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MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

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July 11, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


HEY FANS!

Welcome to News and ‘Notes,' your weekly source for all the best information about your favorite minor league team! After taking two of the first three games from the Cedar Rapids Kernels, the Swing have moved back all alone into first place in the Midwest League's Western Division. With a 12-6 start and the best record in the league to this point under their belts, the Swing try to stay hot as they finish off a homestand tonight before taking to the road for a seven-game trip through Wisconsin (again) and Dayton.

IT'S DOLLAR NIGHT!

Fans, we've got a special Monday night promotion here at John O'Donnell Stadium tonight! Davenport residents: The Swing and the City of Davenport are celebrating Davenport Community Appreciation Day at the ballpark tonight! Davenport residents can get tickets for just one dollar at the gate, with proof of residence. Citizens will be able to purchase up to four one-dollar tickets, and a total of 1,000 will be sold. In addition, for everbody, we've got one-dollar hot dogs and one-dollar pops, all night long, so don't miss out!

Finally, the Swing have announced that former Iowa Hawkeyes player and currently Houston Rockets forward Ryan Bowen will be at the ballpark to throw out a ceremonial first pitch. What's that mean? Get here early!

GET YOUR LONESTAR TICKETS TODAY!

The Swing are excited to welcome Lonestar to John O'Donnell Stadium on Saturday, September 3, a perfect start to your Labor Day weekend as part of the Budweiser Swing Concert Series. Tickets are available now by calling the Swing at (563) 328-2000, by stopping by the Swing's John O'Donnell Stadium box office, or by clicking right here:

https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2/team.asp?SponsorID=348

In addition, tickets for the Rock ‘N Roll Doubleheader featuring Def Leppard and Bryan Adams are currently available.

Finally, the Swing have just announced the special appearance of The Liverpool Legends, the world's foremost Beatles Tribute band!

THE SWING LOVE TO HELP OUT!

The Swing spend a lot of time at the ballpark, but they also like to spend time in the community. This past week alone, Phillip Andersen, CLYDE, Mike Ferris, and Chris Patrick talked baseball (and kickball!) and signed autographs at YMCA Summer Fun Club events throughout the area, and Jaymie Torres and Matt Shepherd played softball and signed some autographs at the Quad City Family Life Association's Save Our Streets event.

If you are interested in having a Swing player or Clyde help improve your community event, please call the Swing at (563) 324-3000!

UPCOMING HOME GAMES

Sure, the Swing head on the road for a week beginning on Wednesday, but that doesn't mean it's too early to plan ahead for some huge upcoming Swing home games! After the end of this trip, the Swing will play 16 of their next 20 games at home, in a stretch from July 21 through August 10. Here are some of the highlights of that stretch of games:

FIREWORKS NIGHTS, sponsored by KWQC-TV 6, on Fridaly, July 22, and Friday, August 5.

Saturday, July 23: The Johan Santana bobblehead giveaway, courtesy of Pepsi, Mediacom, KLJB Fox 18, the Dispatch, WOC and WFXN. The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a bobblehead of this 1998 Quad City River Bandit and the 2004 American League Cy Young Award winner! The Albert Pujols bobblehead was gone in nine minutes, so get here early...very early!

Wednesday, July 27: It's a Hooters/97 Rock Beverage Night, featuring live music from 6:00 until game time, plus drink specials until 8:30. In addition, celebrate an old classic with Dukes of Hazzard night! Finally, it's the annual Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest, beginning at 4:00...come early and stay late!

Thursday, August 4: Get your 2005 Swing of the Quad Cities team poster!

Sunday, August 7: Deere Harvester Credit Union Day at John O'Donnell Stadium

Tuesday, August 9: The Optimist Clubs get your ready for the 2005 school year (!) with their annual night at John O'Donnell Stadium!

Game of the Week: Swing 8, Cedar Rapids 7

It was like old times for the Swing of the Quad Cities, who rallied back in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat Cedar Rapids, 8-7, before a packed Saturday night crowd. The Swing, out of the top spot in the standings for the first time all half, watched as the Kernels scored seven times against the soon-to-be promoted Dennis Dove in the first five innings. But, trailing by a 7-3 score, the Swing surged back with one run in the fifth, one run in the sixth, and three more in the bottom of the eighth inning before newcomer Jason Cairns closed the door in the ninth inning. Wes Swackhamer, Nick Stavinoha and Eric Verbryke all starred at the plate for the Swing, while Brian Miller and winning pitcher Bo Dickerson were flawless before giving way to Cairns. And, when the night was over, the Swing were back in their rightful spot, tied with the Kernels for first place.

Player of the Week: Matt Shepherd

All-Star shortstop Matt Shepherd earns his second Player of the Week honors after a fantastic last seven days in which he ranked seventh in the Midwest League with a .444 batting average while continuing to provide stellar defense at every infield position but first base. Shepherd had his 11-game hitting streak snapped with an 0-for-4 game on Sunday, but batted .457 (21-46) in a streak that began all the way back on June 29. This included a 4-for-4 game in which he also drew a walk in the Swing's 9-3 win on Wednesday night. An eighth-round pick out of the University of Southern Mississippi, Shepherd was a shortstop for most of the first half, but has moved to third base - a new position - in recent weeks. Most impressively, Shepherd has shown great skill while batting out of the second spot in the order, drawing a team-leading 49 walks while striking out only 41 times all season.

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Midwest League Stories from July 11, 2005


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