MWL1 Kane County Cougars

Kane County Cougars Homestand Preview: June 25-30

Published on June 22, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release


GENEVA - The Kane County Cougars, Class-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, open a six-game homestand on Monday against the Beloit Snappers (a Minnesota Twins affiliate) from Monday through Wednesday, and the Burlington Bees (an Oakland Athletics affiliate) from Thursday through Saturday. The homestand includes "˜70's Night on June 28, Heroes & Villains Night on June 29, and Illini Night on June 30. Tickets are available for each game on the upcoming homestand by calling (630) 232-8811 or visiting www.kccougars.com.

Monday 6/25 Beloit Snappers (Minnesota Twins farm team) 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 performance by Aspirations Dance Company

Fans can run the bases after the game

Tuesday 6/26 Beloit A0 6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)

2-sdays: $2 specials on select food and drink, along with $2 reserved or lawn seat tickets for children age 3-10

National Anthem - HC Storm School Music Connection

Fans can run the bases after the game

Wednesday 6/27 Beloit A0 12 p.m. (gates open at 11 a.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (11:45 a.m.)

Pre-game Day Camp Day autograph session with Cougars players

National Anthem - The Norridge Salvation Army Summer Day Camp

Fans can run the bases after the game

Thursday 6/28 Burlington Bees (Oakland Athletics farm team) 6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)

"˜70's Night

Cougars car magnets for the first 1,500 fans

Pre-game concert by Friction

National Anthem - Western Lights Chorus

Take Me Out to the Ballgame - led by University of Illinois AdCamp

Post-game fireworks show ("˜70's theme)

Fans can run the bases after the game

Friday 6/29 Burlington 0 6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:15 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)

Heroes and Villains Theme Night

Pre-game costume parade

Salute to real-life heroes

National Anthem - Tim Peltz

Post-game fireworks show (Heroes and Villains theme)

Fans can run the bases after the game

Saturday 6/30 Burlington 0 6:30 p.m. (gates open at 4:30 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)

Illini Night

Cougars players to wear commemorative Illini jerseys

Fans encouraged to wear orange and blue

Appearance and performance by the Marching Illini

Pre-game autograph session with Cougars players

Pre-game performance by Z's Martial Arts Academy

National Anthem - Glen Crest Summer Band

Appearance by the ZOOperstars!

Post-game fireworks show (Popular music theme)

Fans can run the bases after the game

Homestand Notes

"˜70's Night Ahead: The Cougars are going back in time on Thursday, June 28 for "˜70's Night. The evening kicks off with a pre-game concert by the band Friction. Various in-game contests will reflect the "˜70's theme and the post-game fireworks show will be set to music from the "˜70's.

Spend a little, save a lot: A pair of weeknight specials open up the 6-game homestand. Monday's 6:30 p.m. game is a 1/2 Price Monday, with $5 reserved seats and $4 lawn tickets. Tuesday's 6:30 p.m. is the first 2-sday of the summer. Fans can enjoy $2 food and drink specials including hot dogs, small sodas, domestic beers and a select ice cream novelty. Kids age 3-10 also receive a $2 reserved or lawn seat ticket.

Illini Night: The Cougars are calling on all fans to wear orange and blue at the June 30 Illini Night game. The 6:30 p.m. contest that evening will include a guest appearance and performance by the Marching Illini. Cougars players will wear commemorative Illini jerseys and fans will have an opportunity to bid on commemorative orange and blue Illini jerseys that the Cougars team will wear during the game. Proceeds from the jersey auction will benefit Illinois athletics and the Marching Illini.

Heroes and Villains Night : The Cougars are hosting a "Heroes and Villains" theme night on Friday, June 29. Fans are encouraged to dress in costume and take part in a pre-game parade. Various in-game contests will test fans' knowledge of their favorite heroes and villains, and the evening concludes with a heroes and villains-themed fireworks show following the game. Fans are also encouraged to submit stories of real-life superheroes who have been a positive impact in their lives. Stories can be submitted to ozzie@kanecountycougars.com.

Team News: The Cougars concluded the first half of the regular season on June 17, finishing with a 34-36 record at the season's midpoint. The Cougars will need to secure one of two Western Division playoff spots in the season's second half to clinch a spot in the Midwest League postseason. The Cougars have reached the playoffs for the last 4 seasons and have relied on a second half playoff berth for each of the past 2 seasons. Cougars players comprised 3 of the 5 top spots among Midwest League batters in base hits for the season's first half. Outfielder Jorge Bonifacio led the Midwest League with 85 hits in the first half and is on pace to break the franchise record for most hits in a season, held by Willy Hill (162 hits in 1999). Infielder Danny Mateo finished 4th in the league with 80 hits, while outfielder Lane Adams finished 5th with 78.

Alumni News: Detroit infielder Miguel Cabrera ('01) is 2nd in the American League with 55 RBI and 2nd in hits with 85. Cabrera is on pace to record his 9th straight season with 100 or more RBI and recorded his 1,000th career RBI earlier this season. Boston infielder Adrian Gonzalez ('01) shares a 3-way tie for most doubles in the A.L. with 22. Red Sox teammate Scott Podsednik ('97) is batting .387 for the Red Sox in 19 games. Kansas City pitcher Vin Mazzaro ('06) is 3-1 with a 2.57 ERA in 5 games for the Royals. Minnesota outfielder Josh Willingham ('00-'01) is on pace for the best offensive season of his career. Willingham currently has 14 home runs and 46 RBI. A pair of Twins teammates and former Cougars, Jeff Gray ('06) and Jared Burton ('03), have combined to make nearly 60 appearances out of the Minnesota bullpen. Since making his big league debut earlier this month, Oakland pitcher Sean Doolittle ('07) has appeared in 5 games for the A's. Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster ('96) is 3rd in the National League with a 2.11 ERA. San Francisco pitcher Santiago Casilla ('03-'04) is 2nd in the N.L. with 19 saves. Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier ('03) leads the N.L. with 55 RBI. Arizona pitcher Trevor Cahill ('07) has won his last 4 starts and is on pace to win 10 or more games for the 4th straight season, since making his big league debut in 2009. Pittsburgh pitcher A.J. Burnett ('98) is 7-2 with a 3.52 ERA. Burnett is on pace to win 10 or more games for the 10th time in his career.

Pitcher Jon Keck ('11) is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA for Double-A Northwest Arkansas. Northwest Arkansas teammate Justin Marks ('10) was named a Texas League All-Star and has a 3.49 ERA in 13 starts. Greg Billo ('11) is 5-4 at Class-A Advanced Wilmington. Five former Cougars from Double-A Midland (Oakland) will take part in the Texas League All-Star Game: Anthony Aliotti ('10), Jeremy Barfield ('09), Conner Crumbliss ('09-'10), Murphy Smith ('09-'10) and Dan Straily ('10). Wilmington pitcher Sugar Ray Marimon ('11) was the winning pitcher in last week's California/Carolina League All-Star Game. Pitcher Sam Demel ('07) of Triple-A Reno (Arizona) is tied for 2nd in the Pacific Coast League with 32 appearances. Pitcher Justin Friend ('08) of Double-A Reading (Philadelphia) sports a 0.38 ERA and 12 saves.

(statistics through games played on 6/20)

Where's Ozzie? Ozzie T. Cougar is scheduled to make upcoming appearances in the community at the following locations:

Friday, June 22 from 1-2 p.m. - Geneva Park District Kids Day

Saturday, June 23 from 12-1 p.m. - Aurora Boys Baseball

Check out the Kane County Cougars Statistics

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