MWL1 Kane County Cougars

Kane County Cougars Homestand Preview: May 10-15

Published on May 9, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release


GENEVA - The Kane County Cougars open a six-game homestand on Tuesday that will include the organization ‚¬â„¢s ‚¬Å“Halfway to Halloween ‚¬Â celebration on Friday and Saturday, a Sunday Funday on the 15th, and the first fireworks shows of the 2011 season. Tickets are available for each game this homestand and can be ordered by calling (630) 232-8811 or by visiting www.kccougars.com.

Tuesday 5/10 Beloit Snappers (Minnesota Twins farm team) 6 p.m. (gates open at 5 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (5:45 p.m.)

- Goody Bags for the first 1,500 fans, courtesy of Office Max

- Ozzie ‚¬â„¢s Reading Club parade

- Presentation of Colors ‚¬" Wild Rose Cub Scouts

- National Anthem ‚¬" Lincoln Middle School (Mt. Prospect)

- Fans can run the bases after game

Wednesday 5/11 Beloit Snappers 6 p.m. (gates open at 5 p.m.) www.kccougars.com

- Ozzie ‚¬â„¢s Reading Club parade

- National Anthem ‚¬" Band for Today (Naperville)

- Fans can run the bases after game

Thursday 5/12 Beloit Snappers 6 p.m. (gates open at 5 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (5:45 p.m.)

- Ozzie ‚¬â„¢s Reading Club parade

- AID 50th Anniversary recognition

- National Anthem ‚¬" Graham School (Naperville)

- 7th Inning Stretch ‚¬" led by Lincoln Elementary School (Wheaton)

- Fans can run the bases after game

Friday 5/13 Peoria Chiefs (Chicago Cubs farm team) 7 p.m. (gates open at 6 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (6:45 p.m.)

- Halfway to Halloween theme night, sponsored by Nicor

- Goody bags for the first 1,500 children age 14 and under, courtesy of Nicor

- On-field costume parade at 6:15 p.m.

- Ozzie ‚¬â„¢s Reading Club parade

- National Anthem ‚¬" Long Beach Honor Choir (Montgomery)

- Post-game fireworks show (Halloween theme)

- Fans can run the bases after game

Saturday 5/14 Peoria Chiefs 6 p.m. (gates open at 4 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (5:45 p.m.)

- Halfway to Halloween theme night, sponsored by Nicor

- Goody bags for the first 1,500 children age 14 and under, courtesy of Nicor

- Golf balls for the first 1,500 adults age 21 and older, courtesy of Country Financial

- On-field costume parade at 5:15 p.m.

- Ozzie ‚¬â„¢s Reading Club parade

- Autograph session at 5:30 p.m.

- Presentation of Colors ‚¬" Cub Scout Pack 165

- National Anthem ‚¬" Harrison Street School

- Post-game fireworks show (Halloween theme)

- Fans can run the bases after game

Sunday 5/15 Peoria Chiefs 1 p.m. (gates open at Noon) WBIG 1280 AM (12:45 p.m.)

- Sunday Funday (free activities for kids inside the ballpark beginning at Noon)

- Ozzie ‚¬â„¢s Reading Club parade

- Autograph session at 12:30 p.m.

- National Anthem ‚¬" H.C. Storm Elementary (Batavia)

- Fans can run the bases after game

Homestand Notes

Halfway to Halloween this week: The Cougars will present Halfway to Halloween this Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14. The event, sponsored by Nicor, will provide fans with a variety of Halloween-themed fun on both dates. The first 1,500 children age 14 and under will receive a goody bag when entering the stadium, and numerous trick-or-treat stations will be set up inside the park for young fans to visit. Fans are encouraged to dress in costume and take part in a pre-game parade on the field, beginning approximately 45 minutes before each game. Costume judging will take place during the parade, as the best costumes will be part of an in-game contest to award the best-dressed fan, who will win a $1,000 savings bond from Nicor and the Cougars. After both games, the Cougars will light up the sky for a Halloween-themed fireworks show.

The Halfway to Halloween theme night is one of many theme nights on the Cougars ‚¬â„¢ promotional schedule this season, including Christmas in July, Star Wars Night and Bark in the Park, among others. Fans can visit www.kccougars.com for a complete theme night and promotional calendar.

Ozzie ‚¬â„¢s Reading Club: Ozzie ‚¬â„¢s Reading Club is in its 17th season as more than 400 Chicago area schools and nearly 150,000 students are participating in the reading incentive program. Students read their way through goals set by teachers, and are rewarded with a free ticket to a Cougars game, along with a pre-game parade to recognize their reading achievement. Ozzie ‚¬â„¢s Reading Club concludes at the end of this month.

Sunday Fundays: Fans with tickets for this Sunday ‚¬â„¢s 1 p.m. game will enjoy a Sunday Funday, compliments of Dave & Buster ‚¬â„¢s. Beginning when the gates open at Noon, fans can enter Elfstrom Stadium to participate in a variety of free kid-friendly entertainment. Legoland will be on hand, and kids can even try on a Cougars ‚¬â„¢ jersey. Families attending Sunday Fundays will enjoy $5 KidZone wristbands, valid for each attraction such as the Cougars ‚¬â„¢ obstacle course, moon bounce and giant slide. Various Sunday Fundays throughout the season will also feature clowns, face painters, music, crafts, and other attractions. In addition to this Sunday, other Sunday Fundays scheduled for this season include June 12, June 19, July 10, July 17, August 7 and August 28.

Facebook Night extended: The Cougars have extended the deadline for fans to help the organization make Facebook Night a reality. If the Cougars can reach 5,000 fans on the team ‚¬â„¢s official Facebook page by May 31, the Cougars will create a Facebook Night on July 14. That evening, Facebook fans would get exclusive perks including discounted tickets, the ability to choose parts of the game such as uniform colors, the fireworks music theme, and more. Randomly-selected Facebook fans would also be eligible to throw ceremonial first pitches and be part of on-field contests.

Fans are encouraged to link up with the Cougars ‚¬â„¢ official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/kanecountycougars.

Team Notes

The Cougars (9-21) are hoping to turn the wheels around this afternoon as the team concludes a three-game series in Peoria against the Chiefs. Entering play on Monday, the Cougars have dropped 13 of their last 15 and while the team ‚¬â„¢s starting rotation has posted a 1.74 ERA in its last 10 starts, the team is 2-8 in that span. Alex Llanos was one of two players in the Midwest League through Saturday to have played in all 30 of his team ‚¬â„¢s games before taking a day off on Sunday. The Cougars ‚¬â„¢ newest player is Robert Penny, a right-handed pitcher who joined the team on May 1 from extended spring training. Penny is one of six players from the Royals ‚¬â„¢ 2010 draft class on the Cougars ‚¬â„¢ roster.

Alumni News: Former Cougar and Oakland A ‚¬â„¢s pitcher Trevor Cahill could not be off to a better start. The ‚¬â„¢07 Cougar is 5-0 with a 1.79 ERA (1st in A.L.) so far this season. Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett ( ‚¬â„¢00) is eighth in the A.L. with a 2.35 ERA and opponents are batting a miniscule .162 against him. Boston teammate Adrian Gonzalez ( ‚¬â„¢01) is fourth in the A.L. with 43 hits. Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera ( ‚¬â„¢01) is second in the A.L. with a .444 on-base percentage. Former Cougar and current Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier ( ‚¬â„¢03) saw his hitting streak snapped at 30 games over the weekend. His .371 average is third-best in the National League and he ‚¬â„¢s tied with two other players for the N.L. lead with 49 base hits. Two former Cougars who could be next in line to make a big league debut this season are at Triple-A Sacramento. Catcher Anthony Recker ( ‚¬â„¢06) is batting .337 as the River Cats ‚¬â„¢ primary backstop. His teammate, ‚¬â„¢08 Cougar Jemile Weeks, continues to see his average rise. The infielder is currently batting .337. Stockton Ports infielder Conner Crumbliss ( ‚¬â„¢09-10), who set a Cougars ‚¬â„¢ franchise record for walks drawn last season, leads the California League with 25 free passes.

Where ‚¬â„¢s Ozzie' Ozzie T. Cougar is scheduled to make upcoming appearances in the community at the following locations:

Saturday, May 14 from 11:45 a.m. until 1 p.m. ‚¬" Melrose Park Little League Parade Day (Ruby Field, Melrose Park)

Saturday, May 21 from 8-9 a.m. ‚¬" Batavia Youth Baseball Fundraiser (Rotolo Middle School, Batavia)

Saturday, May 21 from 10-11 a.m. ‚¬" ALS Association Walk (Cantigny Park, Wheaton)

Check out the Kane County Cougars Statistics

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