SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

Mayor Tecklenburg to Perform Opening Night National Anthem

Published on April 6, 2016 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


CHARLESTON, SC - With Opening Night just a day away, the Charleston RiverDogs will welcome Mayor John Tecklenburg to perform the National Anthem on piano as the RiverDogs open their season against the Columbia Fireflies on Thursday, April 7 at 7:05 p.m. at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

Tecklenburg, the recently elected mayor of Charleston and an accomplished pianist, will perform the Star Spangled Banner on a piano provided by Fox Music House and throw out the ceremonial first pitch in front of a packed house as the RiverDogs celebrate their 20th home opener at The Joe. After the mayoral performance on a historic night in Charleston, a piano provided by Fox Music House will be donated to the Simmons Pinckney Middle School music program.

"Being with the RiverDogs is great and being able to play the piano with the RiverDogs is terrific, and knowing that a piano will be donated to a local school is absolutely fantastic," said Mayor Tecklenburg. "Fox Music and the RiverDogs are outstanding community partners and make a big difference in the lives of our students. What a great day and a wonderful way to show the students of our region that they matter! Thank you Fox Music and the Charleston RiverDogs."

"We are thrilled to welcome Mayor Tecklenburg in a unique opportunity to celebrate our milestone year at The Joe," said RiverDogs President and General Manager Dave Echols. "The mayor has done a terrific job in supporting us in his brief tenure thus far and his willingness to join in with the Opening Night festivities should make it a special night at the ballpark as we kick off our 20th season."

"Fox Music House is proud to welcome the Mayor and the entire community to seek the joy of music," said Joseph Fox, Sales and Marketing Manager of Fox Music House. "Over our four generations in Charleston, Fox Music House is here for quality, service and value."

The RiverDogs unofficially start their season on Wednesday with an exhibition opener against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans with the first pitch slated for 7:05pm. Fans will have the opportunity to donate to the Shawn Jenkins MUSC Children's Hospital throughout the game as the RiverDogs, Pelicans and Charleston community unite for a great cause.

The spirit of giving will pour over into Opening Night as Fox Music House will donate the piano to benefit the music department at the local middle school in downtown Charleston.

"On behalf of the Charleston County School District I want to thank Mayor Tecklenburg, the City of Charleston, Charles Fox and Fox Music House, and Dave Echols and the RiverDogs for helping provide this wonderful donation to Simmons Pinckney Middle School," said Charleston County School District Superintendent Dr. Gerrita Postlewait. "We are blessed to have the generous and continued support of community partners who are vested and engaged in the success of our students and our schools."

"Simmons Pinckney Middle School is focused on creating a STEAM-driven model and pushing the arts to the forefront of everything we do," said Interim Principal Nathan Nelson. "This donation will be a great help in getting our arts program up and running and we look forward to our students utilizing this piano for upcoming recitals in the near future."

Opening Night begins a seven-game homestand as the RiverDogs welcome the newest members of the South Atlantic League, the Columbia Fireflies (April 7-10), and the Asheville Tourists (April 11-13) to town to open the season. Ticket information for Opening Night or for any of the 70 home games may be secured by contacting the box office at (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or online at www.riverdogs.com. For those that can't make it out the ballpark, the exhibition opener on April 6 and the 11:05am contest against Asheville on Wednesday, April 13 will be streamed exclusively online at riverdogs.com, with all remaining games of the opening homestand also available on WTMA 1250 AM in the tri-county area.

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