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Rock Cats Set For Yanks' First 2008 Visit...

April 15, 2008 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - Along with the arrival - finally! - of some brilliant blue skies and warm Spring air, here come the Trenton Thunder - Eastern League partners of the American League's vaunted New York Yankees - to do their annual best to upset the sense of hopeful optimism that has just begun to settle over southern New England.

Trenton will pull into New Britain Stadium this Thursday morning, April 17th, to engage the host Rock Cats in a High Noon baseball showdown - and in so doing will help the Rock Cats launch their second homestand of the new 2008 Season. And - as is usually the case in the Hardware City - there will be loads of value added pre-game giveaways and on-field fun to give fans and family members of all ages a great reason to come out to the ballpark.

Here is a quick overview of the 2nd Homestand of 2008 at New Britain Stadium:

THURSDAY, APRIL 17th, 12:05 PM:

This 7-game ‘stand will get off to a thunderous start when Trenton swaggers out of the visitors' dugout and onto the Stadium diamond at mid-day this Thursday. New Britain's new manager - 55-year-old Bobby Cuellar - has his 2008 Rock Cats playing very well on the road, and now he'll be looking to secure his first win at New Britain Stadium. The Thunder are associated with the New York Yankees which means that acquiring home W #1 will be tough because the Trenton roster is full of prospects seeking to climb up on the big stage in The Bronx. As its School Vacation Week in most of the Nutmeg State, we expect to have loads of kids and parents in our midst for this, the new season's first mid-day contest. So come early, leave early - and in between watch some guys who are clearly destined to become household names at the next level.

FRIDAY, APRIL 18th, 6:35 PM:

Game #2 of this 4-game series with visiting Trenton will be an early evening affair and the 6:35 PM contest will be book-ended by a pre-game Stanley Tool Extravaganza at the Stadium's front gates - and the season's first post-game Fireworks Show, also sponsored by Stanley Tools. The pre-game fun will include a substantial exhibit of the newest and best tools manufactured by Stanley - a wide range of Stanley's Mac Tools, Vidmar, Bostich and Proto items will be on display. Prizes will be offered and this year's "Stanley Tools Challenge" will get underway - a popular competition that will conclude with some lucky (and handy) fan being crowned Connecticut's Champion! The fun and excitement will start early - the tool exhibit will be set up by 3:30 PM - and continue until well after the evening's baseball entertainment has concluded.

SATURDAY NIGHT, APRIL 19th, 6:35 PM:

The Rock Cats will hook up with Trenton for the third day in a row when the two teams again take the field at 6:35 PM. These early-season Divisional games are important as it seems that these two rivals are always neck and neck later in the year. Prior to the start of this Saturday night game, however, something equally important will be taking place at the Stadium - an event for kids called "Run With My Hero"! The Rock Cats and the Hartford Marathon Foundation have teamed up to offer kids in our area the opportunity to nominate - and then run the bases/field with - the people in life they most admire. These folks can include a teacher, parent, policeman, firefighter, soldier, coach, aunt, uncle, or anyone else who is worthy of a credible entry. Kids from ages 3-14 years are encouraged to submit nominations and run distances from as short as 50 yards or as long as two miles. Interested kids can register at www.hartfordmarathon.com or call 860-652-8145. The more, the merrier! All participants get free Stadium parking, a free t-shirt (limit 350) and the kids receive free tickets to the evening's Rock Cats game with the Thunder! All Heroes and their child sponsors will be publicly recognized by the Rock Cats on the field, starting at 4:00 PM. After the game, for those with any energy left, there will be a Kids Run the Bases, sponsored by the Barnum Financial Group, a division of MetLife. Following that, the season's first Post-Game Launch-A-Ball contest will be held. This fun activity - sponsored by AT&T - offers great prizes with all benefits going to a local charity and the Rock Cats Foundation. Great fun; great cause; everybody wins!

SUNDAY AFTERNOON, APRIL 20th, 3:05 PM:

The four-game series between the Rock Cats and Trenton will conclude with a 3:05 PM contest on Sunday afternoon. The unusual start time is in place to accommodate fans who wish to attend Sunday services prior to coming out for Faith and Family Day at the Stadium. After the ‘Cats and their guests from the Garden State have settled their score, the folks from Safe at Home with Scott Dawson will take to the diamond for some reflection and Christian Rock music.

MONDAY NIGHT, APRIL 21st, 6:35 PM:

With the Yankees' affiliate thundering out of town, a new club enters the visitors' dugout at New Britain Stadium and on this night - and for the next three days - we are joined by the Reading Phillies, EL partners of the National League's Philadelphia Phillies. The Southern Division team that spawned the City of Brotherly Love's 1B Ryan Howard - among others - will be with us through Wednesday. We'll also have a bunch of students in on Monday as its College Night at the Stadium - an occasion at which local students can show their stuff in a pre-game (5:00 PM) Hot Dog Eating Contest, with the winner getting a flat screen TV from Bernie's. Skip lunch, finish the homework early, and arrive hungry! The evening will also include live, pre-game music and food and drink specials.

TUESDAY NIGHT, APRIL 22nd, 6:35 PM:

The R-Phils are back for Round 2 of this three-game set and, as its Tuesday, it's also Kids Eat Free Night in New Britain. Every child 12-and-under who comes to the game gets a coupon for a free Hot Dog and Mott's Juice Drink, thanks to Harte Nissan. In addition, the mustard, relish, onions, ketchup and straw are on the house! More importantly, however, Tuesday night is also Bus Driver Appreciation Night, whereby every bus driver who makes advance contact with the Rock Cats Box Office (860-224-8383) will be presented with a complimentary ticket to Tuesday night's game. The man who drives the Rock Cats team bus - our own Paul Krish - will toss out the ceremonial First Pitch. Stay in your lane and let it fly Paul!

WEDNESDAY MORNING,APRIL 23rd, 10:35 AM:

The series with Reading - and the homestand - will conclude with the new season's second Baseball in Education Day, sponsored by Dattco Transportation. The morning game will allow thousands of young fans to witness a professional baseball game while also learning important game-related information from our friends at the Talcott Mountain Science Center in Simsbury. Come out for some coffee, sunshine and early baseball - barring extra innings, we'll get everyone home in time for lunch and a nap.

Many good seats remain available for each game of this upcoming homestand at New Britain Stadium. Fans interested in securing tickets are invited to either visit the Box Office at New Britain Stadium (Open at 10 AM every day), the club's website (www.rockcats.com) for online purchasing, or to call the Rock Cats Ticket Office at (860) 224-8383.



Eastern League Stories from April 15, 2008


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