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Rock Cats 2011 Home Opener Is Thursday Night

April 11, 2011 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - The wait is just about over. With the calendar page now turned to April ‚¬" and the arrival of Spring and its warmer temperatures imminent ‚¬" the New Britain Rock Cats are ready to throw open the gates of shiny New Britain Stadium this Thursday evening (4/14) to kick off another exciting season of Rock Cats Baseball. The 2011 Season ‚¬â„¢s Home Opener against Portland ‚¬" the Eastern League affiliate of the Boston Red Sox ‚¬" will get underway at 6:05 PM on Thursday night. And when all the happy pre-game festivities are concluded and the umpire yells ‚¬Å“Play Ball! ‚¬Â, the Nutmeg State ‚¬â„¢s longest continuously-operating professional sports franchise will lift the curtain on its 39th consecutive year of pro baseball in Connecticut!

Here ‚¬â„¢s a quick overview of events that will be happening in and around New Britain Stadium during the Home Opener and, indeed, the entire First Homestand of the 2011 Season:

THURSDAY NIGHT, APRIL 14th, 6:05 PM:

It ‚¬â„¢s Opening Night at New Britain Stadium as the Rock Cats begin the Home portion of their 142-game 2011 Eastern League schedule. Performing in the Hardware City for the first time in the new season under their second-year Manager ‚¬" 36-year-old Jeff Smith ‚¬" the reconstituted Rock Cats will be hosting the always interesting Portland Sea Dogs, longtime baseball partners of the Boston Red Sox. The Sea Dogs have a new helmsman ‚¬" Kevin Boles ‚¬" and a load of players who Baseball America deem to be among the most promising in the entire Red Sox ‚¬â„¢ system; the on-field competition in this four-game Opening Series should be great fun! Pre-Game activities include a 2011 Team Poster Giveaway for the first 1,500 Kids (12-U) through the Stadium turnstiles, thanks to our friends at Supercuts! And Opening Night is a Family Four-Pack event whereby fans can get 4-Reserved Seats, 4 Hot Dogs, 4 Drinks and 4 Popcorns for just $30! This is one of the great deals in all of baseball and it ‚¬â„¢s sponsored by NBC Connecticut and VantisLife. On the field, the evening ‚¬â„¢s Presentation of The Colors will be performed by the esteemed First Company Governor ‚¬â„¢s Foot Guard; Our National Anthem will be sung by students from the Memorial Middle School in Granby (CT), while the Giant American Flag will be held aloft on the outfield grass by students from the Lawrence Middle School in Middletown. Moreover, New Britain Mayor Timothy T. Stewart will join others from NBC30-TV and The United Way ‚¬" the Rock Cats ‚¬â„¢ Opening Night Charity - in tossing out Opener ‚¬â„¢s ceremonial First Pitches. Once all that is concluded, the players from each team will be introduced and we ‚¬â„¢ll be set to play! For those who can ‚¬â„¢t make it out to the ball park ‚¬" and there are good seats still available ‚¬" the Rock Cats ‚¬â„¢ incomparable Radio Broadcast team of Jeff Dooley, Joe D ‚¬â„¢Ambrosio, and Scott Gray will be together to call all the Opening Night action on WTIC NewsTalk 1080 for the very first time in the 2011 Season!

FRIDAY AFTERNOON, APRIL 15th, 12:05 PM:

The Rock Cats ‚¬â„¢ first home day game of 2011 will take place at High Noon on Friday when the Portland squad ‚¬" all aspiring Boston Red Sox - returns to the Stadium for the first Baseball in Education Day of the new season. This will be an occasion when thousands of local school children will join us to witness what will be, for many, their first professional baseball game. The special daytime action is sponsored by our good friends at Dattco Transportation and the Achieve Financial Credit Union. The smart people from the Talcott Mountain Science Center will be on hand to explain to all the effect that local wind currents can have on hanging curveballs that get too much of home plate. In addition, good seats remain available for any businessmen and women who want to get their first baseball fix of the new year by taking a long lunch ‚¬" or retirees who like their baseball the old-fashioned way ‚¬" in warm daylight. Join us!

SATURDAY NIGHT, APRIL 16th, 6:35 PM:

Game #3 of this 4-game 2011 Opening Series with Portland will take place on Saturday night at 6:35 PM. While the game ‚¬â„¢s first pitch is set for 6:35 PM, there ‚¬â„¢ll be a lot of action right outside the Stadium ‚¬â„¢s front gates starting at 4:35 PM. That ‚¬â„¢s because the year ‚¬â„¢s first Pre-Game Block Party ‚¬" jointly sponsored by D ‚¬â„¢Angelo and Guida ‚¬â„¢s Milk ‚¬" will be happening with food samplings, mascots, and fun video games and related activities for kids. This is a great way for the kids to get some fresh air and exercise before coming inside for the game. And once all the baseball action on the field has concluded ‚¬" stick around for the first Post-Game Fireworks Show of the year! This initial pyrotechnic display promises to be spectacular. Saturday night is also a March of Dimes Fundraiser and, in addition, we ‚¬â„¢ll be joined by a bunch of very smart people on from the UConn Graduate Association of Public Policy Students ‚¬" these guys are not only bright, they ‚¬â„¢re also kind as they ‚¬â„¢ll be conducting a fundraiser for their 2011 New Orleans Relief and Reconstruction Project. Finally ‚¬" once the skies have cleared ‚¬" please stay with us for the first Launch-A-Ball contest of the year. This is a fun competition when fans have the opportunity to win terrific prizes by successfully tossing tennis balls at set targets on the field. Three balls-for-a-buck and everyone wins as all proceeds benefit the Rock Cats Foundation, the club ‚¬â„¢s community charity. The season-long Saturday night staple is sponsored by the very proud Ford Dealers.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON, APRIL 17th, 1:35 PM:

This four-game Opening Series with the Sea Dogs from Maine will conclude with this Sunday afternoon tilt at 1:35 PM. Before the day ‚¬â„¢s baseball action begins, clowns from The Greatest Show On Earth - Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey ‚¬" will be entertaining families starting at 12:05 PM with gags, stilts, juggling, unicycles, and more!

Bring the kids early as the he friendly clowns will be teaching kids to juggle, balance while using a hula hoop, etc. ‚¬" all in advance of a pre-game, on-field ‚¬Å“Red Nose Run ‚¬Â for kids 2 to 12 years. Race distances will, of course, be age-appropriate, with all participants receiving an authentic Ringling Bros. clown nose, CircusFit stickers, a souvenir Race Bib and a chance to win tickets to the Barnum and Bailey Fully Charged Circus at the XL Center in Hartford from May 4-8. The first 100 entries will receive a goodie bag with an official Red Nose Run t-shirt, and one complimentary voucher for a circus ticket. In addition to all of this, the folks from Stone Academy will also be on hand as they are sponsoring a 2011 Rock Cats Magnet Schedule Giveaway which will be available to the first 2,000 fans through the gates on Sunday. Moreover, the Rock Cats will use Sunday to honor our friends from the United States Postal Service ‚¬" the dedicated men and women who made their way to our homes and offices every single day this past Winter, no matter the weather! We ‚¬â„¢ll also be hosting a fundraiser for a great group called Jack of ALL Hearts, a non-profit that assists families with a child undergoing cardiac care. Last, but not least - as it ‚¬â„¢s the first Sunday Home game of the new campaign, it ‚¬â„¢s also our first Barnum Financial Family Fun Day, an every Sunday event when parents can bring their kids (12- and under) down to the field for a Post-Game Run of the Bases. This is a fabulous way for kids and their on-looking parents to end what looks to be a most memorable family outing to New Britain Stadium!

MONDAY NIGHT, APRIL 18th, 6:35 PM:

With Portland now departed, the season Opening Homestand continues on Monday night when the Rock Cats will play host to New Hampshire, the Eastern League affiliate of the American League ‚¬â„¢s Toronto Blue Jays, at 6:35 PM. New Britain ‚¬â„¢s games with these Fisher Cats are always spirited as both clubs play in the League ‚¬â„¢s highly-competitive Eastern Division. Monday evening is also the first All You Can Eat Buffet opportunity of the year whereby fans ‚¬" for an additional $12 ‚¬" can partake of unlimited ball park fare (hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, salad, soft drinks) in one of the Stadium ‚¬â„¢s attractive picnic areas, prior to the game. This yummy dining option ‚¬" a Monday Night feature at Rock Cats home games this season - is made possible by the good folks at Kayem. The evening ‚¬â„¢s unique giveaway is a colorful 2011 Rock Cats Calendar, made possible by the generous folks at the Holiday Inn Express in Southington. Lastly, as Monday is also College Night at the Stadium ‚¬" an occasion when local scholars can engage in a Hot Dog Eating Contest on the field prior to the game ‚¬" we ‚¬â„¢ll also be offering a Pre-Game Social Hour at the al fresco Samuel Adams Rooftop Bar & Grill from 5:35 to 6:35 PM. Join us if you can and come hungry!

TUESDAY NIGHT, APRIL 19th, 6:35 PM:

The Fisher Cats from the Granite State are back for Game 2 of this three-game set. Also back are the good people from the Holiday Inn Express in Southington with another batch of 2011 Rock Cats Calendars for the first 1,500 fans through the doors on Tuesday night. And Tuesday evening ‚¬" like all home Tuesdays in the 2011 Season ‚¬" will be a Kids Eat Free Night, when all kids 12-and-under get a coupon for a free Hot Dog, Drink, and bag of Little Bites Muffins, upon entry. Great young fans ‚¬" great deal ‚¬" made possible by our pals at Bimbo Bread!

WEDNESDAY MORNING, APRIL 20th, 10:35 AM:

The first Homestand of the new season wraps up with a 10:35 AM between the Rock Cats and our neighbors from the north, New Hampshire. The special morning start also represents our second Baseball in Education Day of the year ‚¬" offering an early start for both school kids and business people who can escape for an early lunch in the sun. To sweeten the pot for anyone contemplating attending ‚¬" this game has also been designated as a Family Four-Pack Day ‚¬" thanks again to NBC Connecticut and VantisLife ‚¬" thus enabling families and fans can to get 4 Reserved Seats, 4 Hot Dogs, 4 Drinks, and 4 Popcorns for $30! The fan-friendly day is again sponsored by the terrific people at Dattco Transportation and Achieve Financial. And, the informative gang from the Talcott Mountain Science Center will once again be on hand to further enlighten us on the interplay between nature, science and baseball. Something for fans of all ages under the mid-April sun!

Good seats remain available for each of the seven games that make up this Opening Homestand in New Britain. Tickets may be purchased by either visiting the New Britain Stadium Box Office (10 AM-6 PM, Monday-Friday; 10 AM-2 PM on Saturdays) or by calling the Rock Cats Ticket Office (860) 224-8383. For those interested in the convenience of online purchasing, tickets can be secured by visiting the club ‚¬â„¢s website ‚¬" www.rockcats.com ‚¬" and following the easy instructions. Play Ball!



Eastern League Stories from April 11, 2011


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