MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Home Stand Preview Issue 4

Published on May 8, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


The River Bandits return home on Thursday night to begin a short four-game home stand against the Kane County Cougars at Modern Woodmen Park. This marks the first time the Cougars (20-10) visit the Quad Cities this season, as the River Bandits return to the friendly confines after a six game road trip.

THURSDAY NIGHT - OCHO DE MAYO

Show Starts at 6:00

First Pitch at 7:00

Celebrate Ocho De Mayo at Modern Woodmen Park on Thirst-day Thursday where all fountain drinks, beer and even margaritas are half price. In the spirit of the celebration all food in our Mexican-themed stand - Rio Bandito - will also be half price.

The show will feature a burrito eating contest, fans dancing for their dinner, sumo wrestling, and an appearance by El Roofman! You won't want to miss a minute of this historic celebration.

FRIDAY NIGHT - JERSEY OFF OUR BACKS TO BENEFIT THE ALS ASSOCIATION and FIREWORKS FRIDAY PRESENTED BY: KWQC!

Show Starts at 6:00

First Pitch at 7:00

Game two of this home stand features the first jersey auction of the season, as the River Bandits go retro and dawn the 1992 River Bandits home jerseys. Throughout the game fans will be encouraged to bid on the jerseys through a silent auction, and stick around after the game to collect the jersey directly from the player!!! Proceeds from the jersey auction will benefit the ALS Association.

Following the game, guests will be treated to the KWQC fireworks display!

SATURDAY NIGHT - MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT - RIVER BANDITS CAP GIVEAWAY PRESENTED BY ORTHOPAEDIC SPECIALISTS!

Show Starts at 3:30

First Pitch at 6:15

Modern Woodmen Park will be a buzz with military personnel on Saturday afternoon as the River Bandits host our annual Military appreciation night.

Kicking things off at 4:00 p.m. will be the Military all-star baseball team doing battle against a local Quad City area all-star squad, with the first pitch being thrown out by Major General Radin, a four-star General! This five-inning exhibition game will feature a military flyover following the National Anthem, with the game ball being delivered to the diamond by helicopter.

There will also be various military displays in and around Modern Woodmen Park - including a real tank on the premises - giving guests an opportunity to interact with our nation's Armed Forces like never before. One ticket will get you into both the military all-star game at 4:00 p.m. and the River Bandits game that night at 6:00 p.m.

If all of that wasn't enough, Orthopaedic Specialists will be giving away River Bandits adjustable hats to the first 2,000 guests arriving at Modern Woodmen Park when the gates open at 3:00 p.m. You won't want to miss this fantastic, sought-after giveaway item.

SUNDAY - US BANK FAMILY DAY / MOTHERS DAY CELEBRATION

Show Starts at 12:00

First Pitch at 1:00

Help celebrate Mom's day in style by joining us at Modern Woodmen Park on Sunday for a salute to our Mothers. It's also a U.S. Bank Family Sunday, where kids can run the bases and get player autographs following the game, and one lucky kid will have the opportunity to Race the Mascot courtesy of the Dispatch/Argus.

If you haven't been to Modern Woodmen Park this season to enjoy River Bandits baseball - what are you waiting for? Don't regret missing Ocho De Mayo, the hat giveaway, the fireworks show, and spending time with your Mom at the stadium. After all, if you could put fun in a bun... the River Bandits would cure world hunger.

ENJOY THE SHOW!

LAST WEEK:

ROAD TRIP IN REVIEW...

After overcoming a bit of adversity (courtesy of Mother Nature) to finish up a 9-2 homestand on April 30, the red-hot River Bandits hopped on the bus for what turned out to be a rough road trip. The six-game trip started off on a bad note Friday night with a 16-3 loss at West Michigan, the worst loss of the season for Quad Cities. The River Bandits bounced back with a strong win on Saturday, but two days later they ran into the Midwest League's top pitcher, as the Whitecaps' Alfredo Figaro twirled a complete-game shutout and struck out 11. That seemed to send the River Bandits' bats into a tailspin. The road trip concluded in Dayton, where Quad Cities lost the first two games of the series before a rainout shortened the trip by eliminating the final game. Now, the River Bandits are excited to return to Modern Woodmen Park, as Quad Cities is an impressive 11-5 at home this season.

The highlight of the road trip came on Tuesday at Fifth Third Field. Celebrating his 19th birthday, Luis De La Cruz slugged an 0-2 pitch in the sixth inning out of the yard to left-center for his first professional home run. One of the youngest players in the Midwest League, De La Cruz was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 30 prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals' organization.

APRIL PLAYER OF THE MONTH...PETE KOZMA!

The River Bandits had a great month of April, going 15-10 with an astounding 11 come-from-behind victories. Although a number of players had impressive individual numbers, nobody stood out more than SS Pete Kozma. The Cardinals' first-round pick in 2007, Kozma was selected 18th overall out of Owasso High School in Oklahoma and entered his first full season just 19-years-old. On the field, however, he certainly does not look like he is just a year removed from the going to the prom. Kozma hit a whopping .341 in April, leading the team and checking in eighth in the Midwest League. He also scored a team-high 20 runs and belted three homers while driving in 13 RBI. The blue-chip prospect's season-opening month also included an eight-game hitting streak from April 14-23, a stretch in which he hit .375 with two homers and nine runs scored.

APRIL PITCHER OF THE MONTH...SHAUN GARCEAU!

While Kozma was terrorizing opposing pitchers, RHP Shaun Garceau was busy baffling Midwest League hitters. Garceau, who showed flashes of dominance during an up-and-down 2007 season with Quad Cities, shot out of the gates in 2008 with six strikeouts as the Opening Night starter and continued to cruise from there. A hard-throwing 20-year-old from Royal Palm Beach, Florida, the right-hander posted a stingy 2.35 ERA in April. He also struck out 21 while issuing just six walks in 23 innings. Perhaps most impressively, however, Garceau did not allow a single home run in the month of April, a significant improvement from a 2007 season in which he was sixth in the league after yielding 15 longballs. Garceau's early success has already caught the eyes of Cardinals' brass, as he was promoted to the high-A Palm Beach Cardinals following his first May start on Sunday.

WEB POLL...

During each edition of the Homestand Preview, the River Bandits will unveil a new web poll. All you have to do to submit your opinion is head to www.riverbandits.com and chime in on the homepage. The new poll question is below, so cast your vote now!

What May promotion are you most looking forward to at Modern Woodmen Park?

- Throwback River Bandits Jersey Auction to benefit the ALS Association (May 9)

- Military Appreciation Night (May 10)

- Autographed Baseball Giveaway (May 21)

- Cowbell Giveaway and a Rockin' Saturday (May 31)

Check out the Quad Cities River Bandits Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from May 8, 2008


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