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ESPN Filming Feature Story on Yuma Scorpions

June 30, 2009 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Yuma Scorpions News Release


Yuma, AZ. June 30, 2009: The Golden Baseball League announced today that ESPN will be filming the July 4th and 5th games at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma, Arizona as the Yuma Scorpions play the North Division leading Calgary Vipers. The feature story that the sports network is producing details Edgar and Edinson Renteria's efforts to improve and elevate baseball in their native country of Colombia and the extraordinary story of the Colombia Professional Baseball League affiliating with the Yuma Scorpions this season and providing a full slate of their top players and coaches to compete in one of the premier professional independent minor leagues in the U.S.

The Scorpions players hail from all parts of Colombia and include several players with professional experience in the U.S. -- inlcuding pitcher Emiliano Fruto who is one of seven Colombian players to play in the major leagues along with four others with AAA experience in major league farm systems. The bulk of the team are stars from the top professional league in Colombia that plays in the winter months making them available and eager for the opportunity to develop their game and to be showcased in the Golden League during the summer in a league that sends 20 to 30 players to MLB organizations each season. For many on the team, this is their first time in the U.S. and for some their first time outside of their country. The team started off slow as they acclimated to their new environment, but they have now won three of their last four series and are developing into a team that should compete well for their division title in the second half of the season.

ESPN will be filming before and during both games and, in addition to the game action, will be filming interviews with players, coaches, front office personnel, fans, and local media. Fans are encouraged to bring ESPN signs, Scorpions signs, and to be their usual enthusiastic and boisterous selves as they show their support for their Scorpions and the fabulous Colombian players that they have so warmly adopted into their community for the summer.

Game times are Saturday, July 4th at 7:05 P.M. with a Fireworks Extravaganza following the game, and Sunday, July 5th is a doubleheader starting at 5 P.M. with the "Messin' with the Recession" promo where tickets, hot dogs, and sodas are all two for the price of one.

About The Golden Baseball League The Golden Baseball League, Presented by Safeway Inc./VONS, is the premier professional independent baseball league operating in the western United States, Canada, Mexico. The ten Golden Baseball League teams include the Calgary Vipers in Calgary, Alberta Canada; the Chico Outlaws in Chico, CA; the Edmonton Capitals in Edmonton, Alberta Canada, the Orange County Flyers in Fullerton, CA; the Long Beach Armada in Long Beach, CA; the St. George Roadrunners in St. George, Utah; the Yuma Scorpions in Yuma, AZ; the Tijuana Potros in Baja California, Mexico (on hold for the 2009 season); the Tucson Toros in Tucson, AZ; and the Victoria Seals in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Over 90 GBL players have been acquired by major league baseball or professional international baseball organizations during the last four years and over 60 former major leaguers have played in the GBL including MLB All-Stars Rickey Henderson, Jose Lima, Jose Canseco, and Felix Jose. For general information, please visit our League web site at www.goldenbaseball.com.

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