PCL1 Las Vegas Aviators

51s Host Salt Lake & Intrastate Rival Reno

Published on May 22, 2013 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Las Vegas Aviators News Release


LAS VEGAS - The Las Vegas 51s professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL), Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets, will open an eight-game homestand over the Memorial Day weekend beginning on Friday, May 24 against the Salt Lake Bees, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, at 7:05 p.m. at Cashman Field. The final two games of the series against the Bees will feature matinee contests on Sunday-Monday (Memorial Day), May 26-27 at 12:05 p.m. Las Vegas will then host intrastate rival, the Reno Aces, Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, in a four-game series from Tuesday-Friday, May 28-31, with all first pitches scheduled at 7:05 p.m. The Aces are in their fifth season in Northern Nevada as a Triple-A affiliate and are the defending PCL and Triple-A champions. Reno is the host city of the 2013 Triple-A All-Star Game to be held on Wednesday, July 17 at Aces Ballpark (9,100).

The 51s, under manager Wally Backman, are concluding an eight-game "Midwest" road trip on Thursday afternoon in Des Moines, Iowa against the Cubs, Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Las Vegas, 20-23, is in fourth place in the Pacific Southern Division, 4 ½ games behind the Sacramento River Cats.

2013 ATTENDANCE: In 20 dates, Las Vegas' total is 113,493 for an average of 5,675. Las Vegas' season-high crowds are 11,776 against Round Rock on May 10 and 11,522 for the 10th Annual School Day Game against Albuquerque on May 14 at Cashman Field. The Las Vegas franchise has reached the 300,000 plateau in "home" attendance in all 30 seasons (1983-2012) and the all-time attendance total now stands at 10,100,007. The 51s organization have the proud distinction of being the longest enduring franchise in the history of professional sports in the state of Nevada.

The opener of the homestand on Friday will feature 51s Military Appreciation Jersey Night, sponsored by the USO Las Vegas (United Service Organizations), to the first 2,500 fans through the gates. The 51s have teamed up with the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of the Commerce to celebrate Military Appreciation Night, sponsored by the USO Las Vegas Center at McCarran Airport. The 51s organization thanks the support of the USO Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee and Nellis Air Force Base. The USO lifts the spirits of America's troops and their families. Locally, hundreds of USO volunteers work at the McCarran Center and strive to provide a home away from home for our troops and to keep them connected to their families.

Fans will also be able to learn more about the types of technology being used to protect our country with vehicle displays and demonstrations provided by Nellis AFB. The U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds will also be on hand to sign autographs on the concourse level. In addition, the night will feature a special pre-game ceremony dedicated to the servicemen and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

51s PARTICIPATING IN HATS 4 HEROES (H4H) PROGRAM:

The Las Vegas organization is participating in the national program called Hats 4 Heroes (H4H) in partnership with the Operations Hat Trick (OHT) organization, for the remainder of the 2013 campaign. H4H is a co-branded program that generates royalties that support the recovery, education, and future employment of wounded veterans and soldiers. Beginning on May 24, fans will be able to purchase officially licensed 51s hats that support our American military veterans.

The H4H/OHT program originated as an extension of the OHT program, which was born at the University of New Hampshire to memorialize Nate Hardy and Mike Koch, two U.S. Navy SEALs lost in Iraq (2008). The original initiative was focused on producing collegiate hats that could be provided to soldiers that suffered head injuries. This focus, and the program's roots in ice hockey, provided the inspiration for the Operation Hat Trick name. Since its humble beginnings, the OHT program has evolved into a national program with participation by more than 90 universities throughout the country and a new objective of raising funds for wounded soldiers and veterans.

OHT hats are produced under license by '47 Brand, one of the country's leading Major League Baseball headwear manufacturers. In the initial product roll out, '47 Brand is offering two Las Vegas 51s/OHT hat styles; to include adjustable camouflage and team color versions. The 51s have partnered with '47 Brand to donate 10% of the Sales Price of these hats sold through the month of May, to Hats 4 Heroes. The hats will be available for sale at the Las Vegas Team Store at Cashman Field and online at www.lv51.com beginning May 24.

51s Sunglasses Night, to the first 2,500 fans through the gates, will be presented on Saturday, May 25 and the gates will open at 6 p.m. for the 7:05 p.m. first pitch.

Sam's Club Family 4-Pack Night will be featured four times during the 2013 season (Saturday, May 25; Saturday, June 15; Friday, July 12; Friday, August 9). The 4-Pack consists of: 4 tickets to the game; 4 hot dogs & 4 sodas; 4 Las Vegas 51s Hats. The ticket packages are priced at $48 (Reserved); $56 (Plaza) and $64 (Field). The Family 4-Packs are available by calling the 51s office at (702) 798-7825.

Value Menu Monday will be presented on Memorial Day (May 27) in the series finale against the Bees. Monday "home" games will feature a "Value Menu" for the fifth straight season. The 51s and Aramark have teamed together for discounted food items on Hot Dogs, Popcorn, Peanuts, Cracker Jacks and Pretzels for just $1.00 per item.

First baseman Efren Navarro is in his third season with Salt Lake. He attended UNLV and was drafted in the 50th round by the Angels of June 2007 First-Year Player Draft. He made his Major League debut on September 2, 2011 vs. Minnesota and recorded his first MLB hit vs. Texas (2-for-4, double) on September 28, 2011. He is a three-time Angels Minor League Defensive Player of the Year (2008, 2011, 2012) and was the recipient of a Rawlings Gold Glove Award for defensive excellence at his position in 2011.

Budweiser Dollar Beer Night will then be presented in game three of the four-game series against the Aces on Thursday, May 30. Every Thursday home game throughout the 2013 campaign will feature "Dollar Beers." Proper identification and wristbands are required for dollar beer night.

A spectacular postgame "Fireworks Show" will be featured in the finale of the eight-game homestand on Friday, May 31 on UNLV & UNR Alumni Association Night and Habitat for Humanity Night.

In 2009, Las Vegas and Reno developed the Silver State Diamond Challenge and the "Silver Plate Trophy" to add to the excitement to the rivalry for the two PCL teams that represent the state of Nevada. In 2013, Las Vegas leads the 16-game series, three-games-to-one.

CHAMPION OF THE SILVER STATE DIAMOND CHALLENGE:

2009: Las Vegas 51s (series tied 8-8 and won the "Draw of the Cards" between the two Mayors)

2010: Reno Aces (Reno won series 11-games-to-5)

2011: Reno Aces (series tied 8-8, Aces retain trophy)

2012: Reno Aces (series tied 8-8, Aces retain trophy)

Reno's roster features three of the top 10 prospects in the Diamondbacks organization, according to Baseball America: top prospect, left-handed pitcher Tyler Skaggs; third baseman Matt Davidson (No. 4) and shortstop Chris Owings (No. 7).

The 51s will broadcast all games on Lotus Broadcasting on Fox Sports Radio 920 AM, which will carry live all 144 regular season games. Also, all games will be available on the 51s website (Major League Baseball Advanced Media, MLBAM) at www.LV51.com. Russ Langer, the eight-time Nevada Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA), is in his 14th season behind the microphone calling 51s baseball.

All 51s games will also be broadcast on MiLB.TV via LV51.com.

Following the homestand, Las Vegas will embark on an eight-game road trip beginning in Northern California against the Fresno Grizzlies, Triple-A affiliate of the World Series Champion San Francisco Giants, on Saturday, June 1. The four-game series will conclude on Tuesday, June 4. The next scheduled off day for the PCL is Wednesday, June 5. The 51s will then begin a home-and-home eight-game series in the Pacific Northwest against the Tacoma Rainiers, Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, from Thursday-Sunday, June 6-9. The series will continue at Cashman Field beginning on Monday, June 10.

Tickets for all 51s home games can be purchased at the America First Credit Union Box Office at Cashman Field. The box office is open Monday-Friday (non game days) from Noon to 4:30 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased through Ticketmaster (1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com). Ticketmaster outlets are located at selected Smith's Food & Drug.

The individual game tickets for the 72-game home season are priced at $10.00 (reserved, $11.00-Day of Game); $13.00 (plaza, $14.00-Day of Game) and $14.00 (field, $15.00-Day of Game). The traditional $2.00 discount for Military personnel is offered on plaza and reserved seats throughout the season except for the "Fireworks Extravaganza" on Wednesday, July 3 (all seats are priced at $15.00 for this special event).

Season tickets and mini-plan packages (10 & 10-Game You Pick'em, 20, 33-game plans) are available by calling the 51s office at (702) 798-7825.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 22, 2013


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