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PCL1 Sacramento River Cats

Sacramento River Cats Announce Opening Night Roster

April 9, 2009 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Sacramento River Cats News Release


WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. - In conjunction with the Oakland A's, the Sacramento River Cats have announced their 2009 Opening Night roster. The team takes the field tonight in defense of their back-to-back PCL and Triple-A Championships. The team has also announced that top pitching prospect Vince Mazzaro will start tonight's 7:05 season-opener against the Tacoma Rainiers (Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners) at Raley Field. Prior to the game, the team will honor members of last year's club with their championship rings. That ceremony will begin at 6:45. Some highlights from this year's roster:

THE NEXT BIG THING - The Cats roster is loaded with top prospects from the A's organization, including Mazzaro (one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball) and starting pitcher James Simmons, a former first round pick. In total, four of the A's top ten prospects start the year on the Cats' roster (Mazzaro, Aaron Cunningham, Gio Gonzalez and Simmons).

ALL IN THE FAMILY - River Cats' reliever Jared Lansford is the son of former A's third baseman and current San Francisco Giants 3rd Base Coach Carney Lansford. The younger Lansford made his debut with the River Cats during last season's playoff run.

HOME GROWN - Left-handed reliever and Elk Grove native Brad Kilby returns for his second season with the team in 2009. Kilby is a graduate of Laguna Creek High School and his brother, Bryan, is a baseball coach at Elk Grove's Franklin High School.

BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK? - Sixteen (16) members of the Cats' Opening Night roster (including active and inactive players as well as members of the coaching staff) were part of last season's championship club, including tonight's starter Mazzaro. However, only four (4) players/coaches were part of the team's last two title-winning teams (Pitching Coach Rick Rodriguez, Hitting Coach Brian McArn, Reliever Jeff Gray and Infielder Gregorio Petit).

Individual tickets for Opening Night and all games this season at Raley Field are currently available at the Raley Field Ticket Office or online at Rivercats.com. Premier seating at every River Cats game throughout the 2009 season can be secured through purchase of River Cats Full Season Tickets, Mini Plans or Group Packages. 2009 River Cats Season Tickets or Mini Plans can be purchased at the Raley Field Ticket Office or by calling the River Cats Ticket Hotline at (916) 371-HITS (4487). For more information about the 2009 River Cats season, visit www.rivercats.com. For information on other events at Raley Field, visit www.raleyfield.com.

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