Rock Cats Set For Fourth Homestand Of 2008 Season

Published on May 13, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - With the calendar now reading "May" - and rental trucks beginning to criss-cross New England as the annual migration of the region's thousands of students gets underway - the Rock Cats also find themselves on the move. They are coming home to New Britain Stadium on Friday Night (5/16) to begin their 4th Homestand of the Eastern League's 2008 Season. And, in addition to the exciting baseball that will commence in the Hardware City this Friday, Rock Cats fans of all ages will be treated to a wide variety of pre-game entertainment, promotional giveaways, and on-field ceremonies - in-game appearances by two of the country's most talented and popular stadium mascot performers - and a very unique post-game Laser Light Show! Top these activities off with exciting contests for fans - and smiling Kids Running the Bases - and we have all the ingredients for a great deal of fun over the next seven days and nights at New Britain Stadium.

Here are the details related the Rock Cats' 4th Homestand of 2008:

FRIDAY NIGHT, MAY 16th, 6:35 PM:

The Rock Cats will kick off the homestand by welcoming in the Portland Sea Dogs, Eastern League partners of the 2007 World Champion Boston Red Sox. The team that spawned Mssrs. Ellsbury, Pedroia and Buchholz will be with us for a four-games-in-three-days series between Friday night and Sunday afternoon. .And as both the ‘Dogs and ‘Cats have been charging toward the top of the Northern Division in recent weeks, in addition to being an interesting match-up, it will also be a highly competitive one. Once the action on the diamond is settled, fans will be invited to settle back themselves to enjoy the evening's Post-Game Laser Light Show, presented by Stanley Tools.

SATURDAY, MAY 17th - DAY / NIGHT DH - 1:05 PM and 6:35 PM:

There is double-barreled action on Saturday as the Rock Cats will be entertaining the Sea Dogs twice - first in a 1:05 PM, 7-inning affair featuring daytime baseball under the warming New England sun; and then in the regularly-scheduled 6:35 PM contest between the same two clubs. Game 1 - which features an all-you-can-eat All American Barbeque of hamburgs and hot dogs for $10 as well as free Rock Cats/Dunkin' Donuts t-shirts for the first 1,000 fans through the gates - is the make-up date for the two teams' April 4th Rainout. Game 2 - the 6:35 PM affair - will include action under the stars and much more. For example: the very popular stadium act - Dancing Christopher - will be on hand Saturday night for three in-game appearances! His performances make fans of all ages laugh out loud. Also with us - and definitely not a laughing matter - will be the good people from the Washington DC-based Alliance for Consumer Education (ACE), a foundation directed at advising adults and kids about a variety of urgent public health issues. Our shared focus on Saturday night will be Inhalant Abuse, a rapidly growing public health concern that seems to be just under the radar of even the most attentive parents. More than 1,000 everyday household items carry potential dangers for unwary kids and ACE will help raise our collective awareness. The Alliance will be providing attractive Rock Cats logo caps to the first 1,500 through the doors. The red cap, wisely, also contains the ACE logo and website as a stylish reminder of this important family health concern. Finally - after the balls and bats have been put away for the night - the very popular Post-Game Launch-A-Ball action will get underway! Sponsored by AT&T, fans can take a small chance - and win a big prize! And, in the end, everybody wins as the proceeds go to benefit the Rock Cats Foundation, the team's charitable arm! Good stuff all around.

By the way - these two games are separate admission contests - and both will be seven innings in duration.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON, MAY 18th , 1:35 PM:

Portland - i.e., the Red Sox pups (Masterson, Bowden, et al) - will be back for the series' finale at 1:35 PM on Sunday. The on-field baseball action again looks to be exciting - as will the in-game antics of the day's other special visitor - BirdZerk! Mascot Act - presented by our friends at TD Banknorth. The show-biz, sports venue "cousin" of Dancing Christopher, this back-to-back billing with BirdZerk! promises to be greatly entertaining for all members of the family! And family is the focus - as Sunday is Family Fun Day at the Stadium, thanks to our pals at Barnum Financial Group, members of the MetLife Family. Finally, the Sunday afternoon action cannot conclude until all the kids have come onto the diamond for the Post-Game Run of the Bases. Once the last child in line has been "high-fived" by Rocky and called "safe" at the plate, we can all go home...Join us!

MONDAY NIGHT, MAY 19th, 6:35 PM:

With Portland heading North on Route 91, in come the Harrisburg Senators, Eastern League partners of the National League's Washington Nationals. Leaders of the EL's Southern Division since Opening Day, Harrisburg is loaded with talent and managed by the former Mets' catcher, John Stearns...the Rock Cats will have their hands full with this bunch. Their feet may be full as well as it's also Soccer Night at the Stadium, thanks to food and drink sponsors Kayem and Crystal Rock. They are a tasty and refreshing combo! And because of them, the first 1,500 kids (12-and- under) through the gates will receive a free mini-soccer ball. And standing at the front gates to help in distributing those soccer balls will be members of the Red Bull's Major League Soccer team from New York/New Jersey!

TUESDAY NIGHT, MAY 20th, 6:35 PM:

Game 2 of this 4-game set between Harrisburg and the Rock Cats will feature a Hat Giveaway to the first 1,200 adults through the turnstiles, thanks to our friends at AirTemp Mechanical. Moreover, as its Tuesday - it's also Kids Eat Free Night - whereby each child 12-and-under receives a coupon for a free Hot Dog and Mott's Juice Drink upon entry. The kids' food and drink is compliments of the nice people at the Harte Auto Group. Come early - come hungry - get clothed, fed, and thoroughly entertained!

WEDNESDAY NIGHT, MAY 21st, 6:35 PM:

The Homestand's final night game takes place on Wednesday - and again features the Senators from Harrisburg. Stearns' solons will get ready to hit the road after tonight's and tomorrow morning's getaway-day tilt. Beyond the baseball, food and fun will be on the Stadium's agenda this night. It's McDonald's Active Achievers Night at the yard and the first 1,500 kids in the door will receive a free Mini-Playground Ball, courtesy of those under the Golden Arches. Beyond that, its also Family 4-Pack Night - which gets a family of four 4 Reserved Seats, 4 Hot Dogs, 4 Sodas and 4 Popcorns - for just $30! We have our friends at SBLI and NBC-30 to thank for that one!

THURSDAY MORNING, MAY 22nd, 10:35 AM:

The series with Harrisburg and - indeed, the entire 8-game Homestand - comes to a close with this, the 2008 Season's fifth Baseball in Education Day game, with First Pitch scheduled for 10:35 AM. Sponsored again by Dattco Transportation, in addition to the boys from the Keystone State, we'll also have the guys from the Talcott Mountain Science Center on hand to let us know more about the relationship between wind currents and knuckleballs. Not exactly peanuts and crackerjacks, but closer than you might think! Grab a coffee and join us for a glorious morning of baseball.

The New Britain Rock Cats are the AA, Eastern League affiliate of the American League's Minnesota Twins. The Rock Cats play a 142-game schedule each year, with 71 of those games set at affordable and easily accessible New Britain Stadium.

Fans seeking tickets to any game on the Rock Cats' upcoming homestand may secure them by visiting the Box Office at New Britain Stadium (10 AM to 6 PM, M-F; 10 AM to 2 PM, Sat), or by calling the Rock Cats' Ticket Office at (860) 224-8383. Patrons may also get tickets on-line by visiting the club's website at www.rockcats.com.

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Eastern League Stories from May 13, 2008


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