MWL1 Kane County Cougars

Kane County Cougars Homestand Preview: August 6-12

August 3, 2011 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release


GENEVA - The Kane County Cougars, Class-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, kick off a seven-game homestand beginning Saturday evening against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, a Milwaukee Brewers affiliate. The Peoria Chiefs, a Cubs affiliate, come to Geneva for the final three games of the homestand. Homestand highlights include the Veeck Family "Night of 100 Promotions" on August 11, Radio Disney Theme Night on August 12, and three nights featuring post-game fireworks shows (August 6, 11 and 12). Tickets are available for each game on the upcoming homestand by calling (630) 232-8811 or www.kccougars.com.

Saturday 8/6 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Milwaukee Brewers farm team) 6 p.m. (gates open at 4 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (5:45 p.m.)

- Pre-game autograph session at 5:30 p.m.

- In-game entertainment by Breakin' B-Boy McCoy

- Post-game fireworks show (Popular Music theme)

- Fans can run the bases after the game

Sunday 8/7 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 1 p.m. (gates open at Noon) WBIG 1280 AM (12:45 p.m.)

- Pre-game autograph session at 12:30 p.m.

- Pre-game performance by St. Charles East HS Color Guard

- Sunday Funday - free kid-friendly activities inside the ballpark beginning at Noon

- Wikki Stix for the first 1,500 kids age 14 and under

- National Anthem - The Melodeers Chorus (Northbrook)

- Fans can run the bases after the game

Monday 8/8 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)

- Half-price Monday -- $5 reserved seats and $4 lawn tickets

- Pre-game performances by St. Charles Gymnastics and Fox Valley Park District

- National Anthem - Misty River Music Makers

- Take Me Out to the Ballgame - led by Resurrection Catholic Community

- Fans can run the bases after the game

Tuesday 8/9 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)

- $2 Bellybuster Tuesday; select concessions items are $2

- $5 reserved seats

- Lip balm for the first 1,500 fans, compliments of Dippin' Dots

- In-game entertainment by Jake the Diamond Dog

- National Anthem - Kristi Cichor

- Color Guard - Cub Scout Pack 351

- Take Me Out to the Ballgame - led by Singing Men of Oak Brook

Wednesday 8/10 Peoria Chiefs (Chicago Cubs farm team) 6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)

- Winning Wednesday - first 1,500 adults age 21 and older receive a scratch-off card eligible for various prizes

- Pre-game Roundtrippers reading parade

- In-game entertainment by Jake the Diamond Dog

- National Anthem - Fox Valley Presbyterian Church

- Fans can run the bases after the game

Thursday 8/11 Peoria Chiefs 6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)

- Veeck Family "Night of 100 Promotions"

- Scout Night/Youth Swim Night

- Pre-game scouts and swim club parade

- Pre-game performance by Megleo's School of Dance

- Appearances by Roland Hemond and Mike Veeck

- Cinch sacks for the first 1,500 fans, courtesy of Country Financial

- In-game performances by Nancy Faust

- In-game entertainment by Dave the Horn Guy

- National Anthem - Fremont Middle School Band

- Post-game fireworks show (Disco theme)

- Fans can run the bases after the game

Friday 8/12 Peoria Chiefs 7 p.m. (gates open at 6 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (6:45 p.m.)

- Radio Disney Theme Night

- Appearance by the Radio Disney Road Crew

- Pre-game Disney costume and youth football parades

- Color Guard - Cub Scout Pack 103

- National Anthem - St. John Neumann Praise Choir (St. Charles)

- Pre-game Roundtrippers reading parade

- Post-game fireworks show (Disney theme)

- Fans can run the bases after the game

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Homestand Notes

The fun starts Saturday: The Cougars' seven-game homestand kicks off Saturday with a pre-game autograph session, post-game fireworks show and an appearance by Breakin' B-Boy McCoy, a breakdancing batboy who entertains the crowd between innings.

Sunday Funday on August 7: The Cougars will host another Sunday Funday as part of this Sunday's 1 p.m. game. Free, kid-friendly entertainment begins at noon inside Elfstrom Stadium. The fun includes face painters, balloon artists, craft stations and more. A pre-game autograph session takes place at 12:30 p.m. as well. Sunday Fundays are sponsored by Dave and Buster's, and August 28 will be the final Sunday Funday of the season.

Night of 100 Promotions next week: The Cougars will host a Veeck Family "Night of 100 Promotions" next Thursday, August 11 at Elfstrom Stadium. As part of the 6:30 p.m. game that evening, the Cougars will feature a total of 100 promotions occurring before, during and after the game. The Cougars are also welcoming several special guests as part of the event, as former Chicago White Sox organist Nancy Faust, baseball executive Roland Hemond and sports promotions visionary Mike Veeck are scheduled to attend. Hemond was recently awarded the Buck O'Neil Award as part of the Baseball Hall of Fame festivities in Cooperstown.

Some of the promotions taking place on August 11 will pay homage to several widely-known Chicago ballpark promotions, including a ballpark shower, record-tossing contest, ivy seed giveaway and performance by Nancy Faust.

Spend a little, save a lot: Fans can save some money by taking in a Cougars game this homestand. The August 8 game is a ½ price Monday, as reserved seats are just $5 and lawn tickets only $4. On August 9, fans can enjoy $2 concessions items including hot dogs, small sodas, small domestic draft beers and a selected ice cream novelty. Reserved seat tickets are just $5 on that night, as well as on August 10. The first 1,500 fans age 21 and older attending the August 10 game will receive a scratch-off card that is eligible for various prizes, including $1,000. The Cougars awarded one lucky fan a $1,000 payoff at the July 27 "Winning Wednesday".

Radio Disney Night on August 12: All fans of Disney are encouraged to make plans for next Friday's 7 p.m. game. Radio Disney Night will include a pre-game costume parade for fans wearing Disney attire, a post-game fireworks show choreographed to Disney music, and various in-game fun celebrating the magic of Disney. The Radio Disney crew will also be on hand for music, prizes and more.

Team News: With 33 games remaining in the regular season, the Cougars (22-15) hold the top spot in the Western Division for a second half playoff berth and lead the next playoff-eligible team, the Clinton LumberKings, by three games. Beloit trails the Cougars by five games. Technically, a total of four teams (Kane County, Clinton, Beloit and Cedar Rapids) are within six games of each other and fighting for two second half postseason spots.

The Cougars play all Western Division opponents for the rest of the regular season...the team's 13-6 road record in the second half is the best in the 16-team Midwest League...ten of Brett Eibner's 34 hits this season have been home runs...bullpen pitchers Chas Byrne and Chase Boruff have made 31 appearances this season to lead Cougars hurlers...Greg Billo has allowed just 17 earned runs in 103.1 innings of work. His ERA of 1.48 leads all of minor league baseball's full-season affiliates.

Catcher Ryan Jenkins, who was placed on the disabled list earlier this season, has played in three games with Idaho Falls (Rookie Advanced) and has three hits in 10 at-bats...Murray Watts, who was also part of the Cougars' Opening Day roster and is now with the Burlington Royals (Rookie), leads the Appalachian League with 12 home runs.

Alumni News: Boston first baseman Adrian Gonzalez ('01) leads Major League Baseball in RBI with 90 and has seen his batting average rise to .356, also a MLB best...Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera ('01) has the eighth-best batting average in the A.L. (.312) and leads the league in games played with 109...Boston pitcher Josh Beckett ('00) has limited batters to a .187 average this season. His 2.20 ERA is second-best in the A.L....Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster ('96) leads the team with 23 starts...Cincinnati infielder Edgar Renteria ('93) hit a grand slam, the ninth of his career, in last night's win over Houston. Teammate Dontrelle Willis ('02) has a 3.52 ERA in four starts. Pitcher Travis Banwart ('07-08) leads Triple-A Sacramento (A's affiliate) with 19 starts...pitcher Trey Barham ('09) has made 44 appearances out of the bullpen at Double-A Midland (A's)...outfielder Tyreace House ('10) pitched an inning of relief on July 27 for Burlington (A's), yielding two earned runs in a 21-8 loss...pitcher Craig Italiano ('06-08) has made 41 appearances at Double-A San Antonio (Padres), which holds a record of 72-36. (statistics through games played on August 2).

Cougars in the community: Kane County Cougars players, along with Ozzie T. Cougar, recently made an appearance at Provena Mercy Medical Center's ADHD Camp on July 29. The camp included children from Provena Mercy's ADHD Camp, which teaches social and communication skills for school.

Ozzie T. Cougar is scheduled to make upcoming appearances in the community at the following locations:

Friday, August 5 from 4-5 p.m. - Sears Child Development Center (Hoffman Estates)

Saturday, August 6 from 11 a.m.-Noon - Communities In Schools Back to School Fair (Aurora)

Check out the Kane County Cougars Statistics



Midwest League Stories from August 3, 2011


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