Speaker Change at 11th Annual Hot Stove Banquet
January 29, 2015 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Beloit Sky Carp News Release
BELOIT, WI - On Thursday, February 5, 2015, the Beloit Snappers will host their 11th Annual Hot Stove Banquet at the Eclipse Center in Beloit, Wisconsin. The event will begin at 5:15pm and will offer a cocktail hour, buffet-style dinner, guest speakers, and both live and silent auctions.
Originally, Kent Sommerfeld of the Milwaukee Brewers was scheduled to attend and speak at the Hot Stove Banquet. Unfortunately, due to travel restrictions on the east coast of the United States, severe weather, and his commitment to Marquette University's basketball teams, Kent will no longer be able to attend the banquet.
In his place, Joe Block of the Milwaukee Brewers will be speaking at the 11th annual Beloit Snappers Hot Stove Banquet. Joe Block has detailed Milwaukee Brewers play-by-play action on radio, alongside Bob Eucker, since joining the club in 2012.
Prior to making his home in Wisconsin, Block crisscrossed the nation, calling more than 1,000 professional baseball games over a decade while living in all four mainland time zones. Block has also worked in the NBA and has described play-by-play for major college basketball and football on regional television networks. He works locally and nationally as a voice actor when his schedule permits. In his free time, Block enjoys playing pickup sports (poorly), touring Wisconsin and involving himself with community outreach projects. A native of Roseville, Michigan, and a graduate of Michigan State University, Block and his wife, Bethany, a registered nurse, reside on Milwaukee's East Side. You can follow Joe on twitter at @joe_block.
Also Fran Riordan, the 2015 field manager for the Snappers will be making his first appearance in Beloit. Riordan spent 14 years managing in independent leagues. Riordan spent the last four seasons at the helm of Florence in the Frontier League, guiding the Freedom to a 190-194 record over that stretch. Riordan is a member of the Frontier League Hall of Fame.
Major League Umpire, Marty Foster will be speaking as well. Foster has been a Major League Umpire since 2000 and was the home plate umpire for the 300th career win of Tom Glavine, on August 5, 2007 at Wrigley Field. He was the second base umpire for Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Matt Garza's no hitter against the Detroit Tigers on July 26, 2010. Also, Foster was at first base in the last game played at the old Yankee Stadium.
This year the Snappers have partnered with Community Action, Inc. to benefit their Fatherhood Initiative. Community Action, Inc. has a positive impact in our community by creating pathways out of poverty. Their Fatherhood Initiative is no exception to this as it has a proven positive influence on both the families it helps and our economy as a whole. They do this by providing the education and resources a fatherless father will need to properly provide and care for his family.
Tickets for the event are $40 per adult and $20 for children 5 through 12. Children under 5 are free. The ticket includes dinner, two box seat ticket vouchers for any April or May Snappers home game in 2015 and the program for the evening. Guests may also purchase a reserved table of 8 for $300. Tickets will not be sold at the door and must be purchased in advance. The event will also feature a live and silent auction of a variety of items from numerous sports teams and local businesses.
Tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling the Snappers offices at 608-362-2272 or by stopping by Pohlman Field at 2301 Skyline Drive in Beloit. Tickets for both the dinner and the program are non-refundable.
The Eclipse Center is located at 1701 Riverside Drive. Doors will open at 5:15 pm for the silent auction and cocktail hour. Dinner will begin at 6:30 pm and the program will start at approximately 7:15 pm.
The Beloit Snappers are a member of the Midwest League and are a Class-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Opening Day at Pohlman Field is set for April 15, 2014 at 6:30 pm when the Snappers face the Quad Cities River Bandits. For ticket information, contact the Snappers office at 608-362-2272 or visit our website at www.snappersbaseball.com.
• Discuss this story on the Midwest League message board...
Midwest League Stories from January 29, 2015
- Speaker Change at 11th Annual Hot Stove Banquet - Beloit Sky Carp
- KidZone Partnership Part of Cougars' Expanded Capital Improvement - Kane County Cougars
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
