EL1 Akron RubberDucks

RubberDucks Bringing Canal Park to WABL

Published on April 23, 2014 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


(AKRON, OHIO) April 23, 2014 - The Akron RubberDucks announced today it will be bringing the "Canal Park experience" to the West Akron Baseball & Softball League's (WABL) first game of the 2014 season on May 3 at Forest Lodge Community Center in Akron. Starting at 11 a.m., a special opening ceremony will include a first pitch by Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic, and a renaming dedication of the baseball diamond at Forest Lodge to Akron RubberDucks Field at Forest Lodge.

The game will be between the WABL Force and WABL RubberDucks in the 9-to-10-year-old girls softball division is slated to start at 12 p.m., following the opening ceremony.

Throughout the game, the kids will get to feel like professionals, just like the real Akron RubberDucks. The team will have a public address setup, batters' walk-up music, and the fun between-inning promotions that fans who frequent Canal Park have come to love. The game will also be recorded by the RubberDucks' HD cameras and the highlights will be shown on WABL Day at Canal Park on June 29, when the Harrisburg Senators take on Akron at 2:05 p.m.

"This is very exciting, not only for the boys and girls of WABL, but the entire West Akron community. This is going to be a great day for the children and families of WABL and something the kids will remember forever...and that's what it's all about," said Mike Dies, president of WABL.

"Forest Lodge's field is where I grew up playing, so it is very exciting to take our show on the road there to give these kids the experience of being Akron RubberDucks for a day. We wanted to help a terrific organization such as WABL have a fun start to its year while giving kids a chance to feel like Big Leaguers," said RubberDucks General Manager Jim Pfander. We're honored to have a field named after us. It reflects the efforts of our franchise to connect and give back to the Akron-area community."

"We are grateful to have such good support from the RubberDucks and the City of Akron. Along with all of our sponsors and supporters, they are a big help to WABLs mission to provide the kids of West Akron a great place to "˜Play Ball,'" said Dies.

The West Akron Baseball & Softball League (WABL) was established in 1957, and continues to be a non-profit organization. The league consists of boys youth baseball, girls youth softball, and co-ed T-ball teams. The league is open to all West Akron children, ages 5-18 years old. For more information, go to www.wabl.org or call 330-867-4332.

The Akron RubberDucks are the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The 2014 season the 18th since moving to Canal Park and its first since becoming the RubberDucks. For more information and merchandise featuring the Akron RubberDucks, go to www.AkronRubberDucks.com or call 330-253-5151. The Akron RubberDucks are on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AkronRubberDucks and Twitter at @AkronRubberDuck.

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Eastern League Stories from April 23, 2014


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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