Division-Leading Worcester Opens Cutters Homestand Monday

June 11, 2005 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Haven County Cutters News Release


The New Haven County Cutters return home on Monday for a weeklong homestand which starts with four consecutive night games against the Can-Am League's South Division-leading Worcester Tornadoes.

It will be the first time the Cutters will play a team in their division and it will be the Yale Field regular season debut for Worcester, which is managed by onetime Boston Red Sox All-Star catcher Rich Gedman, a Worcester native. Pitching coach Bobby Ojeda also spent several seasons in the major leagues, and was a member of the 1986 New York Mets World Series championship team that defeated Gedman's Red Sox.

The series against the Tornadoes will be the start of a period in which the Cutters play 20 of their next 26 games against South Division opponents.

Brockton, which features another former Red Sox great, pitcher Dennis (Oil Can) Boyd, comes to New Haven next weekend. Boyd, now 45, made a name for himself during the mid to late 1980's as a colorful and successful pitcher. He last pitched in the major leagues in 1991, and hung up his spikes six years ago before making a comeback with Brockton this spring.

The homestand finale on Sunday, a 2:05 p.m. game, will include a special Father's Day catch held after the Cutters-Rox game. Dads and their sons and daughters will want to bring their gloves so they can participate in tossing the baseball around Yale Field.

The homestand schedule, including promotional activities, is as follows:

Monday 7:05 Worcester-Italian Night Tuesday 7:05 Worcester Wednesday 7:05 Worcester Thursday 7:05 Worcester-Tribute to the ‘80s/KC101 Thirsty Thursday Friday 7:05 Brockton-Girl Scout Sleepover/Post game Fireworks Saturday 7:05 Brockton-Star 99.9 Cash Chaos Sunday 2:05 Brockton-Kids Eat Free Sunday/WEBE 108 Family Fun Day/Ronald McDonald Birthday Bash/Father's Day Catch

Tickets for Cutters home games can be purchased online at www.CuttersBaseball.com, by calling 203-777-5636 or by visiting the Yale Field box office.

Rico Brogna to Throw Out First Pitch on Italian Night

Former major league first baseman Rico Brogna will throw out the first pitch for Monday's Italian Night.

Brogna, who was recently named the head baseball coach at Post University in Waterbury, has been involved with Connecticut sports ever since retiring from the big leagues in 2001. He was the head football coach at John F. Kennedy high school in Waterbury and the head baseball coach at the Salisbury School. Before taking over the baseball helm at Post, he was the wide receivers coach at Wesleyan University in Middletown.

Brogna played for Detroit, the New York Mets, Philadelphia, Boston and Atlanta during his nine-year career. He hit 20 or more home runs four times and batted in more than 100 runs in back-to-back seasons with the Phillies in 1998 and 1999 in addition to being one of the top defensive first basemen in the league.

Home Run Derby to Be Held June 20

The Cutters are giving fans 16 and older a chance to swing for the fences at Yale Field Monday night, June 20. Both individual participants and teams of five are welcome to take part in the Home Run Derby starting at 6 p.m., and if hitting monstrous home runs is asking too much of some contestants, prizes will be given out to those who hit the balls in specially placed targets around the field.

The team with the highest point total will be crowned Home Run Derby champion and be awarded a night in a Cutters luxury suite for a home game. The top five individual hitters (most home runs in one registered at bat) will return for a final round later in the season to compete in a five-pitch swing-off prior to the Cutters' game to determine the premier slugger of the competition.

The derby, which is sponsored by Clear Channel radio stations KC101, WELI, and WAVZ, will have an entry fee of $25 per participant and $125 for each team. A portion of proceeds from the evening will benefit the Ronald McDonald House.

Complete rules and regulations can be found at www.CuttersBaseball.com or by contacting the Cutters (203 777-5636).



Canadian American League Stories from June 11, 2005


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