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World Series trophies part of Blue Sox promotional schedule

Date: 5/29/2014

SPRINGFIELD – Valley Blue Soz President Clark Eckhoff announced the promotional schedule for the Blue Sox today, highlighted by visits from the Red Sox World Series Trophies and Wally the Green Monster, Pat the Patriot, two $1 hot dog nights including the First Annual Pioneer Valley Hot Dog Eating Contest, Little League Nights, and a dozen different giveaway nights over the course of the season.
    “Apart from seeing future Major League stars at Blue Sox games, fans will be treated to great promotions and giveaways that make us the valley’s most affordable family fun,” Eckhoff said. “From T-shirts to bobbleheads to pennants, from Star Wars night to Latino Heritage Night to Christmas in July, we have many different giveaways and events that will appeal to our diverse fanbase.” 

Almost every night will feature Little Leagues from the different communities in the valley. The team has given free tickets to players in Little Leagues and each community has a special night set aside for them.

“The Little Leagues are a huge component of what we want to do as a franchise,” Eckhoff said. “We want young baseball and softball players to be able to come to our games and see their sport played at a high level.”

Each night has a special promotion as well, including the following:
• June 21 will feature the Red Sox World Series Trophies. Fans can take pictures with the trophies.

• June 26 will feature a special appearance by UMass Basketball Coach Derek Kellogg.

• June 28 will be Wally Day, as Wally the Green Monster will visit from the Red Sox, sponsored by Wealth Technologies and Subway. Additionally, the game will be the first Subway Little League Night, with free tickets available to all Little League baseball and softball players at participating Subway locations throughout the Valley.

• July 4 will be the First Annual Pioneer Valley Hot Dog Eating Contest, with $1 hot dogs all game long and $1 admission for youth and seniors.

• July 6 will be Military Appreciation Night, with all military personnel and their families to be provided free tickets with a valid ID.

• July 10 will feature a T-shirt giveaway, with the first 400 adults in attendance being given a T-shirt, sponsored by Williams Distributing and Yuengling.

• July 31 will be Big Red Bobblehead Night, with the first 400 fans ages 2 and older receiving a free Big Red bobblehead, sponsored by Skip’s Outdoor Accents.

Finally, Aug. 1 will be Fan Appreciation Night. There will be giveaways every inning, and Pat the Patriot from the New England Patriots will be in attendance.

All tickets will be half price for Fan Appreciation Night.

For fans who want to be sure of their seat at every game, the best option is to purchase a season ticket. For just $89 – a savings of over 30 percent off game day prices – fans can have a ticket to every game, including the NECBL All-Star Game on July 20.

The 2014 season will represent the Blue Sox seventh season in the Pioneer Valley, playing at Mackenzie Stadium in Holyoke. The Blue Sox have been a member of the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL; www.necbl.com) since 2008. The NECBL is funded in part by Major League Baseball and is comprised of 12 teams throughout all six New England states who recruit the elite athletes and premier pro prospects from around the world.

The Blue Sox appear to have a talented group coming to Mackenzie Stadium this year as 15 members of the 2014 roster will be participating in the NCAA Division I tournament.

“It really shows the quality of player that comes through here,” General Manager Hunter Golden said. “The players we bring in all have a big impact on their teams and we expect them to have the same impact when they come here.”

The current Blue Sox to make it to the tournament are pitchers Derik Beauprez and Cooper Hammond and outfielders Willie Abreu and Ricky Eusebio from Miami, catcher Dylan Delso and infielder Jeramie Fagnan from TCU, pitcher Chris Erwin and infielder Cornell Nixon from Kennesaw State, pitcher Zach Strecker and infielder Storm Wilson from Kentucky, catcher Josh Graham from Oregon, pitchers David Schmidt and Dan Starwalt and infielder Bobby Zarubin from Stanford, and utility player Weber Pike from South Carolina.