MWL1 Kane County Cougars

Kane County Cougars Homestand Preview: Christmas in July this Friday

Published on July 25, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release


GENEVA - The Kane County Cougars, Class-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, kick off a three-game homestand beginning Wednesday evening against the Cedar Rapids Kernels, a Los Angeles Angels affiliate. Homestand highlights include a Christmas in July theme night on Friday, Peanut-Free Night and Ozzie's Birthday Bash on Thursday, and a "Winning Wednesday" Night for fans at the homestand opener. Tickets are available for each game on the upcoming homestand by calling (630) 232-8811 or visiting www.kccougars.com.

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Wednesday 7/27 Cedar Rapids Kernels (Angels farm team) 6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)

- Pre-game performance by DanceQuest of Plainfield

- Winning Wednesday - first 1,500 adults age 21 and older receive a scratch-off card eligible for various prizes

- Half-price reserved seat tickets ($5)

- National Anthem - Joe Price

- Take Me Out to the Ballgame - IPMG

- Fans can run the bases after the game

Thursday 7/28 Cedar Rapids Kernels 6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)

- Peanut-Free Night - no peanuts or peanut-related products will be available, to benefit children with peanut allergies

- Ozzie's Birthday Bash - appearances by Chicagoland mascots

- Pre-game performance by Geneva Park District

- Pre-game performance by Elite Martial Arts

- National Anthem - Daugherty Group

- Post-game fireworks show (Coldplay music theme)

- Fans can run the bases after the game

Friday 7/29 Cedar Rapids Kernels 7 p.m. (gates open at 6 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (6:45 p.m.)

- Christmas in July theme night

- Christmas Dinner served in Super Suite (advance reservations required)

- Pre-game parade with Santa

- Commemorative Christmas ornaments and water bottles for the first 1,500 fans, compliments of Fox Valley Orthopedics

- Pre-game performance by Dance Encounter

- In-game contests include Gift Wrapping and Ugliest Sweater contests

- National Anthem - West Towns Chorus

- Take Me Out to the Ballgame - led by CallTele Inc.

- Post-game fireworks show (Christmas theme)

- Fans can run the bases after the game

Homestand Notes

Winning Wednesday kicks off homestand: Fans can win big and save big for this Wednesday's game. The first 1,500 fans age 21 and older through the gates will receive a scratch-off card for valuable prizes including free tickets, souvenir shop discounts and even $1,000. Fans can also take advantage of $5 reserved seat tickets that night as well. "Winning Wednesdays" for the remainder of the season are August 10 and August 17.

Do You Hear What I Hear? With Chicagoland baking in the hot summer sun and humidity, the Cougars are paying homage to the most wonderful time of the year this Friday as the organization celebrates Christmas in July on July 29. As part of the 7 p.m. game that evening, the Cougars have the following yuletide fun planned. Fans can enjoy an appetizing Christmas dinner featuring turkey, ham, potatoes, vegetables, salads, assorted sodas, dessert and more (reservations required). The special dinner will take place inside the Cougars' climate-controlled Super Suite on the upper deck level. Commemorative Christmas ornaments as well as water bottles will be given to the first 1,500 fans through the gates, courtesy of Fox Valley Orthopedics. Fans can meet and have their picture taken with Santa, as well as take part in a pre-game parade with Jolly St. Nick. Fans are asked to stop by the Customer Service booth on the stadium's concourse to make a submission for the "Ugliest Sweater Contest". Other in-game contests include a caroling competition and a gift-wrapping contest. Fans can enjoy a post-game fireworks show choreographed to Christmas music! Fans are also asked to bring new, unwrapped toys that will make Christmas a little brighter for families throughout Chicagoland.

Playing ball without peanuts: The Kane County Cougars will play without peanuts as the organization hosts their annual Peanut-Free Night, to benefit families and children with peanut allergies, on Thursday, July 28 at the 6:30 p.m. contest. No peanuts or any peanut-related product made with nut ingredients will be available throughout Elfstrom Stadium that evening. All concession stands, as well as the stadium seating bowl and stadium grounds, will be cleared to make the evening as safe as possible for fans. Additionally, players from both teams will refrain from using foods containing peanuts or peanut ingredients.

Also, as part of Ozzie's birthday bash that evening, Ozzie will be welcoming some of his closest mascot friends to Elfstrom Stadium for the game. Mascots will be performing during some of the between-innings breaks and entertaining the crowd following the game.

Team Notes

The Cougars (17-12) have continued a strong month of July, and currently lead the Midwest League's Western Division by one game over the Quad Cities River Bandits. The team concludes its road trip this evening in South Bend, and tonight's game will be the final matchup against an Eastern Division team for the remainder of the regular season. The Cougars' offensive barrage has continued, as the team has slugged 28 home runs in 29 second half games after hitting 31 home runs in 69 first-half games. Cheslor Cuthbert has hit safely in 40 of his 48 games as a Cougar and is batting .332, second-best behind Brian Fletcher (.337). Eight of Brett Eibner's 25 hits this season are home runs. Despite a sub-4.00 ERA, Cougars pitcher Leondy Perez is 2-11. Excluding games that have included rain delays, Wednesday's 15-inning win over West Michigan was the Cougars' longest of the season (4 hours, 44 minutes). On the mound, Greg Billo's 1.40 ERA is a minor league-best currently. In fifteen of Billo's 19 outings this season, he has allowed either one or no runs.

Alumni News: Adrian Gonzalez ('01) continues to write the story to an MVP season. The Red Sox first baseman is batting .346 (2nd best in MLB) with 17 home runs and a Major League Baseball-best 82 RBI. Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett ('00) is currently 9-3 and his 2.07 ERA is second-best among A.L. pitchers. Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz ('03) drove in a career-high eight runs in Friday's win over Toronto. It was the second eight-RBI game in the major leagues this season. Dontrelle Willis ('02), allowed three earned runs in 6.1 innings last night against Atlanta. In three starts this season for the Reds, Willis is 0-1 with a 3.73 ERA. Pitcher Jeff Gray ('06), who was signed by Seattle earlier this summer, has made eight appearances out of the Mariners' bullpen. A's infielder Jemile Weeks ('08) continues to put forth an impressive rookie campaign. Through 39 games, Weeks is batting .316 as the leadoff hitter in the A's lineup and six of his last eight games have been multi-hit efforts. Jermaine Mitchell ('07) has hit safely in 15 of 18 games with Triple-A Sacramento (A's affiliate) since being called up in early July from Double-A Midland. Michael Choice ('10) has belted 27 home runs at Class-A Advanced Stockton (A's), tied for fourth-best in Minor League Baseball. Former Midwest League MVP Jeff Baisley ('06) is batting .315 with 18 home runs and 75 RBI for Triple-A Salt Lake (Angels affiliate). (statistics through games played on July 24)

Where's Ozzie? Ozzie T. Cougar is scheduled to make upcoming appearances in the community at the following locations:

Friday, August 5 from 4-5 p.m. - Sears Child Development Center (Hoffman Estates)

Saturday, August 6 from 11 a.m.-Noon - Communities in Schools Back to School Fair (Aurora)

Check out the Kane County Cougars Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from July 25, 2011


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