truebluefan

All Star Game Packages Go On Sale

Rome, GA - The Rome Braves play host to the 2007 South Atlantic League All Star Game Extravaganza June 17-19 and for the first time fans have the opportunity to purchase tickets. Beginning Saturday December 3rd at 9am and for a limited time, fans can purchase All Star Game Premium packages. All packages include a ticket to the All Star Concert at The Forum on June 18th and a ticket to the All Star Game on June 19th. The package also includes admission to the Fan Fest on June 19th, featuring inflatable games, food, and lots of interactive fun for baseball fans of all ages. Prices are $15 (Box Seats), $20 (Field Level), and $25 (Club Seating).

Rome begins the 2007 season on April 5th at State Mutual Stadium against the Augusta GreenJackets. Season tickets are available now at the Rome Braves ticket office.

truebluefan

Power Announces Game Program Cover Contest
12/01/06 - South Atlantic League (SAL) West Virginia Power

West Virginia Power
Charleston, WV (November 30, 2006) - The West Virginia Power is holding an art contest for students to design the 2007 Power Program cover. The West Virginia Power staff is currently contacting all schools within a two hour radius regarding participation in the contest. The winner, whose artwork will appear on the cover of the 2007 program, will receive an exclusive Power prize package, a special recognition ceremony on the field, a meet and greet with Power players, and a lunchtime cookout for his/her school with the Power Mascots! In addition, each student who submits artwork will receive four (4) Power tickets for FestivALL weekend, June 22-23, and name recognition in the 2007 program as well as on the WV Power website, wvpower.com. Deadline for submission is February 1, 2007.

All entries will be narrowed down to five finalists by a panel of independent judges. The five designs will be displayed on wvpower.com and open for public vote. The finalist's artwork which receives the most votes will be the 2007 Program cover and its designer the recipient of the prize package. All final five designs will also be displayed in the 2007 Power Program. Complete details can be found at wvpower.com.

• Discuss this story on the South Atlantic League message board...

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.

truebluefan

LAKEWOOD, NJ - The Lakewood BlueClaws, the class-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, will hold their sixth annual "Breakfast with Buster" food and toy drive Saturday, December 9 at FirstEnergy Park. Manhattan Bagel, Brick, is providing free bagels and coffee to all patrons who drop off items between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Buster and his holiday friend, Santa Claus will be at FirstEnergy Park to greet fans as they drop off items and enjoy free coffee and bagels.

"The last five years the community support for this event has been overwhelming" Geoff Brown, BlueClaws General Manager said. "This year, before you start your Saturday you can grab a bagel and a cup of coffee."

The BlueClaws will distribute all donated toys, toiletries, books and non-perishable food to the Salvation Army of Ocean County.

The BlueClaws open the 2007 season at FirstEnergy Park against the Greensboro Grasshoppers April 5 at 6:35 p.m.

The BlueClaws have led the league in attendance every year adding 448,310 fans in 2006. Next season, the BlueClaws will become the fastest team in South Atlantic League and New Jersey baseball history to reach the 3 million fan attendance mark. Season tickets and ticket plans are on sale now. For more information call 732-901-7000 or visit the BlueClaws website at NJ Minor League Baseball team Lakewood BlueClaws official site for family fun activities in NJ and New Jersey day trips, plus business meeting facility, corporate event fireworks, children's birthday parties, and more!.

truebluefan

LAKEWOOD, NJ - The Lakewood BlueClaws are offering incredible incentives for placing orders prior to the new year, including autographed memorabilia by former BlueClaws star and current Phillies first baseman, Ryan Howard, the 2006 National League MVP.

In all, 50 prizes will be drawn and awarded to fans that order any of the BlueClaws three ticket packages. Currently, the BlueClaws 7-game "Bushel of BlueClaws," 15-game "Partial Plan" and full season tickets are available.

For the first time, fans can select where they sit for a 7-game "Bushel of BlueClaws" or 15-game "Partial Plan" when purchasing a plan online through the club's website, NJ Minor League Baseball team Lakewood BlueClaws official site for family fun activities in NJ and New Jersey day trips, plus business meeting facility, corporate event fireworks, children's birthday parties, and more!. When purchasing your plan online the order information will be added to the drawing for one of the 50 prizes, if received by New Year's Day.

In addition to the holiday drawing, all fans that purchase a ticket plan can choose from Yankees, Mets or Phillies tickets (game date TBD) or new for this season, a 2006 South Atlantic League Champion duffel bag.

The BlueClaws open the 2007 season at FirstEnergy Park against the Greensboro Grasshoppers April 5 at 6:35 p.m.

The BlueClaws have led the league in attendance every year adding 448,310 fans in 2006. Next season, the BlueClaws will become the fastest team in South Atlantic League and New Jersey baseball history to reach the 3 million fan attendance mark. Season tickets and ticket plans are on sale now. For more information call 732-901-7000 or visit the BlueClaws website at NJ Minor League Baseball team Lakewood BlueClaws official site for family fun activities in NJ and New Jersey day trips, plus business meeting facility, corporate event fireworks, children's birthday parties, and more!.

truebluefan

AUGUSTA, GA - The Augusta GreenJackets were pleased to announce this afternoon that Senior Sales Director Tom D'Abruzzo has been promoted to assistant general manager of the ballclub.

D'Abruzzo, 34, is a native of Huntington, NY who joined Ripken Baseball in October of 2004 after a distinguished eight-year run in the ticket department of the AAA Las Vegas 51's of the Pacific Coast League. He joined the GreenJackets in October of 2005 to oversee both the ticket sales and corporate sales departments, and quickly became a driving force in the team's success during the 2006 season.

Under D'Abruzzo's supervision, the GreenJackets season seat department achieved a 23% increase in daily attendance which ranked second highest in all of Minor League baseball in 2006.

"Tom has done a stellar job in working with every department of our organization and this promotion is well deserved," said GreenJackets General Manager Nick Brown. "We are thrilled that he will continue to be a vital part of team's future in this new role."

Season seats for the 2007 Augusta GreenJackets season are now on sale at the GreenJackets box office by calling (706) 736-7889. For more information log onto Augusta GreenJackets.

truebluefan

CHARLESTON, SC -Former Major League pitcher and medical wonder Tommy John will be the featured speaker at the 3rd Annual Hot Stove Banquet & Silent Auction on February 2 at the Holliday Alumni Center on The Citadel campus.

The Banquet is sponsored by Talent Tree Staffing.

The Hot Stove Banquet is an annual collaboration between the Charleston RiverDogs and The Citadel Brigadier Foundation to whet the appetite of Charleston area baseball fans. In addition to the banquet, a silent auction will be held with proceeds going to The Citadel Brigadier Foundation for athletics scholarships and to MUSC's Storm Eye Institute, the RiverDogs' primary charity.

Also in attendance will be former Citadel standouts, including Charleston's Chip Cannon, who recently was named the Arizona Fall League's most valuable player.

"The Hot Stove Banquet is designed to get Lowcountry fans excited about the upcoming baseball seasons and we think that Tommy John, who is truly a great baseball and medical story, will help get folks talking baseball," said RiverDogs General Manager Dave Echols. "We're also proud to be a partner with The Citadel on this annual event."

"Last year's event was outstanding and we're extremely encouraged about the 2006 banquet," said TCBF Executive Director Stan Hurteau. "It is great to have this association with the professionals at the RiverDogs and working together we'll pool our resources and have a tremendous time."

Despite setbacks along the way, John eventually became one of the most well-known and inspiring Major League pitchers of all time. He made his professional debut at 20 years of age for the Cleveland Indians on Sept. 6, 1963, and was eventually traded to the Chicago White Sox. He played for more than 26 years, including additional stints with the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and California Angels. He recorded three 20-win seasons, appeared in four All-Star Games and pitched in four World Series.

During his 1974 season with the Dodgers, John permanently damaged the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching arm, and a miraculous revolutionary surgical operation was performed. The operation, widely known today as Tommy John surgery, replaced the ligament in the elbow of his pitching arm with a tendon from his right forearm. The surgery was performed by Dr. Frank Jobe on Sept. 25, 1974, and John spent the entire '75 season recovering. He surprised fans and players alike by returning to the Dodgers' rotation in 1976.

John pitched until 1989 and earned 164 of his 288 victories after his surgery. When he retired, John was 23rd on the all-time win list, sixth in games started, 17th in innings pitched and 26th in shutouts. In 1976 he was recognized with the National League Comeback Player of the Year Award by the Sporting News and he remains the winningest pitcher in Major League Baseball history not to be elected into the Hall of Fame.

The reception and auction begin at 6:30 p.m. with the dinner to start at 7:30. Tickets go on sale Monday, Dec. 18, and the price is $50 per person which includes dinner, beverages and admission to the auction.

For individual tickets and information on corporate tables, please contact the RiverDogs at 843/723-7241.

truebluefan

The Kannapolis Intimidators have announced that their souvenir store at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium will be open on December 16, 2006 from 11:00 am till 1:00 pm with special holiday savings. The one day sale will include $5.00 t-shirts and $10.00 fitted and adjustable hats.

Most items in the Intimidation Station will be discounted on the 16th. Also available are the 2005 and 2006 home jerseys worn by the players. This is your chance to own a piece of history by purchasing one of the jerseys that an Intimidator wore when the team won its only championship in franchise history in 2005.

The ticket office will be open for those fans looking to take advantage of the special savings by purchasing season tickets or mini plans before January 1, 2007. Among the savings is free parking passes for everyone who puts a deposit on season tickets by January 1st.

The Intimidators season begins on April 5th at Rome, GA. The Intimidators begin their home schedule on Friday, April 13th against the Savannah SandGnats. For any information or to purchase tickets over the phone, call 704-932-3267.

truebluefan

The Hagerstown Suns are excited to announce their coaching staff for the 2007 season, set to begin on Thursday, April 5th when the Suns take on the Hickory Crawdads at Municipal Stadium.

The Suns new manager for the 2007 season will be Tommy Herr. Herr, a lifelong resident of Lancaster, PA spent the past two seasons managing the Lancaster Barnstormers of the independent Atlantic League, leading them to a championship in 2006. Prior to his stay in Lancaster, Herr spent 12 years as an assistant coach of Hempfield High in Landisville, PA, his alma mater.

Herr enjoyed a 13-year career in Major League baseball with five teams. Herr is probably best known for his tenure with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1979-1988. In 1985 he was an All-Star, batting .302 with 110 RBI and 97 runs scored, helping to lead the Cardinals to the World Series. He later played for the Twins, Phillies, Mets and Giants.

Hitting Coach Jerry Browne and Pitching Coach Paul Menhart come to Hagerstown in 2007 after working together on the Savannah Sand Gnats staff in 2006.

Browne, a former second baseman and utility player for Texas, Cleveland, Oakland and Florida, was the hitting coach in Augusta in 2005. He led the GreenJackets to a .268 average, third best in the league. In 2006, his first season in Savannah, the Sand Gnats hit .241. Browne is a native of Christiansted in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Before his coaching career in Savannah, Menhart also had Major League playing experience. He made his MLB debut pitching for Toronto in 1995. He also pitched for Seattle in 1996 and San Diego in 1997. Prior to 2006 he spent three seasons coaching at Western Carolina University. In 2006 the Sand Gnats pitching staff compiled a 4.65 ERA under Menhart.

Atsushi Toriida will take over the training duties for the Suns. Toriida also spent 2006 in Savannah after spending 2003-2005 with the Vermont Expos, now the Vermont Lake Monsters, of the NY-Penn League.

The Hagerstown Suns are a single-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. Ticket packages and sponsorships are available by calling the Suns at 301-791-6266. The Suns are owned by Los Angeles based Mandalay Baseball Properties.

truebluefan

Greenville, SC - The Boston Red Sox today announced that Gabe Kapler will be the new manager of the Greenville Drive. Kapler takes over for Luis Alicea, who was named first base coach of the Red Sox on November 29th.

Kapler, who has nine seasons of major league service, announced his retirement Tuesday afternoon and was subsequently named the Drive manager.

"I have been thinking about this transition for many years, and believe this to be the right time," said Kapler. "This will afford me the opportunity to make an impact in the lives of young men, not only to help them develop as baseball players, but also more importantly, as human beings.

The 31-year-old Kapler has spent part or all of the last four seasons with the Red Sox. He opened 2006 continuing to rehab from a ruptured left Achilles tendon injury in which he sustained while running the bases on September 14, 2005 at Toronto.

The right-handed batter finished his major league career with a .270 average, 64 homers, and 302 RBI in 850 games with Detroit (1998-99), Texas (2000-02), Colorado (2002-03), and Boston (2003-06). After being selected by the Tigers in the 57th round of the 1995 First Year Player Draft, he made his major league debut with Detroit after being named as the consensus minor league player of the year in 1998.

Kapler belted a career best 18 homers with Detroit in 1999 before being traded to Texas in November of that year. In his first season with the Rangers, he hit safely in a club record 28 straight games and batted a career best .302. Kapler established major league highs with 134 games, 483 at bats, 77 runs, 72 RBI, 61 walks, and 23 stolen bases in 2001.

He signed with the Red Sox as a free agent in 2003, appearing in 68 games the rest of the year. Kapler played in 136 contests for the 2004 World Champions and re-joined the club on July 15, 2005 after spending time with the Yomiuri Giants of the Japanese Central League. Overall, he posted a .270 average in 312 games with the Red Sox.

Moreover, Kapler is known throughout the baseball community with his acts of charity. In 2005, Gabe and his wife, Lisa, co-founded the Gabe Kapler Foundation, which is dedicated to educating the public about domestic violence and helping women escape abusive relationships.

This past year Kapler was named the Red Sox Club Man of the Year, for contributions to the success of the team and cooperation in community endeavors.

"We are excited to have an individual with the character and reputation of Gabe's, join our organization," added Drive General Manager Mike deMaine. "His ability to lead our players on the field, as well as set positive examples in the community, should excite the fans of Greenville Drive Baseball."

Season tickets and partial plans, which make great holiday gifts, for the 2007 season at West End Field, "Ballpark of the Year," are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling the Drive at (864) 240-4500.