Rock Cats Return Home on Friday Night to Start Weekend of Important Baseball

Published on August 19, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - With the calendar now reading late August - and local newspapers running back-to-school ads and bus schedules - the surging New Britain Rock Cats, with less than 20 games to go, will return home on Friday night (8/21) to begin a brief - but highly significant - 4-game Weekend series against a talented Southern Division foe. The on-field opposition this weekend will be provided by the Reading Phillies - the Eastern League affiliate of the NL's Philadelphia Phillies - a determined club who, like the Rock Cats, harbor legitimate postseason aspirations. Both teams are playing hard in this 2009 stretch run, and will now face each other in a series that could help determine which one makes it into the 2009 Playoffs. This looks to be an intense baseball weekend in New Britain but, as it's the Rock Cats, one that is also loaded with opportunities for families, fans, - and pets! - to get together for some late-Summer fun at the ball park!

Here are the details associated with the action in and around New Britain Stadium for the period between Friday, August 21st and Monday, August 24th:

FRIDAY NIGHT, AUGUST 21st, 7:05 PM:

The Rock Cats and R-Phils - both battling to earn a berth in their respective Divisional Playoffs - will square off for the first-of-four games at 7:05 PM on Friday night. These young Phillies are loaded with talent - their record certainly reflects that - so this should be an exciting baseball weekend. In addition to the action on the diamond, Friday evening is also the occasion when the Rock Cats will pay tribute to community Group Leaders from across the region prior to the game. Our lives are all better for the efforts of this diverse group of community leaders who volunteer their time and considerable talents to enhance the lives and opportunities of their neighbors. We will proudly salute them in a pre-game ceremony. Moreover, as its Friday night, we'll also be staging a Postgame Pyrotechnics Show that, thanks to our pals at The Stanley Works, will send fans of all ages home in a celebratory mood! Also joining us on Friday night are fundraisers for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, folks from Webster Bank raising resources for the United Way, as well as advocates for the Easter Seals of Greater Hartford and Pheonix House in Springfield. Thank you all!

SATURDAY NIGHT, AUGUST 22nd, 7:05 PM:

The Reading team is back for Game 2 on Saturday night and, well before the baseball action even begins, there'll be a Pregame Block Party outside the Stadium's main gates as our friends from D'Angelo's will be out there at 4:45 PM offering food and drink samples and specials to fans who drop by! For the kids, there will be games, bouncy inflatables, and other age-related fun activities as well. It's all free, of course. And once fans start heading through the turnstiles - as the Rock Cats and their guests, the R-Phils - go through their pre-game warm-ups on the field - they'd be wise to watch out for flying pigskins as it Football Night at New Britain Stadium! The first 1,200 fans through the gates will receive a free, Rock Cats logo mini-football! These versatile items - made possible by our friends at Loureiro Engineering Associates and The Real Yellow Pages - are equally at home on the playground, or on display in a bookcase. Very cool! We'll also have the Head Coach and players from the Central Connecticut State University Football Team with us - in their Blue Devils jerseys - greeting fans at the front gates. Like the Rock Cats, the boys from CCSU represent New Britain with great pride and we are pleased to huddle up with them on the eve of a new football season. Finally, once the evening's baseball action concludes, stick around for the Saturday night postgame fun called AT&T Launch-A-Ball, whereby participating fans can go home with great prizes - cash, gift cards, electronics, and tickets to some of the hottest events in Connecticut - if they can accurately toss a numbered tennis ball at an on-field target. Its lots of fun and all proceeds go to benefit the Rock Cats Foundation which, in turn, provides assistance to our neighbors in need. A Win-Win!

SUNDAY AFTERNOON, AUGUST 23rd, 1:35 PM:

The aspiring Phillies from Pennsylvania are back with us for the penultimate game of this series - in the penultimate Homestand of the Rock Cats 2009 Regular Season - at 1:35 PM on Sunday afternoon. On this second-to-last Sunday afternoon home contest of the year, the Rock Cats will also be giving away Retro Lunch Boxes to the first 1,200 kids (12-and-under) through the gates, courtesy of Click It or Ticket! Join us Sunday as we also celebrate Faith and Family Day at the Stadium where, after the exciting game on the field, the popular musical group ETx will take to the diamond to perform a free postgame concert. Sing along! We are also pleased to have folks from the March of Dimes with us on this day. And, as its Sunday, it's Family Fun Day at the Stadium thanks to our friends at the Barnum Financial Group. While the musicians are tuning up, the kids can all come down to the field for the post-game Run-of-the Bases! Memorable - great fun for all.

MONDAY NIGHT, AUGUST 24th, 7:05 PM:

The brief homestand will conclude on Monday evening at 7:05 PM when the R-Phils make their last appearance of the 2009 Regular Season in the Hardware City. Perhaps we'll see them again...In addition to the baseball action on the field, it's also the 2nd Annual Bark in the Park Night at the Stadium, whereby all dog lovers are invited to bring their favorite canines to the game! For the second consecutive year, dogs may enter the gates of the Stadium along with their owners and stay for the entire game. Owners who bring their dogs must purchase a ticket for both themselves and their dog; the special $10 doggie ticket includes entrance to the park, a doggie gift bag filled with coupons and treats - and unlimited water. All pets will be required to stay in a designated "doggie zone" adjacent to the Best Buy patio area and, while owners will be responsible for their pet's behavior and actions, they will not be required to clean up after them. DoodyCalls, a local pet waste removal service, will be on site to clean up after your pet all night long! The Rock Cats have partnered with several non-profit, dog-friendly charities which will use Bark in the Park as either a fundraiser or an opportunity to raise public awareness about their particular services. These worthy groups include the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, We Adopt Greyhounds, Connecticut Greyhound Adoption, Help Save One, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Coast to Coast Dachshund Rescue, Enfield Dog Park, as well as the Glastonbury and Rocky Hill Dog Parks. This is truly something to woof about!

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

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Eastern League Stories from August 19, 2009


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