PCL1 Las Vegas Aviators

L.V. 51s Open 30th PCL Season on Thursday Vs. Sacramento at Cashman Field

Published on April 3, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Las Vegas Aviators News Release


LAS VEGAS: The Las Vegas 51s professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL), Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, will open their 30th season in the Silver State on Thursday, April 5 against division-rival, the Sacramento River Cats, Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland A's, at 7:05 p.m. at Cashman Field.

The season opening homestand will consist of eight games against Sacramento (April 5-8) and the Fresno Grizzlies, Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, from Monday-Thursday, April 9-12 (all games at 7:05 p.m.).

The 51s, under second-year manager Marty Brown, enters its fourth season as the top affiliate of the Blue Jays. The 51s organization have the proud distinction of being the longest enduring franchise in the history of professional sports in the state of Nevada. The 51s are 13-16 (.448) all-time in season openers (1983-2011) and 16-13 (.552) in home openers at Cashman Field.

Opening Night will feature Budweiser Dollar Beer Night. Every Thursday home game throughout the 2012 season will feature the popular dollar beer night. Proper identification and wristbands are required for dollar beer night.

A spectacular postgame "Fireworks" show, presented by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, will be featured on Friday, April 6 with the first pitch at 7:05 p.m. Firework nights in 2012 will also feature "Flat Screens!" Five flat screen televisions will be given away to selected fans throughout the game.

Game three of the four-game series on Saturday, April 7 at 7:05 p.m. will feature 51s "30th Season" T-Shirt Night to the first 2,500 fans through the gates. Las Vegas 51s 2012 Magnetic Schedules will also be dispersed during opening weekend to all the fans in attendance.

The finale of the four-game series against the River Cats on Easter Sunday (April 8) will feature a matinee contest at 12:05 p.m. The 51s organization will present an "Easter Egg Hunt" on the field at 11 a.m. for children 12 years of age and under with a game ticket and the gates will open at 10:30 a.m.

Sacramento's roster features six of the top 10 prospects in the A's organization, according to Baseball America: top prospect, right-handed pitcher Jarrod Parker, right-handed pitcher Brad Peacock (No. 2), infielder Grant Green (No. 6), catcher Derek Norris (No. 7), outfielder Jermaine Mitchell (No. 8) and outfielder Michael Taylor (No. 9). Outfielder Chris Carter returns to the River Cats and is a 2005 graduate of Sierra Vista High School in Las Vegas.

The River Cats have been the top affiliate of the Oakland A's since 2000. The Vancouver franchise (1978-99) moved to Northern California in 2000. The River Cats have dominated the Pacific Southern Division and have finished in first place for five straight seasons (2007-11) and 10 out of 12 seasons overall (2000-11). Sacramento has won the PCL Championship four times (2003-04; 2007-08 & Triple-A Champions).

Las Vegas will then open a four-game series against Fresno on Monday, April 9. "Value Menu Monday" returns for its fourth season. Monday "home" games will feature a "Value Menu" as the 51s and Aramark have teamed together for discounted food items on Hot Dogs, Popcorn, Peanuts, Cracker Jacks and Pretzels for just $1.00 per item.

The finale of the homestand on Thursday, April 12 will feature Budweiser Dollar Beer Night.

Fresno's roster features two of the top 10 prospects in the Giants organization, according to Baseball America: right-handed pitcher Heath Hembree (No. 3) and outfielder Francisco Peguero (No. 5).

The 51s, in conjunction with radio partner Lotus Broadcasting, are proud to announce that KOMP 92.3 FM will sponsor all Budweiser Dollar Beer Nights and KXPT 97.1 FM will sponsor selected firework shows as well as various promotion nights during the 2012 campaign.

The 51s will broadcast all games on Lotus Broadcasting on Fox Sports Radio 920 AM, which will carry live all 144 regular season games. Also, all games will be available on the 51s website (Major League Baseball Advanced Media, MLBAM) at www.LV51.com. Russ Langer, the seven-time Nevada Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA), is in his 13th season behind the microphone calling 51s baseball.

All 51s games will also be broadcast on MiLB.TV via MiLB.com and LV51.com.

Following the eight-game homestand, Las Vegas will embark on its first road trip of the season beginning on Friday, April 13 at Colorado Springs, Colo., against the Sky Sox, Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, in a four-game series (Friday-Monday, April 13-16). The 51s will then travel to Salt Lake City, Utah, to face the Salt Lake Bees, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, in a four-game series from Tuesday-Friday, April 17-20.

Tickets for all 51s home games can be purchased at the Cashman Field box office. The box office is open Monday-Friday (non game days) from Noon to 4:30 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased through Ticketmaster (1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com). Ticketmaster outlets are located at selected Smith's Food & Drug.

The individual game tickets for the 72-game home season are priced at $10.00 (reserved), $13.00 (plaza) and $14.00 (field). The traditional $2.00 discount for Military personnel is offered on plaza and reserved seats throughout the season except for the "Fireworks Extravaganza" on Wednesday, July 4 (all seats at $14.00).

Season tickets and mini-plan packages (10 & 10-Game You Pick'em, 20, 33-game plans) are available by calling the 51s office at (702) 798-7825.

Check out the Las Vegas Aviators Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Pacific Coast League Stories from April 3, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central