Rock Cats 7th Homestand of 2011 Begins on Tuesday Night

June 17, 2011 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - The New Britain Rock Cats have been playing steady baseball all year - they started strong and remain near the top of the historic Eastern League's East Division - and are now looking forward to returning home next Tuesday night (6/21) to open their Seventh Homestand of 2011, a six-game affair featuring two longstanding EL rivals. Arriving first in the Hardware City will be Bowie - the Western Division affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles - to be followed over the ensuing weekend by Trenton, the swaggering partners of the legendary New York Yankees. Bowie's aspiring Orioles - a/k/a the Baysox - will arrive at New Britain Stadium at 6:35 PM on Tuesday night, just in time to help us mark the official arrival of the Vernal Equinox with a quick, 3-game weekday series. And once the Baysox hit the road back to Maryland, the visitors' clubhouse will immediately fill up with studs from Trenton - partners of the iconic New York Yankees. These guys are good - they are currently atop the East, and boast a line-up stacked with prospects who hope to soon make the Big Ballpark in The Bronx their home turf. Appropriately named the Thunder, Trenton shall be with us for a compressed Friday night-thru-Sunday afternoon 3-game set that will feature - in addition to some great baseball - a variety of Giveaways, multiple Appreciation Nights, Post-Game Pyroteknics, 2011 Kids' Opening Day (at High Noon on Thursday), and a Homestand-concluding Sunday Afternoon contest that will be the centerpiece of another Family Fun Day at the ball park!

Here are details associated with the Rock Cats 7th Homestand of the 2011 Season:

TUESDAY NIGHT, JUNE 21st, 6:35 PM: The action kicks off at 6:35 PM on Tuesday night when the Bowie Baysox - the EL franchise that spawned Mike Mussina, Matt Wieters and Nick Markakis, among others, pulls into the Hardware City to start this 3-game, mid-week series. As its Tuesday night, it's also Kids Eat Free Night as each child 12-and-under accompanied by an adult will receive a coupon good for a Free Hot Dog, Soft Drink and bag of Mini Bites Muffins, courtesy of our friends at Bimbo Bread. Moreover, it's a two-fer for the kids as it's also Lunch Cooler Giveaway Night for the first 1,200 kids into the Stadium, thanks to our hard-hittin' and soft-puttin' friends at the upcoming Traveler's Championship PGA Event in nearby Cromwell. In addition, Tuesday evening is also Power of Ability Night,

an occasion to celebrate the abilities of those with disabilities - and our friends from the Rideshare Company will be on hand to show off some of their latest adapted vans outside the Main Gates. Tuesday night is also Junior Achievement Night at the ball park - where the young business leaders of tomorrow will be lauded by their sponsors, and our friends, at Farmington Bank. On top of all this, it's Greek Night at New Britain Stadium when some of the top local eateries will be bringing their fabulous Mousaka and Baklava specialties into the ballpark for our tasty pleasure. For this one night, Markakis will wish he was still with Bowie! And, as its Tuesday, its also KRAFT Singles Night - bring a KRAFT Singles wrapper to the Stadium Box Office and, with a paying companion, receive a free ticket to the game. Free Food, Free Ticket, Lunch Cooler Giveaway...Wow!

WEDNESDAY NIGHT, JUNE 22nd, 6:35 PM: The would-be Orioles are back again at 6:35 PM to play the middle contest of this 3-game series. The Baysox bring a new skipper - Gary Kendall is now at their helm - and he's got his guys in the thick of the race in the League's Western Division. Wednesday night is another cool giveaway night as we'll be handing out Rock Cats T-Shirts to the first 1,200 adult fans through the doors! This T-Shirt Giveaway is made possible by our friends at Chase Parkway Volvo - if these tees are anything like their cars, they'll last forever! Speaking of something good lasting a while - it's also Educators' Night at the Stadium, when we'll honor our local Teachers and other School personnel! Thank you all for another great year in the classroom - now go recharge those batteries because we need you back in September! This recognition is sponsored by SERC (State Education Resource Center) and CT PIRC (Connecticut Parent Information Resource Center). Finally, as an added kicker, Wednesday night is also Family-4-Pack Night where fans get 4 Reserved Seats, 4 Hot Dogs, 4 Soft Drinks and 4 Popcorns for just $30! Fabulous people, fabulous deal!

THURSDAY AFTERNOON, JUNE 23rd, 12:05 PM: The Baysox from Maryland will help the Rock Cats stage the 2011 Season's Kids' Opening Day at 12:05 PM on Thursday afternoon. School is out - the pens and pencils have been put away for a bit - let's all celebrate the arrival of Summer at the ball park. Joining us to make merry on this day will be several Looney Tunes Characters from Six Flags New England, just up the road in Agawam, MA. The fun will begin about an hour before game time when gates open at 11:05 AM! As for the day's baseball on the diamond - Bowie brings a very talented squad to the Hardware City with several of their players ranked by Baseball America as among the Best Prospects in the entire Baltimore organization; the big league O's are moving in the right direction again and that is a reflection of the emerging talent coming up from their farm. This is also a great occasion for business people who enjoy daytime baseball - to come to the Stadium for lunch - catch a few innings of the action while enjoying our Business Person's Special - a Box Seat and your choice of lunch for just $12. Deal!

FRIDAY NIGHT, JUNE 24th, 6:35 PM: With the Baysox gone, here comes the Trenton Thunder - EL partners of the New York Yankees - to do baseball battle with the Rock Cats from a 6:35 PM first pitch on Friday night through a 1:35 PM Sunday afternoon tilt. In a scheduling quirk, this will be the first meeting of these two opponents in 2011. Before all the game action on the diamond begins, however, we'll have a special Charity Home Run Derby event on the field from 3:00 - 4:00 PM to benefit the CT Chapter of the ALS Association. Take Swings Against ALS! Sign your team up now - call Amy Helbling in the Rock Cats office at (860) 224-8383 - and see if your Team of 3 can be the first to hit 10 balls out of New Britain Stadium! Great cause, Great fun! Moreover, as it's officially Summer - how about joining us early in the Heinekin Hot Corner on the first base concourse for a special on a cold one! If you need more incentive than that - The Heinekin Girls will be with us for a meet and greet and to help serve up the frosties! And, of yeah, they'll have giveaways and prizes for those who drop by! Gates open at 5:35 PM for this one.

Once all the hardball action between the Rock Cats and Thunder concludes on Friday night, please stick around for a Friday Night Pyro-Teknics Show that is sponsored by our good friends at The Hospital for Special Care. This in-stadium display is highly enjoyable.

Last but not least, Friday is also Girl Scouts Night at the Stadium. The Girls will be pitching their tents on the outfield grass and spending the night under the Connecticut stars!

SATURDAY NIGHT, JUNE 25th, 6:35 PM The gang from the Garden State is back on Saturday evening at 6:35 PM to play Game 2 of this 3-game set. This Trenton club is a talented one that we haven't seen at all over the first 60+ games of the season; under the tutelage of Mgr. Tony Franklin they are usually a treat to watch. And speaking of treats, there will be both pre- and post-game fun in New Britain on Saturday as well. The former involves a Pre-Game Block Party that will kick off about 4:00 PM where there will be games, inflatables, and Monster Jam Trucks for kids to operate before they enter the ballpark! Sponsored by our pals at Guida's Milk and D'Angelo, fans can drive these Remote Control Rigs with Pat Summa and his Monster Jam Truck THRASHER! He'll also have one of his crew - Tony Macari - in a Grave Digger outfit with his Grave Digger painted Harley! And both Pat and Tony will be signing autographs! And as fans enter the Stadium on Saturday night, they'll also be presented with a Water Bottle Giveaway for the first 1,200 in the doors in keeping with it being Organized Labor Recognition Night at the Stadium! The recognition and giveaway are sponsored by the Amalgamated Family of Companies, Aetna Life & Casualty, and Reid & Riege, PC. And when all the on-field action concludes, please stick around for the Post-Game Launch-A-Ball contest where fans get a chance to win

great prizes by tossing tennis balls at fixed targets out on the field. This fun activity for fans of all ages is sponsored by FORD. We'll have a new wrinkle on Saturday night, however, as - in addition to the evening's on-site winners - this night's proceeds will benefit Helmets to Hardhats, an effort to transition members of the US Military into the Trades! Not much more worthy that that these days!

SUNDAY AFTERNOON, JUNE 26th, 1:35 PM: The Rock Cats and Thunder will engage in baseball battle for the final time in this series at 1:35 PM on Sunday afternoon. And, of course, as its Sunday at New Britain Stadium, all kids are invited down to the field for an unforgettable Postgame Run-of-the-Bases, thanks to the good folks at the Barnum Financial Group. Moreover, the health conscious folks at Big Y Supermarkets will be with us on Sunday to promote Kids Health & Wellness Day with a Bouncy Ball Giveaway for the first 1,200 kids (12-Under) through the turnstiles. Starting at 12:05 PM, the kids can take their playground bouncy balls on to the field to participate in a fun workout with Rocky! Phew!

Good seats remain available for all six games on this 7th Homestand of the 2011 Season. Fans interested in securing tickets should either visit the New Britain Stadium Box Office between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM or call the Rock Cats Ticket Office at (860) 224-8383. Those interested in the convenience of on-line purchasing may get their tickets in that manner by visiting the Rock Cats' website at www.rockcats.com and following the easy directions.



Eastern League Stories from June 17, 2011


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