Adopt-a-Field Program Back in 2014

Nominations Accepted Through April 4, Voting Begins April 6

Moosic, Pa. – There’s something special about a baseball diamond. Add kids to the scene and you have the storybook home run. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) hope to help area youth enjoy America’s pastime all the more with the 2014 edition of the team’s Adopt-a-Field Program.

What began a few years ago with two teams getting the annual makeover, one each from Lackawanna County and Luzerne County, has blossomed into a four-field program. In 2014, that will consist of one high school field, one softball field, and two youth fields. Field nominations should be sent to the RailRiders’ community relations manager Rachel Mark (rmark@swbrailriders.com). Entries from both Lackawanna and Luzerne counties will be accepted and they should include both photos of the fields in need of renovation and related contact information.

The RailRiders will select the top five fields in each category. From there, online voting will determine the winners. The voting will run from April 6-13 with the victors announced on April 14.

“We want every kid in our community to play at their own version of PNC Field,” said RailRiders team president/GM Rob Crain. “That means a high-quality field that can be properly maintained for years to come. I love this program. We as a franchise are committed to doing what we can for our neighbors and this is one of the most fun and directly impactful efforts we can provide. We owe a lot of thanks to Bob Seltzer at Fisher & Son, Company and Pro’s Choice for their generous donations of materials to make this all possible.”

The program affords an individualized evaluation and athletic field maintenance clinic to the chosen sites. More than the initial facelift care of the RailRiders’ raw manpower and expertise, the teams will be taught how to keep up that same professional-level look for years to come.

“This is a great opportunity to provide those maintaining local fields with the knowledge needed to maintain a safe and beautiful playing surface,” said the team’s director of field operations, Steve Horne. “Many leagues don’t have the tools, manpower or guidance needed to keep their fields in good shape. Hopefully, after our crew comes in to help get them started, we can develop a plan that will benefit the leagues and their players for years to come.”

Media members and fans will be invited to document and watch the progress throughout the day at each site. The first makeover will take place on April 29. Other dates and all sites will be announced at a later date once voting concludes.

The RailRiders’ 2014 season begins on Thursday, April 3 when the club kicks off a seven-game road trip at Syracuse against the Chiefs (Washington Nationals).The home slate commences a week later on Thursday, April 10 when the Chiefs visit PNC Field for a four-game series and homestand. For season ticket information or to book a ballpark group outing, call (570) 969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.

– SWB RailRiders – All Aboard! –

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees. Click here to view the original story.

LITTLE KIDS, BIG STARS PROGRAM NEW FOR 2014

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Brooklyn, NY – March 24th – Spring is finally here, and that means baseball season can’t be far behind. After the winter we’ve had, little leaguers throughout the city are chomping at the bit to get back on the field and throw baseballs instead of snow balls. With that in mind, the Brooklyn Cyclones have introduced the all-new “Little Kids, Big Stars” Program to highlight the best and brightest in youth baseball and softball from the five boroughs and Long Island.

Saturday, April 12th and running through Saturday, June 7th, coaches can nominate one player from their team every week by visiting BrooklynCyclones.com. Every week, the Cyclones will pick five winners from those submitted who will be named the “Little Kids, Big Stars” of the week.

“We are really excited for this new program,” said Cyclones Vice President Steve Cohen. “It is designed to recognize those children who truly have a passion for the game. This year MCU Park will host the New York-Penn League All-Star Game, so we thought it was a great opportunity to highlight the all-stars from not just the NYPL but from youth baseball and softball leagues all across the Metropolitan area.”

What makes a Big Star? The program is open to boys and girls between the ages of five and fourteen, and winners will be selected based on the following criteria:

  • Passion for baseball / softball.
  • Sportsmanship.
  • Serves as a leader on the team.
  • Positive attitude.
  • Helpful to coaches and teammates.
  • Skilled on the field of play.

The team program isn’t looking to highlight just the best players from around the city, but instead, looking to highlight the best examples of what it means to have a passion for the game of baseball/softball.

Each of the winners will receive an exclusive invitation to a baseball clinic with Cyclones players and coaches, tickets and on-field recognition prior to our June 29th game vs. Staten Island, access to the field for Cyclones Batting Practice, a chance to throw out a first pitch, a commemorative t-shirt and recognition in the Cyclones 2014 game program.

To submit your nominations — CLICK HERE.

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

Learn From the Pros at BlueClaws Youth Baseball Camp

Three sessions available in 2014; registration now open

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LAKEWOOD, NJ – Young players can learn the game from the pros at the annual BlueClaws Youth Baseball Camps in 2014 where BlueClaws players serve as instructors to youngsters at FirstEnergy Park.

The BlueClaws Youth Baseball Camp is open to players ages 7-12 and there are three sessions available:
Session I: Thursday, July 10th & Friday, July 11th.
Session II: Thursday, July 24th & Friday, July 25th.
Session III: Monday, August 4th, Tuesday, August 5th, Thursday, August 7th, & Friday, August 8th.

Camp each day runs from 9 am – 12 pm and includes lunch from 12 pm – 12:30 pm, an autograph session with BlueClaws players on the last day of camp, BlueClaws merchandise, and one ticket to the BlueClaws game on Wednesday, August 27th.

The camp will cover all aspects of the game, with emphasis on hitting, base running, fielding, throwing, pitching, and position work. The objective of the camp is to instill the fundamentals of baseball, promote good sportsmanship, and create an enjoyable learning atmosphere for all.

Registration is now open and can be made by calling Kevin Lodge at 732-901-7000 ext 146 or by returning this registration form. Sessions I and II are $100 while Session III is $175.

– BlueClaws –

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

2014 San Jose Giants Summer Camps Now Open for Registration

Two Camp Sessions Scheduled for summer at Municipal Stadium

The San Jose Giants announced today that they will host their eighth annual Summer Camps June 16-19 (Session 1) and July 28-31 (Session 2) at Municipal Stadium. Both camp sessions will focus on developing baseball skills for boys and girls ages 8 through 14.

The San Jose Giants recognize the importance of individual instruction and are committed to having numerous instructors on-hand. Camp participants will receive the most personal interaction and focused attention possible as all camps will maintain a 10:1 camper to coach ratio. The coaching staff will be led by John Rally, current San Jose Giants Ticket Services and Youth Development Program Manager.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to help develop young athletes’ baseball skills and also teach them to apply those lessons to their lives off the field,” said Rally. “Municipal Stadium is a place where prospects come to further their quest of becoming a Major Leaguer. My hope is that these camp sessions will assist our participants in realizing and furthering their dreams of someday playing here in a Giants uniform.”

During each session, campers will work on all fundamentals of the game with a focus on base-running, hitting, throwing mechanics, catching, and fielding. Both camps will run from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM each day and cost $295 per camp prior to May 1. Following May 1, the cost to register will increase to $315 per camp. Included in the registration price, each camp participant will receive tickets for the entire family to a designated San Jose Giants game, Summer Camp T-Shirt, lunch provided each day, and over 20 hours of baseball instruction! To learn more about the San Jose Giants Summer Camps visit sjgiants.com, call (408) 297-1435 ext. 4501, or email JohnRally@sjgiants.com.

Registration and payment for San Jose Giants Summer Camps will take place through sjgiants.com. Click here to begin registration and payment. Please note that registering your child is not complete until both the form and payment have been completed.

First pitch for the San Jose Giants home opener will take place at 7:00 PM on Thursday, April 10 against the Bakersfield Blaze. San Jose’s 2014 season begins on Thursday, April 3. The Giants will host games at Municipal Stadium on Mother’s Day (May 11), Memorial Day (May 26), and Independence Day (July 4).For information on the 2014 season and ticket packages please visit sjgiants.com, call (408) 297-1435 or visit the Municipal Stadium Box Office Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

2014 San Jose Giants Summer Camps

This article originally appeared on the official website of the San Jose Giants. Click here to view the original story.

Youth Field Renovation Nominations Sought

Email Kelly Gooley by Friday, March 21 for consideration

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The IronPigs are currently seeking nominations for local little league fields that need field renovations this spring. Please email Kelly Gooley at kgooley@ironpigsbaseball.com with your contact information by Friday, March 21 at 12 p.m. to garner consideration.

The winning youth little league organization will receive a complete infield renovation from IronPigs head groundskeeper Ryan Hills and members of the IronPigs front office staff! The IronPigs will assist in all facets of this renovation in an effort to get your league ready for the upcoming season.

For more information, please contact Kelly Gooley at kgooley@ironpigsbaseball.com or call (610) 841-1213.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Click here to view the original story.

Dusty Wathan Hosting Catching Clinic on March 30th

Fightins skipper to teach advanced catching skills for up-and-coming catchers

Fightins manager Dusty Wathan will be hosting a catching clinic on March 30th from 5:00 to 6:15 p.m. for catchers ages eight & up. (Ralph Trout)
Fightins manager Dusty Wathan will be hosting a catching clinic on March 30th from 5:00 to 6:15 p.m. for catchers ages eight & up. (Ralph Trout)

As the Reading Fightin Phils prepare for the 2014 season, manager Dusty Wathan is giving local youth catchers a chance to do the same for their respective baseball seasons at the Dusty Wathan Catching Clinic on Sunday, March 30th from 5:00 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. The clinic will provide players ages eight through college aged the opportunity to work on advanced catching skills with the Fightins skipper.

Sign-up to Wathan’s coaching clinic cost $60 per person and $50 per person if you sign up three or more individuals. To reserve your spot in the clinic, sign up via Fightins.com or call 610-370-BALL.

A former major league catcher, Wathan had a 14-year career playing in the Seattle Mariners, Florida Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Indians, and Philadelphia Phillies minor league systems. He made his major league debut in 2002 with the Royals, going 3-for-5 with an RBI in three games.

Wathan is heading into his seventh season managing at the minor league level where he has a record of 138-146 in the past two seasons as manager of the Fightin Phils. Since he took over the reins in 2012, Wathan has seen 14 of his players, including Darin Ruf, Cody Asche, and Jonathan Pettibone, go on to make their debuts in the majors. He has also had a major hand in the development of standout Phillies catching prospects Cameron Rupp, Tommy Joseph, and Sebastian Valle.
This article originally appeared on the official website of the Reading Fightin Phils. Click here to view the original story.

Bradenton Boosters Make Annual Donation

Money Assists Pirates Charities in Manatee County Efforts

Bradenton, Fla. – The Bradenton Boosters today presented their annual donation to Pirates Charities. The club’s officers presented a check for $35,000 to Pirates Senior Director of Florida Operations Trevor Gooby before the Spring Training game against the Philadelphia Phillies at McKechnie Field.

The Bradenton Boosters have volunteered at Pirates Spring Training since 1969. Members of the Boosters work as ushers, program sellers, parking lot attendants, and several other roles at McKechnie Field and Pirate City. The Boosters annual donation has helped to grow several Pirates Charities programs in Manatee County, such as the Fields for Kids program and the Miracle League of Manasota.

Pirates Charities is the official philanthropic arm of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Since its creation in 2006, Pirates Charities has made focused financial contributions to causes benefitting youth health, fitness, and education. For more information about Pirates Charities visit www.Pirates.com/community.

For more information about the Pirates Spring Training, call 941-747-3031 or visit www.Pirates.com. To purchase tickets to the game call 877-893-2827 or visit the McKechnie Field Ticket Office on weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., or Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

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

ValleyCats announce youth field renovations

Four fields to be renovated in under 24 hours

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TROY, NY- The Tri-City ValleyCats, with the support of BlueShield of Northeastern New York, will renovate four youth ball fields in less than 24 hours on Thursday, April 17. As part of the ‘4 in 24’ program, Schenectady Little League, Twin Town Little League, Berne-Knox-Westerlo Little League, and Spring Youth Baseball, will all receive renovations to their playing surface.

In 2014, Little League Baseball and the New York-Penn League each celebrate their 75th anniversary. Additionally, Schenectady will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the original Schenectady Little League’s World Series win in 1954. The Michigan Avenue field, which will receive the renovation, was home to the 1954 team. In a statement issued by the Schenectady Little League Board of Directors, the league expressed its gratification on being selected:

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our league and our community. We now have the opportunity to give this field a much-needed makeover, that will enable us to begin the transformation of the Michigan Avenue complex into a monument to be looked upon in the years to come as a positive influence in our city, and to our baseball community. We are humbled by this decision, and look forward to partnering together with both the Tri-City ValleyCats and our community, to make this a positive experience for our young athletes.”

Twin Town Little League, the ValleyCats neighbors across the street from “The Joe,” and Berne Knox-Westerlo Little League, will also celebrate Little League’s 75th anniversary with a brand new playing surface.

Twin Town will receive the renovation on the field where it plays all of its championship games, and most all-star tournament games.

“For years we have wanted to make significant repairs to our Williams Road No. 2 field, but have not had the resources. This will truly make it our signature field. Twin Town Little League is excited to partner with the ValleyCats on such a special project that will serve children in the community for years to come,” said Bob Schuman, President, Twin Town Little League.

The field in Berne felt the effects of Hurricane Irene, and has never been the same since.

“Fixing our field has been on the league’s wish list for at least six years. It has only gotten worse over that time, to the point where it has become a safety concern,” said Kevin Toomey, President, Berne-Knox-Westerlo Little League. “We are a small league with an equally small budget, so getting this done was going to be a real challenge for us. We managed to buy some good baseball dirt a few years ago, but Hurricane Irene came through a few months later and took it all away. To have someone come in and take care of this all at once is a dream come true.”

Spring Youth Baseball has been part of the Troy community since 1955, and provides house and competitive travel baseball to children from 3-12 years old.

“We are honored, excited and grateful for being selected by the Tri-City ValleyCats for the ‘4 in 24’ field renovation program. It will allow our organization to improve field conditions and maintain a fun, safe atmosphere for kids to continue to learn the game of baseball at all levels. The kids that play ball at Spring and for the Renegades will surely be excited to step onto a field that the Tri-City ValleyCats are responsible to help renovate.”

This spring will be the fourth straight season of the ‘4 in 24’ project, and continues to be one of the ValleyCats most important yearly initiatives.

“Each year the ‘4 in 24’ project provides an opportunity for our front office to get out into the community and support today’s youth by refurbishing ball fields. We couldn’t do it without the outstanding support of BlueShield of Northeastern New York, who shares our deep commitment of giving back to our communities,” said Rick Murphy, Vice President / General Manager, Tri-City ValleyCats.

In 2012, the ValleyCats and BlueShield of Northeastern New York formed a strong community partnership known as the Community Grounds Crew, an expanded initiative to assist local youth leagues with maintenance and upkeep of their fields throughout the spring and summer. Their mission is to provide the youth of the Capital Region with a safe place to play, learn, grow, and most importantly, have fun.

“BlueShield is proud to continue our support for the third year,” said Dr. Kirk Panneton, regional executive and medical director, BlueShield of Northeastern New York. “This initiative aligns perfectly with our corporate mantra, ‘healthy changes everything.’ Playing on a safe and well-maintained field is good for our region’s children, and it’s good for our community. We congratulate the Tri-City ValleyCats for their continued maintenance of more than 10 fields that have been transformed.”

The four fields will receive brand new sod, bases, a home plate and pitcher’s mound, and the baselines will be measured to the correct specifications. The entire scope of the project will be completed in one day.

The efforts will also be aided by the support of Admar Construction, who will provide the necessary equipment to complete the renovations. Other support comes from the New York-Penn League Charitable Foundation, whose contributions come from past events held at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Tri-City ValleyCats. Click here to view the original story.

Popular Dash Baseball Academy returns in 2014

Children ages 5-12 will learn from players, coaches at BB&T Ballpark

For a third consecutive season, BB&T Ballpark will host three sessions of the Dash’s Youth Baseball Academy, powered by The Hitting Zone. Young baseball players between the ages of 5 and 12 will interact with Dash players and coaches while improving their hitting, pitching and baseball skills during the three-day session.

The cost for each participant is $120 for the entire session. In addition to the baseball training, each student will receive lunch all three days, along with a Dash t-shirt and hat. Plus, all participants will receive two tickets to a Dash game during their session. At this game, they will be recognized for their work during the academy.

The Baseball Academy runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on three consecutive days. Here are the three sessions’ dates, along with the day of the Dash game to which each student will receive two tickets:

Session 1: July 7-9 (Dash game on July 9)
Session 2: July 16-18 (Dash game on July 16)
Session 3: August 12-14 (Dash game on August 14)

To register for this year’s Baseball Academy, fill out the registration form, which is available here.

For more information on the Dash’s Baseball Academy, call Nick Jones at (336) 714-6891.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Winston-Salem Dash. Click here to view the original story.

Threshers Support Local Little Leagues

The Phillies Organization Has Been Active In Youth Baseball

At the Opening Ceremonies for the Clearwater Little League (City of Clearwater)
At the Opening Ceremonies for the Clearwater Little League (City of Clearwater)

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Clearwater Threshers have always been involved in the community. Nowhere is this more evident than with the local Little Leagues. The Phillies’ support of youth baseball stretches back decades, and this season is off to a great start.

Saturday, Feb. 15, was the reopening of the Sid Lickton Complex and opening ceremony for the 2014 Clearwater Little League season. On hand to celebrate the event was the Threshers’ very own Phinley, as well as Clearwater Mayor George Cretekos, two-time Olympic champion Michele Smith and Phillies’ first baseman Ryan Howard.

The Threshers sponsor teams in many local Little Leagues – including Clearwater, Countryside, Safety Harbor, East Lake, Largo, Palm Harbor, South Brandon, and West Pasco Girls Fastpitch Softball.

In addition to team sponsorship, the Threshers take part in league opening ceremonies and host end of season parties at Bright House Field. Teams also have the opportunity to participate in Baseball Buddies and accompany Threshers players on the field for the National Anthem.

The Threshers also have their Lil Anglers Club, for children 13 and under that meets during every Tuesday Home Game. Some highlights of Lil Anglers Club membership are an official T-Shirt and visor, as well as admission to and a meal deal for every Tuesday home game. Members also can run the bases after and participate in a parent/kid catch before every Tuesday home game.

For more information on how to get your team involved, contact Dan Madden at the Threshers, 727-712-4403.

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

Nationals Donate Pfitzner Stadium Field Tarp to University of Mary Washington Baseball Program

Potomac Nationals Pay it Forward with Field Tarp Contribution to Division III UMW Baseball

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Woodbridge, VA-The Potomac Nationals have donated their Pfitzner Stadium field tarp to the University of Mary Washington Baseball program (Fredericksburg, Virginia) in an ongoing effort to bolster the resources of amateur and collegiate baseball in the Northern Virginia region.

The University of Mary Washington Eagles compete in the Division III Capital Athletic Conference at V. Earl Dickinson Stadium and will play 29 regular-season home games in 2014.

Dickinson Stadium holds a seating capacity of over 1,000 fans and is one of the finest facilities in all of NCAA Baseball.

“Any time the Potomac Nationals can positively impact another baseball program in our community, our club is going to jump at that opportunity. We are glad to donate our field tarp to the University of Mary Washington Baseball program, and we trust it will complement their terrific facility in a way that will minimize the amount of games postponed or lost due to the elements,” said Potomac Nationals Vice President/General Manager, Josh Olerud.

University of Mary Washington Baseball Head Coach, Wayne Riser reached out to the Nationals in advance of the Eagles’ home opener on February 15th to inquire about the availability of the Potomac Nationals’ field tarp.

“Everyone involved with our program is immensely appreciative of the generosity of the Potomac Nationals and especially the efforts of Mr. Olerud,” said UMW Head Coach, Wayne Riser.

“This tarp will benefit UMW Baseball student-athletes for years to come and is a great boost to our program.”

Riser coordinated with Olerud to arrange for members of the University of Mary Washington Baseball team to make the drive from Fredericksburg to Woodbridge to load the tarp on a flat-bed vehicle and haul it back to the Home of the Eagles.

“We are grateful to the Potomac Nationals for their recent donation of a tarp for our baseball facility,” said UMW Director of Athletics Ken Tyler.

“We appreciate the club’s generosity and engagement with UMW Athletics, and we hope our student-athletes and fans will support the Potomac Nationals this season.”

The University of Mary Washington Baseball team is off to a red-hot (4-1) start to the 2014 campaign and is riding a four-game winning streak as of February 28th.

Call the University of Mary Washington Athletics Ticket Office at 540-654-1039 for tickets to see UMW Baseball in action or head to www.umweagles.com for more information.

About UMW Baseball

One of the most successful NCAA Division III baseball programs in the nation, the University of Mary Washington has tasted nothing but success in its 26 year history, building a tradition as a power in the Middle Atlantic region and in the ultra-competitive Capital Athletic Conference. The Eagles are poised for success again in 2014, as second-year head coach Wayne Riser, who won more than 500 games at Shepherd University prior to coming to UMW, has the Eagles knocking on the door of national accolades.

The program has been among the elite in the region since its inception in 1988, winning 10 conference tournaments and advancing to 11 NCAA Division III Tournaments. In addition, 15 former Eagles have gone on to play professionally, with ’13 grad Mike Straub joining the group for the 2014 season, as he will pitch for Alpine in the Independent Pecos League.

The Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League play at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Virginia, and are the Class-A Advanced affiliate of the Washington Nationals. P-Nats 2014 season tickets and mini plans are now on sale. Sponsorship opportunities for the 2014 season and beyond are available. Plan your corporate outing now for the 2014 season to see the future stars of the Washington Nationals at The Pfitz as the P-Nats offer discounted group rates and all-inclusive picnic options. Visit the P-Nats online at www.potomacnationals.com or call the Potomac Nationals Ticket Office at 703-590-2311 for more information!

 — Potomac Nationals —

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

Return of Community Events

The Rome Braves announced today the return of two community wide special events at State Mutual Stadium, home of the Rome Braves. On Friday March 21st and Saturday March 22nd, the Rome Braves High School Invitational will be held for the third consecutive year. This year joining the Floyd County High Schools in competition will be Calhoun High School, Darlington School, Rome High School, and the defending GHSA-AAA State Champions, Cartersville High School. On Friday Armuchee High School will take on Calhoun High School at 6pm. The schedule for Saturday will feature Coosa High School vs. Darlington School at 11am, Model High School vs. Rome High School at 2:45pm, and Pepperell High School vs. Cartersville High School at 6:30pm. Gates will open 1 hour prior to the first schedule game each day. “We’re excited to announce the addition of these four baseball programs into our Invitational,” said Rome Braves General Manager, Michael Dunn. “It’s always a good day when we’re able to showcase and support local high school baseball.”

This two day Invitational directly benefits these local baseball programs based on their team’s ticket sales. Fans can purchase tickets directly from their favorite participating teams through March 14th and the team that sells the most tickets receives an additional donation from the Atlanta Braves Foundation for their baseball program. Tickets are $5 per person and seating is general admission for all games. After the 14th, tickets can be purchased through the box office at State Mutual Stadium.

Following the Invitational, in April, the Rome Braves will host the 2nd Annual No Excuses 5k and 10k in memory of Scott Hines. This yearly race benefits the Braves Miracle Field of Rome. Competition will take place on Saturday April 19th at 8am and is a part of the R.A.C.E. Rome series. In the inaugural race, almost 300 runners crossed the finish line at home plate to support baseball for disabled kids and adults in Northwest Georgia. Through programming at the Braves Miracle Field of Rome, over 100 athletes have suited up to play baseball during the first two seasons. A weekly school league is also available to special education classes in the area. No athlete is turned away due to the financial constraints. For more information contact Erin Elrod at 706-368-9388 or click here and sign-up online.

The Rome Braves 2014 home opener is Thursday April 10th at 7pm against the Savannah Sand Gnats, an affiliate of the New York Mets. Tickets go on sale Saturday March 8th at 9am.

 

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

Gwinnett Braves to Host High School Showcase II

Coolray Field set to host 22 of the premiere high school baseball teams in the area from Feb. 22 to March 15

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LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – The Gwinnett Braves will host the second annual High School Baseball Showcase at Coolray Field beginning on February 22. For four consecutive weekends from February 22 through March15, the home of the G-Braves will host 22 of the top high school baseball programs in the Atlanta metro area.

Last season, the Gwinnett Braves hosted a two-day event, and with the hard work of the front office staff and commitment of the high school baseball teams in the area, the G-Braves have expanded the showcase into a five-day, four-weekend event. The showcase will be jam-packed with talented squads, as 15 of the 22 participating teams earned postseason berths and accumulated winning marks in 2013.

“We are happy to continue this tradition of high school baseball at Coolray Field,” said Gwinnett Braves General Manager North Johnson. “The expansion of the game schedule shows the commitment of our staff in making these games available to all the schools in the Atlanta metro area. One of our goals at Coolray Field is to make these games accessible to all the schools in the area and we are very happy that schools from all across the area are taking part in this showcase.”

The event will kick off with North Gwinnett High School and Providence Christian High School, as they play at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 22. North Gwinnett features left-handed pitcher Tucker Baca, who is committed to Arizona State University and is ranked the No. 92 high school prospect according to Baseball America. Providence Christian is coming off a 15-win season and a playoff berth. The nightcap will feature Archer High School and Lanier High School at 4 p.m. Both schools are relatively new to the baseball fold, as their programs have been around for less than five years. Each school is quickly building into an elite power, including Lanier, who is coming off a school-best 18-win season in 2013.

On Saturday, March 1, Coolray Field will be loaded with baseball action, hosting four games from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Buford High School, who is coming off of a 21-12 season, will match up against Hebron High School at 11:30 a.m. Holy Innocents High School and Lambert High School, two teams that made it into the second round of the Georgia State playoffs in their respective regions last year, will face off at 1:30 p.m. South Forsyth High School and Dunwoody High School will meet at 4 p.m., and the day will conclude with a battle between Kennesaw Mountain High School and Northview High School at 6:30 p.m.

The showcase will continue the following weekend with three more games. On Friday, March 7 at 4 p.m., Peachtree Ridge High School will play North Forsyth High School. Last season, Peachtree Ridge finished second in the region with an 11-3 record, but fell in the second round of the 7-AAAAAA playoffs. North Forsyth won 12 games in 2013 and finished sixth in their division.

On Saturday, March 8, Mountain View High School and South Gwinnett High School will play each other for the second straight season at Coolray Field. Last year, the Comets won a tightly contested battle 7-6 over the Bears. Right after that game at 6:30 p.m., Norcross High School and Grayson High School will take the field. Both squads come into 2014 following stellar seasons, as each finished atop their respective conferences and qualified for the playoffs a year ago.

The showcase will conclude on Saturday, March 15 with another twin-bill starting at 11 a.m. The first contest will feature East Cobb Academy and the Home Plate Citadels, while the second game pits Johns Creek High School against Loganville High School at 1:30 p.m. Johns Creek went 18-7 last season, reaching the AAAAAA playoffs before losing to Norcross, while Loganville went 26-8 before falling in the quarterfinals of the AAAAA playoffs.

“This is a great opportunity for our players to play on the best playing surface in all of Triple-A baseball and to play in such a beautiful venue against a perennial high school power like Loganville,” said Johns Creek Head Baseball Coach Billy Nicholson. “Our whole baseball community is looking forward to a great day of baseball!”

Tickets will be available at the Coolray Field Ticket Office on the day of the games only. Adult tickets are $10 and student tickets with ID are $5 for the day. For more information about the event or how to purchase tickets, contact the Coolray Field Ticket Office at 678-277-0340 or visit gwinnettbraves.com.

The Gwinnett Braves will begin their sixth season of play on Thursday, April 3 at Durham. The G-Braves’ 2014 home opener at Coolray Field will take place on Friday, April 11 against the Durham Bulls. Season tickets for the 2014 campaign are on sale now by calling the Coolray Field Ticket Office at 678-277-0340. For more information on 2014 season ticket packages, visit gwinnettbraves.com/2014.

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COUNTDOWN TO THE 2014 HOME OPENER (Friday, April 11, 7:05 PM vs. Durham): 52 Days

The Gwinnett Braves are the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. Follow the G-Braves at gwinnettbraves.com, facebook.com/GwinnettBraves1 and twitter.com/GwinnettBraves. For more information on 2014 Season Tickets, call the Coolray Field Ticket Office at 678-277-0340 or visit gwinnettbraves.com/2014.

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

Scrappers Host High School Valley All-Star Classic

Saturday, June 14

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NILES, OH – The Mahoning Valley Scrappers are excited to announce they will be hosting the second annual High School Valley All-Star Classic, presented by Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods and media partners 21 WFMJ and WBCB, on Saturday, June 14, 2014 at Eastwood Field. The High School Valley All-Star Classic will feature elite high school players from the Mahoning Valley. 

Tickets for the High School Valley All-Star Classic will go on sale on March 1st and will be $5 for General Admission Seats. They will be available at the Eastwood Field Box Office, by calling 330-505-0000 or online at www.mvscrappers.com.

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers are the Short Season Single A Affiliate of the Cleveland Indians and play all home games at Eastwood Field. Notable alumni include C.C. Sabathia, Vinnie Pestano, Jason Kipnis, and Victor Martinez. For more information about individual game tickets, ticket packages or group outings visit www.mvscrappers.com or call the front office at (330) 505 – 0000.  

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. Click here to view the original story.

Centennial Bank, Naturals honor our Community Heroes

Nominate a local hero for public recognition at a Naturals game this season

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals and Centennial Bank are proud to announce the return of our Centennial Bank Community Heroes program, which will seek to honor individuals who have done something excellent for their hometown or organization.

Centennial Bank Community Heroes are individuals who have gone above and beyond in terms of community service and helping others. Those that are selected during the season will receive on-field recognition during a pre-game ceremony at a TBD Naturals’ home game, four (4) complimentary Super Premium tickets, and a “Community Heroes” award courtesy of Centennial Bank. Winners from previous seasons include students, teachers, military members, first responders, clergy members, and businesses that have served their community in a positive manner.

“The Naturals are proud for the third year to honor those that are making a difference in our community,” said Naturals General Manager Justin Cole. “We are excited to continue this partnership with Centennial Bank and look forward to welcoming this year’s recipients and their guests.”

Youth baseball volunteers whom have gone above and beyond are being sought to help get the program started this year. For the first night of the Centennial Bank Community Heroes – on Opening Night on Thursday, April 10th, a hero will be selected to take the field and receive pre-game recognition as the Naturals’ starting lineup is introduced to the crowd. For Opening Night nominations of someone that has impacted your life, please submit your form by no later than April 3rd. Centennial Bank Community Heroes will accept nominations throughout the season and be awarded at each home game. All those selected will receive four (4) super premium tickets.

If an honoree wants to attend the game accompanied by a large group, the Naturals will make group rates available for advance purchase for groups of 20 or more in addition to the four complimentary tickets.

For those interested in nominating a member of their community, a printable form is available at nwanaturals.com.   Once the form is completely filled out, you may either fax or email it to the Naturals at the numbers listed on the form or drop it off at any Centennial Bank location in Northwest Arkansas.

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Season of Naturals Baseball begins Thursday, April 3, 2014 in Frisco, TX. The team opens at Arvest Ballpark on Thursday April 10, 2014 against the same Frisco RoughRiders.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Naturals play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, AR. For more information including statistics, ticket options, and more, please visit NWANaturals.com, and follow us on Twitter @NWANaturals and Facebook.com/Naturals.

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This article originally appeared on the official website of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Click here to view the original story.