Rock Cats Prep For Final Homestand Of 2009

August 31, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - With the calendar about to read September - and guys named Brady, Manning, and Sanchez starting to convene beefy huddles all around us - the New Britain Rock Cats are about to commence their final - and most significant - Homestand of the 2009 Regular Season. For over the next seven days and nights, the Rock Cats long-deferred Postseason aspirations - as well as those of their two visitors' - will either be realized or dashed on the diamond at New Britain Stadium this week. The top two teams from each Division gain berths in the Eastern League's Postseason tournament, and the 2nd Place 'Cats need to finish the campaign's final week with a kick if they are to ensure their participation. But, like everything else worth having, it won't be easy because the two clubs coming to the Hardware City this week - the Reading Phillies and Trenton Thunder - are each entertaining baseball dreams of their own! This should be a week of great baseball in central Connecticut!

The dramatic - and conclusive - baseball action at New Britain Stadium will kick off tomorrow night (Tuesday, September 1st) when the first of these hard-charging clubs - the Southern Division's Reading Phillies, partners of the National League's Philadephia Phillies - arrive in the Hardware City for the first of three important contests. Tuesday evening's 6:35 PM opener will commence a 7-games-in-7-days stretch for the 'Cats that, following the initial three mid-week games with the R-Phils, will continue over the weekend with four more against their chief Northern Division foe, the Trenton Thunder, EL affiliate of the AL's New York Yankees. And if all this heart-pounding hardball isn't enough, there'll also be post-game Fireworks, pre-game Happy Hours, Grandparents Day, Fan Appreciation Day, a Home Run Home Show, an in-stadium Job Fair, a Season Ticket, Sling Bag, and Back-to-School Folder Giveaways, and more! What a combo: terrific baseball with serious postseason implications - and great family fun!

Here are the details of the scheduled action in and around New Britain Stadium for the period between Tuesday, September 1st and Monday (Labor Day), September 7th:

TUESDAY NIGHT, SEPTEMBER 1st , 6:35 PM:

With the Rock Cats back in town after a quick 7-game road swing through Norwich and New Jersey, the Boys from the Hardware City return home to play some of their most important baseball since a kid named Mauer led them into the Eastern League Playoffs in 2003. Arriving first will be the Reading Phillies, the talented and very determined partners of the NL's leading team, the Philadelphia Phillies. A Southern Division entry, the young Phils will not be filled with brotherly love as our 'Cats have had their number all year, prevailing in 10 of 11 previous meetings...that's either reassuring or terrifying. Beyond the exciting baseball competition, Tuesday night is also the time when the Rock Cats are collaborating with a number of local home improvement outlets for the Home Run Home Show where, starting at 5:05 PM, fans can stroll the concourse and browse the distinctive wares of several local home improvement providers while also registering to win related prizes announced during the evening's game! Moreover, Tuesday is also Strike Out Cancer Night at the Stadium, where fans can participate in on-site fundraisers - the Lance Armstrong Foundation, Ginny's Gems for Leukemia and Lymphoma, the World Skin Project, and the American Cancer Society will be with us - while also honoring a loved one with a message and photo on the Stadium's video board. It's also Kids Eat Free Night in New Britain, whereby all fans 12-and-under receive a coupon upon entry for a free Hot Dog (Kayem!) and Soft Drink. Once again, this fun and economical opportunity is made possible by our friends at the Harte Nissan. Pass the mustard!

WEDNESDAY NIGHT, SEPTEMBER 2nd, 6:35 PM:

The R-Phils are back at 6:35 PM to play Game #2 of this mid-week, three-game series. These young Phillies from the Keystone State are a confident bunch and will be a tough foe for the 'Cats this week. The gates of New Britain Stadium will swing open at 5:05 PM this particular evening for a pre-game Social Hour in the open-air Samuel Adams Rooftop Bar & Grill. In addition - as it's Wednesday - it's also Family 4-Pack Night at the Stadium as fans can get 4 Reserved Seats, 4 Hot Dogs, 4 Sodas, and 4 Popcorns, for just $30, thanks to our pals at SBLI. We'll also be enjoying the company of hundreds of good folks who will have attended Wednesday afternoon's in-stadium Employment Guide Job Fair, an event that will strive to forge productive matches between local job seekers and employers, between 3:30 and 6:30 PM. All Job Fair attendees will receive a complimentary ticket to the evening's 6:35 PM game! Moreover, there'll be lots of action in the Best Buy Fun Zone as the respected big box retailer's Home Run Derby Challenge - a follow-up to the August 1 in-store competition - will be taking place with contestants holding their Wii controllers and swinging from the heels!

THURSDAY NIGHT, SEPTEMBER 3rd , 6:35 PM:

The gang from PA will be back at the Stadium at 6:35 PM on Thursday night for the third and final game of this important series. In addition, the Stadium gates will again be opening early - 5:05 PM - for a Social Hour at the Samuel Adams Rooftop Bar & Grill. Food and drink specials will be available, and we'll be joined by the fun ladies from "Divas at the Diamond", who will be on hand for a Wine Tasting fundraiser benefiting the American Heart Association's "Go Red for Women" campaign. Fans might also want to raise a well-deserved al fresco glass to all of the good people who keep us healthy and safe - namely Nurses, Firefighters, Police, and Emergency Medical Service personnel. For Thursday night is Red, White and Blue Night at the Stadium as we publicly - and proudly - honor those who quietly go about the business of protecting and healing us! The honor is all ours'! Other worthy fundraisers with us this Thursday night include The Hole-in-the-Wall Gang Camp, Guard-A-Kid, and the Leilani Benefit. Welcome all - and thanks for your good and important work.

FRIDAY NIGHT, SEPTEMBER 4th, 6:35 PM:

On Friday night, the on-field opposition changes to another opponent - the Trenton Thunder, EL partners of the American League's swaggering New York Yankees. The Thunder are yet another well-balanced squad that, in all likelihood, will be battling the 'Cats tooth and nail this Labor Day Weekend for the sole remaining Northern Division Playoff spot. This should be Eastern League baseball at its best - with the winner being determined on the field. Friday's 6:35 PM contest will be but Game #1 of a four-game Weekend Series, and fans would be wise to arrive hungry as they'll be greeted at the front gates by Bavarian music and food, as its German Night at the Stadium. The authentic - and highly tasty - food will be provided by the very capable folks from the East Side Restaurant - the local eatery to visit when you want the real thing! And later, while digesting both the food and the ballgame, fans will be treated to a post-game Fireworks Show under the late-Summer, Connecticut stars. This après-game spectacular, the last of the 2009 Regular Season, is sponsored by our friends at Advanced Copy. Copy that!

SATURDAY NIGHT, SEPTEMBER 5th, 6:05 PM:

The young Yanks from the Garden State are back at 6:35 PM on Saturday night for the second game of this four-game showdown. And on this date - in addition to all the baseball competition on the field - there'll be loads of pre-and post-game action. Before the baseball begins - as our youngest fans start streaming through the front gates - those 12-and-under will receive an over-the-shoulder Sling Bag, courtesy of the good folks at AT&T. Moreover, our friends at Best Buy will be on hand for their Rewards Zone Day - whereby, once again, fans can win terrific prizes by participating and joining the action in the Best Buy Fun Zone along the left-field line! Finally, once this evening's important game concludes, there will the Saturday night post-game fun called AT&T Launch-A-Ball, whereby participating fans toss tennis balls at on-field targets with a chance to win great prizes. It's a blast, and all the proceeds benefit the Rock Cats Foundation which, in turn, helps our neighbors in need. A Win-Win! We're also to be pleased to be hosting a Fundraiser for Jonathan on Saturday night.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON, SEPTEMBER 6th, 1:35 PM:

The 2009 Regular Season's penultimate game will commence at 1:35 PM under the early September sun. Once again, the Rock Cats will be doing baseball battle with the very capable crew from Trenton. Making the day even more exciting, Sunday will also be

Grandparents' Day, an annual Stadium event whereby kids have the opportunity to make their Grandparents All-Stars and join in a post-game Grandparent-grandchild parade on the field! Ticket offers and additional information available at that great gathering spot for kids and grandparents - Friendlys! And on this day - Public Power Customer Day - a fan is going to win a 2010 Rock Cats Season Ticket - thanks to the generosity of the folks at Public Power. Maybe it'll be a grandparent! Once the game ends - the family fun doesn't - as Sunday is Family Fun Day at the Stadium in which all kids are invited to come onto the field for a post-game Run-of-the-Bases, thanks to the good folks at the Barnum Financial Group. Whew!

MONDAY AFTERNOON, SEPTEMBER 7th - LABOR DAY - 1:35 PM:

The last game of the 2009 Season will be played at 1:35 PM on Monday afternoon. Once again, the on-field opposition will be the New York Yankees' Double-A affiliate, the Trenton Thunder. These two clubs have battled all year long and it's very possible that both clubs' fate could be settled on this final day of the Eastern League Season. Both teams played since early April and it all could come down to this afternoon. What excitement! To mark the occasion - and the curtain falling on another great year in New Britain - it will be Fan Appreciation Day at the Stadium, an occasion when 'Cats fans can gain entry to this ultimate game for just $1 - while supplies of GA tickets last. Moreover, it's the season's final All-You Can-Eat Monday, as fans can feast on a Ballpark Bar-B-Q of hamburgs, hot dogs, salad, chips and a soft drink for just $10 above the price of their ticket. This yummy deal is courtesy of the purveyors of the Official Rock Cats Hot Dog - Kayem! Last, but hardly least, the first 2,000 kids (12-and-under) through the gates on Labor Day will be presented with a terrific Back-To-School Folder and Pencil, courtesy of SuperCuts and the Rock Cats.

THANK YOU FANS!

The New Britain Rock Cats are the Double-A, Eastern League affiliate of the American League's Minnesota Twins.

Fans interested in securing tickets for this final Homestand may do so by either calling the Rock Cats' Ticket Office at (860) 224-8383, or by visiting the Stadium Box Office (M-F, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM; Sat, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM) in person. For those interested in the convenience of on-line purchasing, Rock Cats tickets may also be procured electronically by visiting the club's website at www.rockcats.com.



Eastern League Stories from August 31, 2009


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