Slugger Rizzotti Added to Winter Banquet Slate
Published on December 21, 2010 under International League (IL1)
Lehigh Valley IronPigs News Release
(Allentown, Pa.) - Matt Rizzotti -- one of Minor League Baseball's most prolific sluggers last year and a member of the 2010 IronPigs - has been added to the lineup for the 2011 Phillies Winter Banquet, presented by The Air Products Foundation and Coca-Cola. Rizzotti has been added to an expanding lineup that also includes newly-named IronPigs manager Ryne Sandberg and Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. The annual event will take place on Jan. 27 at Billera Hall on the campus of DeSales University.
The Phillies Winter Banquet serves as the primary fundraiser for IronPigs Charities, a non-profit organization striving to provide educational and recreational opportunities for children in the Greater Lehigh Valley area. Since its inception in 2008, IronPigs Charities has donated over $250,000 to the Lehigh Valley community.
The main program for the Phillies Winter Banquet, featuring players and personnel from the N.L. East Champion Philadelphia Phillies, consists of dinner and an open bar, a sports memorabilia silent auction, raffles and an entertainment portion with the special Phillies guests. Tickets remain identical to 2010 and are $80 per person or $725 for a table of ten. Championship tables, allowing patrons entrance to a private pre-event reception that begins at 5 p.m. and the opportunity to mingle with event VIP's are also available.
The event will begin at 6 p.m. with a cocktail hour and commencement of the auctions and raffles. Seat or table reservations are now on sale and available by calling (610) 841-PIGS. Interested parties are reminded that seating is limited and the Winter Banquet has sold out in years past.
Rizzotti skyrocketed through the Phillies Minor League system last year, appearing at three different levels while leading the organization with a collective .343 batting average. The Floral Park, NY native spent a bulk of the year in Double-A Reading and for his outstanding play was named both a mid- and post-season Eastern League All-Star. Originally drafted by the Phillies in the sixth round of the 2007 draft, Rizzotti was hitting .362 with 16 homers and 61 RBI and led the EL in on-base percentage (.452) and slugging percentage (.635) at the time of his August 5 promotion.
Rizzotti battled through a thumb-injury during his month-long stint with the IronPigs, batting 9-for-45 with 3 doubles in just 15 games due to injury. Now fully healthy, he spent the off-season in the prestigious Arizona Fall League, and batted an impressive .333 in the prospect-laden circuit. Recently, he was among five players added to the Phillies 40-man roster.
Rizzotti, who will turn 25 on December 24, was originally selected by Minnesota in the 46th round of the 2004 draft but did not sign.
The Phillies Winter Banquet beneficiary, IronPigs Charities, is a recognized 501(c) (3) non-profit organization on the state and federal level. One of the highlights of the 2011 Winter Tour event is the distribution of grants to local non-profit organizations. Nearly $150,000 has been distributed at this event.
Winter Banquet sponsorship opportunities start at just $1,400 and include tickets to the pre-event reception with Phillies and IronPigs VIP guests. For more information on securing a sponsorship for this event, please call (610) 841-1213.
To renew or order season tickets and mini plans for the 2011 IronPigs season presented by Capital BlueCross, call (610) 841-PIGS or visit Coca-Cola Park's ticket office during normal business hours. The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are dedicated to providing family-friendly entertainment and are the only Minor League team to offer bubbles to fans entering the AT&T Plaza and balloons for all children exiting Coca-Cola Park.
International League Stories from December 21, 2010
- Slugger Rizzotti Added to Winter Banquet Slate - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
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