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Beach Bums Fans Will Enjoy Mancino's Pizza For Third Straight Year

Frontier League



TRAVERSE CITY, MI, NOVEMEBER 09, 2007: The Traverse City Beach Bums have announced Mancino's Pizza and Grinders will return as the Official Pizza of the Traverse City Beach Bums in 2008.

"We are thrilled to bring back Mancino's as our Official Pizza for 2008," said Beach Bums General Manager Leslye Wuerfel. "Mancino's has great food at great prices and their service is excellent. Our relationship with Mancino's goes beyond being just a vendor - they are a part of the Beach Bums Nation."

Beach Bums fans that join in on the fun at Wuerfel Park this summer will be able to see and taste how completely Mancino's is involved with Beach Bums Baseball. Mancino's showed their support this year by sponsoring a home run banner in right center field, the Beach Bums Magnet Schedule, a spot on the Beach Bums Pocket Schedule, and an in-between inning contest.

Mancino's Beach Bums and Beach Babe of the Night has been one of the more popular contests during the Beach Bums' first two seasons. The contest gives away a free large pizza to Mancino's to two lucky fans that come out to the game and support the home town team by wearing Beach Bums' merchandise.

Mancino's will also carry on a tradition of providing all mid-workout meals for Beach Bums' players during training camp in 2008.

"Our players have love Mancino's food," said Beach Bums Field Manager Jon Cahill. "Not only is the food good, but the service is amazing. The players are thrilled any time they come in from a workout and see Mancino's pizza, pasta, grinders, or salad on the table. It's great to see the tradition continue for 2008."

The Traverse City Beach Bums are members Frontier League which fields twelve teams in seven Midwest States. The Frontier League enters in 16th season in 2008 and will celebrate a league wide opening date on Wednesday, May 21, 2008.

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Surf Obtain Righty Robinson From Sussex

Atlantic City, N.J. - The Atlantic City Surf of the Can-Am League have obtained righthanded pitcher Dennis Robinson from the Sussex Skyhawks in exchange for cash and draft picks.

Robinson went 4-4 with a 3.48 ERA in 28 appearances for the Can-Am's North Shore Spirit in 2007. The 25-year-old made seven starts and also registered one save, striking out 31 hitters in 77.2 innings of work while walking just 11. Sussex purchased Robinson's contract from North Shore after the Spirit disbanded following the season.

Last season was Robinson's second with North Shore. The Englewood, N.J., native also had an impressive 2006 campaign, putting together a 5-4 record and a 2.28 ERA in 30 appearances, 29 in relief. Previously, he had spent two seasons in the Baltimore Orioles' system, reaching as high as single-A Delmarva. Robinson was signed by Baltimore as a non-drafted free agent out of Jacksonville University, after finishing second in the nation with 13 wins at the end of the 2004 regular season and earning a first-team All-Atlantic Sun Conference selection in his senior year.

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Surf To Host Northeast Conference Tournament

Atlantic City, N.J. - The Atlantic City Surf announced today that the club will host the 2008 Northeast Conference baseball tournament at Bernie Robbins Stadium from May 22-24.

The championship will consist of a four-team, double-elimination tournament comprised of six or seven games over three days. The top four teams based on regular-season conference winning percentage qualify for the tournament. The championship game(s) will be held on Saturday, May 24, with the winner advancing to NCAA regional competition as the league's automatic qualifier.

Last season, with the tournament held at New Britain Stadium in New Britain, Conn., the two lower seeds advanced to the championship, with No. 3 Monmouth holding off No. 4 Central Connecticut State for its first NEC title since 1999 and a berth in the NCAA tournament.

"We're excited to have the NEC here this spring," Surf president Chris Carminucci said. "The tournament is an opportunity for us to showcase Bernie Robbins Stadium, and we look forward to putting on a first-class event for high-quality Division I baseball."

Central Connecticut State, Fairleigh Dickinson, Long Island, Monmouth, Mount St. Mary's, Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart and Wagner are the NEC's eight baseball-playing schools.

"We are pleased to return the NEC Baseball Tournament to Atlantic City and Bernie Robbins Stadium," Ron Ratner, NEC Associate Commissioner added. "Our student-athletes had a positive experience here in the past and we look forward to working with the Surf toward making this year's tournament a special event."

Ticket information for the tournament can be obtained by calling the Surf at (609) 344-7873.

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WICHITA, KS- Wichita Pro Sports introduced the newest member of their family today, the Wichita Wingnuts, who begin their first season in the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball (AA) this May.

Wingnuts was chosen from over 200 entries submitted during The Wichita Eagle's name-the-team contest as well as input submitted from numerous leaders of the business community.

"It has been a long process, but a thorough one", said President of Wichita Pro Sports Chris Presson. "In the end we wanted a unique name and a look that would suggest fun, while still maintaining a tie-in to Wichita's great history of aviation."

The logo, unveiled at today's press conference at the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, was designed by Associated Advertising. It features a sinister baseball hiding behind the words "Wingnuts" and wearing a wingnut for a baseball cap. The team colors are red, silver and black.

Wichitan Hank Haneberg came up with the winning selection. He will receive a pair of season tickets to the 2008 Wingnuts season as well as Wingnuts merchandise. He will also receive season tickets to Wichita Pro Sports other two entities, the Wichita Thunder and the 2008 National Baseball Congress (NBC) World Series.

The Wingnuts proudly introduced Kash Beauchamp as their first field manager. Beauchamp (pronounced BEE-chum) brings 25 years of pro experience to the club, including 10 at the Independent level.

Drafted first overall by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1982 January draft, Beauchamp played 12 years of minor league baseball. During his playing career, he was a three-time all-star and in 1984 was voted the "Best Defensive Outfielder" and the "Outfielder with the Best Arm" by Baseball America. In 1993, while playing with the Northern League's Rochester Aces, Beauchamp became the first Independent League player ever signed by a Major League Team (Cincinnati Reds).

Upon his retirement, Beauchamp served as a batting instructor with the Montreal Expos organization for three years. He took his first managerial job in 1998 with the New Jersey Jackals, leading the team to the Northeast League Title. After two more seasons with the Jackals, Beauchamp managed the Northern League's Lincoln Saltdogs in 2001 and Adirondack Lumberjacks in 2002. Kash and the Lumberjacks moved to Bangor for the 2003 and 2004 seasons. He managed the AA's Pensacola Pelicans in 2006.

Most recently, Beauchamp served as director of scouting and vice president of baseball operations for the South Coast League. His all-time record as manager stands at 339-324.

"We are thrilled to name Kash as our first field manager", said Wingnuts general manager of baseball operations Josh Robertson. "He has a great resume and has built tremendous relationships throughout his 25-year baseball career, essential to helping him assemble our inaugural team."

Beauchamp will be assisted by Pitching Coach Luke Robertson. A 27th round draft choice of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1999 amateur draft (824th overall), Robertson was a standout at Butler County College and then Kansas State University, where he compiled a combined record of 14-14. Robertson played three seasons in the Oakland A's farm system, compiling a 12-12 record before injuries forced his retirement in 2005.

The Wingnuts formally introduced their ownership group today, led by Horn Chen. Chen has solely owned the Wichita Thunder since the franchise began Central Hockey League (CHL) play in the inaugural 1992 season. Steve Ruud, owner of the 46-year-old concrete company, R.A. Ruud and Son, Inc., spearheads the local ownership group. He is joined by Nick Easter, co-owner of NCRI, Dan Waller, vice president of Conco Construction and Gary Austerman, a partner in the law firm, Klenda, Mitchell, Austerman and Zuercher, L.L.C. -MORE- The newest members of the Wingnuts ownership team are Detroit Tigers pitcher Nate Robertson, Josh Robertson and Chris Presson. Nate, Josh and Luke Robertson are all brothers.

The American Association (AA), originally started in 1902 - and reformed in 1969 - began its current stint in October, 2005. Based in Durham, North Carolina, the Independent League fields 10 teams; including the Fort Worth Cats, El Paso Diablos, Lincoln Saltdogs and the well-known St. Paul Saints. The 96-game schedule, which runs from May thru August, will be released next week.

The Wingnuts replace the Wichita Wranglers, who relocated to Springdale, Arkansas following the 2007 Texas League season. The Wranglers had played in Wichita since 1989. They were preceded by the Wichita Pilots (1987-88), the AA's Wichita Aeros (1970-84), the AA's Wichita Braves (1956-58) and the Wichita Indians (1950-55).

The NBC World Series will play its 74th season from August 1-15, 2008. The NBC has been played at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium since 1935, when founder Raymond "Hap' Dumont offered Satchel Paige, considered the greatest pitcher of the day, $1,000 to bring his touring team from Bismarck, North Dakota. Paige struck out 60 batters and won four games, as his Corwin-Churchill team beat Duncan, Oklahoma, 5-2 in the finals.

The Thunder, meanwhile, returns to action this weekend with a pair of games versus the Tulsa Oilers. Following a road game on Friday, the Thunder will host Tulsa on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at the Kansas Coliseum. For more information on baseball or hockey, please call our office at 264-GOAL or visit our websites Standings - Wichita Thunder Hockey and AA Standings - Wichita Wingnuts Baseball. Both sites were designed by 360wichita.

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BOISE, ID - Pitcher Jerry Blevins and outfielder Tyler Colvin were recently selected to the United States Olympic Team.

Team USA is currently competing in the World Cup in Chinese Taipei. Colvin helped lead the United States to a 7-0 win yesterday over Panama. He went 1-for-4 with a double.

Colvin played for Boise in 2006. He was a NWL All-Star, hitting .268 with 11 HR's and 53 RBIs.

Blevins was part of two Hawks teams. He was 6-1 with a 1.62 ERA with the Hawks in 2004. In 2006, he went 1-2 with a 6.04 ERA. The left-hander made his Major League debut with the A's last summer, appearing in 6 games for Oakland.

The Hawks are preparing for their 22nd season of Northwest League play. The club has won 6 NWL Championships, the most recent banner coming in 2004. Season, mini-plan, and single game tickets for Hawks' games are available at 322-5000. Don't stand in line. Purchase and print your tickets from home @ BoiseHawks.com. The Boise Hawks...rated F for fun!

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Jonathan Papelbon headlines star-studded Spinners Dinner

LOWELL, MA - The Lowell Spinners, Class A Affiliate of the 2007 World Champion Boston Red Sox, will celebrate Boston's World Series victory and welcome back some of the best former Spinners players at their sixth annual Alumni Dinner to benefit the Joann Weber Foundation.

The dinner will take place on Friday, November 30 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Lowell, Massachusetts. Tickets are expected to sell out.

The lineup of scheduled guests includes one of the biggest stars in Red Sox Nation: two-time All-Star, reigning World Champion closer and 2003 Lowell Spinner, Jonathan Papelbon.

Papelbon was named this year's winner of the Dick Berardino Lowell Spinners Alumni Award, which is presented to a Lowell Spinners Alumni who has displayed tremendous coachability, determination, dedication, a passionate work ethic and the heart to make it to the Major League Level.

The evening will also feature: Red Sox first base coach and former Spinners manager Luis Alicea (2004-2005); 2004 World Series Champion Gabe Kapler, who made rehab appearances with the Spinners in 2003 and 2005; Red Sox 2007 No. 1 Draft Pick Nick Hagadone (2007); 2003 fan-favorite Scooter Jordan; and 1999-2000 Spinner Dan Giese. Jonathan Papelbon's twin younger brothers, Jeremy and Joshua Papelbon (2006), will also be attending.

The famous first base from Game 6 of the 2004 American League Championship Series - the location of Alex Rodriguez's infamous slap - will also be on display after being used in every Lowell Spinners game this summer thanks to sponsor Electrical Wholesalers.

There will also be a silent and live auction. The silent auction will run from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. with the program to follow.

Tickets are on sale now for $55.00 (adults) and $35.00 (kids 12 & under) which includes a dinner and autograph session from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Only 400 tickets are available for the event and can be purchased online at lowellspinners.com or by calling 978-459-1702. All tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be available the date of the dinner.

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Spinners to host Yard Sale at LeLacheur

The Spinners are having a Yard Sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 10 at LeLacheur Park. The rain date is a week later on November 17. We're cleaning out our back room and storage sheds, putting our assorted odds and ends on sale, including baseball cards, bobbleheads, product samples and game worn uniform accessories. To top it off, the entire LeLacheur Park team store will be 20% off from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (this incluldes Red Sox World Series merchandise). You've never seen a yard sale like this before! For questions or comments, contact Jeff at the Souvenir store by clicking below.

All proceeds from the Yard Sale will benefit the Joann Weber Foundation. For more information, visit Lowell Spinners!

Additionally, we would like to thank all of our fans for their interest and your support of our 2007 Lowell Spinners Alumni Dinner. Tickets are now sold out.

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The Hagerstown Suns have made it a priority this off-season to replace the infield at Municipal Stadium. After months of planning, the infield renovation project began Wednesday. The project includes complete stripping of the infield grass, leveling and laser-grading the entire infield as well as laying new sod and infield dirt.

The project was made possible through a partnership by the City of Hagerstown, Washington County, Hagerstown/Washington County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Washington Nationals and the Hagerstown Suns. Alpine Services Inc. of Gaithersburg, MD won the bid to perform the renovation. Alpine Services Inc. also resurfaced the entire playing surface of Harry Grove Stadium in Frederick, MD one year ago. Harry Grove Stadium is home to the Frederick Keys.

It is believed that this is the first resurfacing at Municipal Stadium since the Suns began playing in Hagerstown in 1981.

Updates of the progress can be viewed online by visiting The Official Website of the Hagerstown Suns - Class A Affiliate of the Washington Nationals and viewing the "Photo Gallery" selected from the menu on the left margin of the Suns' homepage.

The following webpage links directly to the Infield Renovation Photo Gallery.

Suns Photo Gallery :: Infield Renovation Fall 2007

For more information on the 2008 season, or to inquire about Suns ticket packages and sponsorships, contact the Suns at 301.791.6266 or info@hagerstownsuns.com. The Suns are a Class "A" affiliate of the Washington Nationals and are owned by Mandalay Baseball Properties of Los Angeles, California.

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Greensboro Grasshoppers Announce Newbridge Bank As New Stadium Naming Rights Partner

Greensboro, NC - The Greensboro Grasshoppers have announced that NewBridge Bank, the new bank resulting from the merger of LSB The Bank and FNB Southeast, has signed a 10-year commitment to be the naming rights partner for the Grasshoppers downtown stadium.

The announcement by Chairman of NewBridge Bank, Robert Lowe and President and Chief Executive Officer of NewBridge Bank, Pressley Ridgill followed the unveiling of NewBridge Bank's new logo at the Greensboro corporate headquarters

"We are thrilled about this opportunity to partner with the Grasshoppers, and we anticipate a long and vibrant relationship," Mr. Ridgill said. "It's a great way to establish our presence in Guilford County. But, most important, it's a sign to residents of Greensboro and Guilford County that we are committed to the community."

"This is another positive step forward for our organization and this community," said Grasshoppers President and General Manager Donald Moore. "Having a bank of this magnitude in Greensboro is a wonderful accomplishment, but having them as your partner is even better."

First Horizon Bank, the previous namesake for the facility, has chosen to concentrate its efforts on mortgage lending and corporate banking rather than the initial plan for personal banking services in the area.

"We are thankful for our relationship with First Horizon, but their strategy in the market has clearly changed," said Moore.

The Greensboro Grasshoppers are the Single-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins and have welcomed over 1,250,000 fans in their first three seasons, becoming the only Class A team in the history of Minor League Baseball to draw over 400,000 fans and grow its attendance for three straight years in a new ballpark. They are the proud recipients of both the South Atlantic League's Club Merit Award and the General Manager of the Year Award for the past three years.

Season tickets and advertising packages are now on sale for the 2008 season. For more information, please contact the Grasshoppers office at 336.268.BALL or visit Greensboro Grasshoppers :: Welcome.

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Roland Hemond to speak at 12th Annual Hot Stove Banquet

The 12th Annual Cedar Rapids Kernels Hot Stove Banquet, featuring guest speaker Roland Hemond, will be held on Thursday, January 31st at the Cedar Rapids Crowne Plaza Five Season Hotel.

The annual Hot Stove tradition, which dates back to 1997, is an opportunity for fans of the game to get together and talk baseball. It also provides a great opportunity to raise money to support the Kernels Foundation.

The Kernels are pleased to welcome Roland Hemond, Special Assistant to the President with the Arizona Diamondbacks, who will be the guest speaker at the banquet.

Hemond is among the most experienced and influential executives in professional baseball. His award-filled career, which began in 1951, has given him the opportunity to play instrumental roles in many aspects towards the growth of the game of baseball throughout the globe. During his respected career, Hemond has gained notoriety for his motivating and mentoring of rising colleagues as well as championing needed causes in the game and beyond the scope of baseball. Melding this background with his reputation as a fabulous storyteller, Hemond has become a popular, sought-after speaker, inside baseball as well as with corporations and charities.

A three-time Major League "Executive of the Year" Award recipient, Hemond began his career in 1951 with the Boston Braves organization. Under the tutelage of General Manager John Quinn and Farm/Scouting Director John Mullen, Hemond learned the motivational and administrative requirements necessary for making a championship organization, as the relocated Milwaukee Braves captured the 1957 World Series.

Hemond is a native of Central Falls, Rhode Island. He and his wife, Margo, have five children and three grandchildren. The Hemonds reside in Phoenix, Arizona.