Rock Cats Ready For Third Homestand Of 2009

Published on May 9, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - With the rainy weather finally moving out of southern New England

and Spring-like conditions about to return, the New Britain Rock Cats are looking forward to opening their 3rd Homestand of the 2009 Season next Monday (5/11) night in

the Hardware City. And at 6:35 PM on Monday night the 'Cats will kick off the

homestand with an important 3-game series against their intra-state rivals from Norwich-

the CT Defenders - Eastern League partners of the NL's San Francisco Giants. Monday

evening's contest will be the first 2009 meeting of the two Nutmeg State clubs - and will

commence a compressed 8-games-in-7-days home stay for the Rock Cats. The stretch will

include three mid-week games with the young Giants - before the Portland Sea Dogs, EL

partners of the Boston Red Sox - make their way south to New Britain for five big weekend

contests running from Thursday night (5/14) thru Sunday afternoon (5/17). And if all that

baseball action isn't enough, there'll also be a post-game Laser Light Show, a pre-game

block party, and appearances by two New Britain Stadium favorites - Famous Dancing

Christopher and, separately, BirdZerk! Mascot Act!

Here are the details of all the scheduled action in and around New Britain Stadium between

Monday, May 11th and Sunday, May 17th:

MONDAY NIGHT, MAY 11th, 6:35PM:

With the Rock Cats back in town after a quick weekend visit to Maine, meeting them at

the Stadium for their first visit of 2009 will be the CT Defenders, EL partners of that

team-by-the-Bay, the San Francisco Giants. Both Nutmeg State and Northern Division

rivals, the Defenders are again loaded with young talent and very much in the hunt for a

spot near the top of the Divsional standings. Beyond the baseball competition, Monday

night might also be a night you'll want to get to the park early as its Soccer Night at the

Stadium, with a sturdy soccer ball - featuring the Rock Cats logo - given away to the first

1,200 kids (12-and-under) through the gates. This terrific ball is courtesy of Levy &

Droney, PC. If you should join us on Monday night and arrive a bit hungry, this night

also features an All-You-Can-Eat offering whereby, for and extra $10, fans are invited to

a private picnic area where they may dine on hot dogs (Kayem!), hamburgs, chips and

soft drinks to their tummy's delight. It's a leisurely way to have dinner and enjoy the

game. It is made possible by Kayem, purveyor of the Official Rock Cats Hot Dog.

TUESDAY NIGHT, MAY 12th, 6:35 PM:

The talented Defenders are back again at 6:35PM on Tuesday night for Game 2 of this

weekday 3-game set. As its Tuesday, it's also Kids Eat Free Night at the Stadium

whereby all fans 12-and-under receive a coupon upon entry for a free Hot Dog and Soft

Drink. Once again, this fun and economical opportunity is made possible by our friends at Harte Auto Group. Pass the mustard!

WEDNESDAY MORNING, MAY 13th, 10:35 AM:

The two Constitution State clubs - Defenders and Rock Cats - will do baseball battle for

the third and final time in this series on Wednesday morning. The Rock Cats will swing open the gates of new Britain Stadium at 10:35 AM for what will be their fourth Baseball in Education Day of the new season. Sponsored by our partners at Dattco Transport-

ation and Achieve Financial, the action will start with a series of informative pre-game presentations by the energetic crew from the Talcott Mountain Science Center, who will instruct the assembled students in a variety of baseball-related scientific facts as they settle in for the early game's first pitch. Morning baseball is fun for fans of all ages and we cordially invite retirees - businessmen and women able to stretch out their lunch hours - and all others to join us for the early start time. You won't be disappointed!

THURSDAY NIGHT, MAY 14th, 6:35 PM:

With the Defenders headed back to Norwich, here come the Portland Sea Dogs for the

first of a 5-game set at New Britain Stadium. The Boston Red Sox' Eastern League

affiliate is again bursting with talent and it will be on full display all weekend long. Thursday night will also be Healthcare Workers Appreciation Night, an occasion to stand up and say "Thanks!" to the Nurses, LPN's, and everyone who else keeps us going! The special evening is sponsored by Stone Academy. Thursday night is also Meet-the-Players Night at the Stadium as several Rock Cats will be available for a Photo Op and Autograph session at 5:15 PM with their fans in the home dugout. This little treat for Cats' fans is sponsored by our pals at Guida's Milk & Ice Cream. Another

pre-game spot for fun will be up in the Samuel Adams Rooftop Bar and Grill for the evening's "Thursday Night Happy Hour at the Park", sponsored by Bearingstar Insurance. There will be live Music in the open-air Bar and Grill by "The Happening" and a $3 Sam Adams Draft Special from 4:30PM until game time. Join us for the fun!

FRIDAY NIGHT, MAY 15th, 6:35PM

The Sea Dogs are back again at 6:35 PM for Game #2 of this five-game showdown at

New Britain Stadium. And once the exciting action concludes on the field, there'll be a

post-game Laser Light Show on the diamond, under the stars. This particular show has

received rave reviews and is well worth sticking around for; come see for yourself!

SATURDAY, MAY 16th - DAY/NIGHT DOUBLEHEADER:

When Portland last visited the Hardware City, the skies opened up and two games were officially rained out. One of those two contests is being made up on Saturday as part of a

separate-admission Day-Night Doubleheader.

GAME #1 - 12:05 PM: The make-up game is this newly-scheduled 12:05 PM game that will run for 7-innings. This High Noon affair has also been designated a "Turn Back The Clock Day" at the Stadium, whereby all Hot Dogs will be available for $1.00 thanks to our friends at Kayem and Freihofer. Bring your old-fashioned appetite with you for this one!

GAME #2 - 6:35 PM: This is the regularly scheduled game that will have a 6:35 PM first pitch and will, as League rules require for Doubleheaders, run 7-innings. It is the Portland club that is back with us again on Saturday night for Game #4 of this 5-game series. Before the action begins on the field, there will be a pre-game Block Party outside the Stadium's front gates as our friends from D'Angelo's and 7-11 will be out there offering food and drink samples and specials to fans that drop by from 4:30 PM on! For the kids, there will be games, bouncy inflatables, and other age-related fun activities on site as well. Last but hardly least, the Famous Dancing Christopher will be "in the house" to delight fans once again with his highly entertaining on-field performance. If you haven't yet seen this between-innings act, it alone is worth the price of admission. This is the first of three such performances that Dancing Christopher will be putting on this year in the Hardware City.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON, MAY 17th, 1:35PM

The year's Third Homestand will conclude on Sunday afternoon with this - Game #5 of the Weekend Series - between the Rock Cats and their Divisional rival from Maine, the Portland Sea Dogs. While the baseball action on the diamond will surely be exciting, so will action in and around that competition. Our friends at Barnum Financial Group - season-long sponsors of Sundays as "Family Fun Day" at New Britain Stadium - will double our pleasure on this day as they are also presenting the "BirdZirk! Mascot Act".

This is another classic, sports-venue act that will not disappoint either experienced or first-time viewers. This allows us a nice balance - intense baseball action on the field - and a heavy dose of comic relief offered by BirdZirk! For total relaxation and pleasure; stick around until the end for the post-game Kids Run of the Bases. This is a special weekly thrill for our youngest fans, ages-12-and-under.

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 upcoming 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: 10:00AM - 6:00 PM; Sat.: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM) in person. For those interested in the convenience of on-line purchasing, tickets may also be procured by visiting the Club's website at www.rockcats.com.

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Eastern League Stories from May 9, 2009


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