MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Aquafina Pitch, Hit, & Run Pours Into Modern Woodmen Park

Published on April 22, 2009 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


Thousands of area youngsters will pass through the turnstiles this season with the dream of one day displaying their talents at the professional level. On Saturday, they will get the chance to see what that feels like at Modern Woodmen Park.

The Quad Cities River Bandits will open the gates Saturday afternoon to Quad City Area youth interested in competing in the Aquafina Pitch, Hit, and Run Competition, the official skills competition of Major League Baseball. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and will be followed by the competition from 9:00-11:00 a.m.

"It will be a really exciting afternoon at the ballpark," said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. "We think of the players on the River Bandits as being young, but in reality they have already accomplished more than most by making it this far. Events like Pitch, Hit, and Run give our area youth a chance to showcase their talents and put themselves one step closer to that dream of playing pro baseball."

Saturday's event will be the first of two Aquafina Pitch, Hit, and Run events at Modern Woodmen Park this summer. The individual pitching, hitting, and running champions, along with the all-around champion in each age group at Saturday's Quad Cities area competition, will advance to the Sectional Level of competition to be held on May 16.

The competition is part of a grassroots program designed to provide youth with an opportunity to receive recognition for individual excellence in core baseball skills.

Competitors will be divided into four age groups: 7/8, 9/10, 11/12, and 13/14. The program features four levels of competition, including Team Championships at major league ballparks and the National Finals at the 2009 MLB All-Star Game.

"This promotion offers our young fans a chance to play on the same field as their favorite River Bandits players," said River Bandits Vice President and General Manager Kirk Goodman. "It's not just a walk around the warning track, either. They will have a chance to really show what they can do and it means a lot to us to be able to use our wonderful ballpark to provide this type of opportunity. This is also another great way for the community to take advantage of Modern Woodmen Park outside of River Bandits baseball games."

All participants must bring a copy of their birth certificate and fill out a registration/waiver form prior to the start of the competition. For questions concerning the competition, please contact River Bandits Assistant General Manager Stefanie Brown at (563) 333-2744 or Stefanie@RiverBandits.com.

UP NEXT: The River Bandits continue their road series in Beloit with game two of a four-game set on Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. They will be back at Modern Woodmen Park for a seven-game homestand that begins on Saturday with a live post-game performance by JAIGURU on a Rockin' Saturday that will also be Big Brothers, Big Sisters Night and a Salute to Plumbers, with first pitch scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: Under new ownership and management in 2008, the Quad Cities River Bandits topped 207,000 fans for only the sixth time in team history and the first time in 12 years. Having recently completed one of the most successful seasons in the history of the franchise - and with a renewed dedication to fans, sponsors and the Quad Cities community - the return of the River Bandits has brought a resurgence of support for the team. BanditWear, season tickets and mini-plans, and individual game tickets are on sale for the 2009 season by calling (563) 3-BANDIT or heading to www.RiverBandits.com. But hurry - good seats are going fast!

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from April 22, 2009


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