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Rock Cats Announce Schedule for 2009 Season

August 22, 2008 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - Even though the New Britain Rock Cats have 11 very significant games remaining in their 2008 Season, the cry of "Wait ‘Til Next Year!" was heard today in the Hardware City. The Rock Cats released their 2009 Eastern League schedule this afternoon and, once again, baseball fans in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts will have numerous opportunities to get "up close and personal" at New Britain Stadium with the future stars of the Boston Red Sox (Portland), the New York Mets (Binghamton) and Yankees (Trenton) and, of course, our own Minnesota Twins. And, as its Rock Cats Baseball, it won't require a full week's pay to bring the entire family. In fact, prices for Rock Cats tickets in all categories - single game, season, and groups - will remain unchanged in 2009.

The Rock Cats will play 71 of their 142-game 2009 Eastern League schedule within the friendly confines of clean and accessible New Britain Stadium. In a shift from previous campaigns, the 2009 action will not commence until the second week of April and, correspondingly, will not conclude until the second week of September; both adjustments acknowledge Mother Nature and are intended to nudge the on-field competition toward more favorable weather conditions.

The Rock Cats will open the home portion of next year's schedule on Thursday, April 16th when they'll host New Hampshire (Toronto/AL) on Opening Night/2009 at 6:05 PM. The Portland Sea Dogs, EL affiliates of the Red Sox, will arrive in New Britain the following week for their first of eleven 2009 games in the Hardware City; it wasn't very long ago that Portland's team bus transported guys named Ellsbury, Papelbon, and Pedroia. The Yankees' affiliate, Trenton, will swagger into town 10 times beginning in May, and then will return to close the Regular Season with a big Labor Day Weekend series between September 4th and 7th. Binghamton, the Mets' EL partner, will visit the Rock Cats for extended weekend series in both May and July.

The ‘Cats will engage their intra-state rival - the Defenders - in the Nutmeg State's version of a Subway Series 6 times (total of twenty games) next year; 10 of those Northern Division games are slated for New Britain Stadium in May, June, and July. New Britain has also scheduled a total of nine 2009 games that will have either morning, or 12 Noon starts, an increasingly popular alternative first-pitch time with local schools, senior citizens, business people enjoying an outdoor lunch, and area Parks and Recreation Departments. The team also plans to respond to consumer demand by converting certain locations in the Stadium's lower bowl to Club seating along the first and third base lines.

The Rock Cats, who just renewed their Player Development Contract for two more years with the American League's Minnesota Twins, will have 11 weekend series at New Britain Stadium in 2009. The ‘Cats will be entering their 27th consecutive year of professional baseball in New Britain next year; overall, it will be the New Britain franchise's 37th straight season in Connecticut, making it the longest continuously-operating professional sports franchise in the state. And with the recently-announced two-year PDC extension with Minnesota, the Rock Cats will run their affiliation with the Twins to 16 mutually-productive seasons.

The complete 2009 Rock Cats schedule can be accessed on the club's website at www.rockcats.com.

2008 Regular Season action will continue apace this weekend and next at New Britain Stadium. Two teams that are furiously battling for a 2008 Postseason berth - the Akron Aeros (Cleveland/AL) and the Binghamton Mets (New York Mets/NL) - will be bringing their Playoff aspirations to the Hardware City this weekend (Akron - Friday, August 22nd - Sunday, August 24th) and next (Binghamton - Friday, August 29th - Monday, September 1st). Those seeking to catch the baseball excitement in person may secure tickets by calling the Rock Cats Ticket Office (860) 224-8383, or by visiting the Stadium Box Office between 10 AM and 6 PM (M-F) and 10 AM and 2 PM on Saturday. Fans interested in the convenience of on-line purchasing may get their tickets by visiting the club's website - www.rockcats.com - and following the easy instructions.



Eastern League Stories from August 22, 2008


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.

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