tour-de-habitat.html.
This article originally appeared on the official website of the Orem Owlz. Click here to view the original story.

Bees Receive ASA Award

Salt-Lake-Bees-LogoThe Salt Lake Bees have been named the recipient of the 2009 American Spirit Award (ASA) in an announcement made today by the United States Air Force.

The club will be presented the award by Col. Michael Brice, Vice Commander of the Air Force Recruiting Service, on Saturday, August 22 following the Bees game and prior to the fireworks show.

US-Air-Force-LogoThe ASA is the United States Air Force Recruiting Service’s highest form of recognition, designed to recognize civilians or civilian organizations that have consistently displayed obvious and continual support of Air Force recruiting efforts and exhibition of patriotism and service to our country.

“We are honored to receive this award and appreciate the recognition from the United States Air Force,” said Bees General Manager Marc Amicone.  “The Bees have always been strong supporters of the men and women of our nation’s armed services and we will continue our part in honoring the sacrifices for freedom given on our behalf.”

The Bees are recognized for the club’s effort during the 2009 season including Military Appreciation Night on May 29 and the Airman’s Opener on June 1 to kick off 2009 Air Force Week in Salt Lake City.

Highlights of the Airman’s Opener included a KC-135 Tanker and four F-16 fighter aircraft fly-by over the ballpark and a Wings of Blue parachute drop to present the game ball.

“The Salt Lake Bees’ tremendous support has given us the opportunity to inform and educate the American public about their Air Force. In turn, that support has opened doors to many American youth, allowing them to serve their country in the world’s greatest Air Force,” said Col. Brice.  “I am looking forward to presenting this prestigious award to a great community partner Saturday evening.”

This is a first-time award for the Bees and the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies. The Bees are also just the second Triple-A baseball team to ever receive an ASA.

The first ever American Spirit Award was presented in the fall of 1980 to entertainment legend Bob Hope. Other well known recipients of the ASA include Dolly Parton, Jerry Reinsdorf, Paul Harvey, Rudolph Giuliani, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Indianapolis Colts.

Bees Take Baseball to Shriners Hospital for Children

Salt Lake Bees players Terry Evans, Adam Pavkovich and Brandon Wood left Spring Mobile Ballpark in the dust Wednesday morning for a visit with patients at Shriners Hospital for Children.

A temporary home to nearly 20 children with special orthopedic needs, today’s Shriners’ patients ranged from those with spinal cord injuries, broken bones and missing limbs. The Bees players brought in their own rehabilitation for the children, playing catch, shooting hoops, playing ping pong and just plain chatting it up. The near two hour visit was a positive for both the players and the patients. “It was a great opportunity to come up here today. I had fun getting to know the children and their families,” said Wood.

Outfielder Terry Evans knows that “it’s easy for people to lose perspective of the struggles that some have to go through. Anything that we can do to brighten a kid’s day and help them forget they’re in a hospital or about to have surgery or whatever, we’re happy to do it.”

The players took photos and left autographed photos with the children.

Brandon Wood enjoyed visiting with patients at Shriners Hospital.