(from press release)

The Pacific Coast League is pleased to announce, in conjunction with MultiAd Sports, Cancer for College, Will Ferrell and the Round Rock Express, a one-of-a-kind collectible opportunity for fans throughout the PCL and the country.

The annually produced set features attractive, glossy baseball cards, this year including future household names such as Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, Brett Wallace, Logan Morrison and Jason Castro. Past PCL Top Prospects sets have spotlighted Tim Lincecum, Ubaldo Jimenez and Ryan Braun. Sets are on sale now, per availability, at the team stores of each of the PCL’s 16 clubs.

This year, in addition to highlighting 35 of the game’s top young stars, the PCL has replaced the checklist with a card that’s sure to catch the attention of collectors everywhere — a one-of-a-kind baseball card featuring Will Ferrell in-character as the mysterious Round Rock Express pitcher, “Rojo” Johnson.

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(from press release)

Bridgewater, NJ – The five-time Atlantic League Champion Somerset Patriots have announced the signings of outfielder Tim Raines, Jr. and catcher Pete LaForest.

Raines has Major League experience with the Baltimore Orioles, where he played in 75 games between 2001-2004.

Raines also has eight seasons at the Triple-A level for the Orioles, Washington Nationals, Houston Astros, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Kansas City Royals organizations.

Raines began the 2009 season with the Newark Bears, but was signed by the Royals and reported to their Triple-A affiliate in Omaha, where he played in 82 games.

In 2008, Raines hit .311 with 96 runs scored, 156 hits, 30 doubles, 13 triples, 18 home runs, and 78 RBI in 128 games played in Tucson, the Triple-A affiliate for the Diamondbacks.

He hit .333 with 43 runs scored, 95 hits, 14 doubles, 11 home runs, and 49 RBI in 100 games for the Astros Triple-A affiliate in Round Rock in 2007.

Raines has a minor league career .270 average with 775 runs scored, 1,265 hits, 231 doubles, 56 triples, 77 home runs, 482 RBI, and 454 stolen bases in 1,288 games played.

LaForest has 68 games of Major League experience with the Tampa Bay Rays, San Diego Padres, and Philadelphia Phillies, most recently in 2007.

LaForest had a .360 average with nine hits, seven runs scored, and three RBI in ten games with the Padres in 2007.

In addition to his Major League time, LaForest has seven seasons at the Triple-A level for the Rays, Padres, and Phillies.

LaForest has played in 886 minor league games and has 795 hits, 173 doubles, 157 home runs, and 534 RBI.

“We’re excited about bringing two Major League caliber players on board for the 2010 season. Both Tim and Pete have made it to the highest level and can use that experience to make our team that much better in 2010,” said Patrick McVerry, President/General Manager of the Somerset Patriots Baseball Club.

The Somerset Patriots have placed all tickets on sale for the upcoming 2010 season, beginning at TD Bank Ballpark on Friday, April 30th. For more information, call (908) 252-0700 or visit www.somersetpatriots.com.

(from press release)

The Charleston RiverDogs’ new Be Your Own Fan initiative has expanded to runners.

True runners enjoy a marathon or even a good 5K, but for the Low Country’s have-funners, the RiverDogs’ 1K Backwards Run might be more your style. The largest 1K Race in Charleston is set for April 15, at 5:30 p.m. at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park.

The event is sponsored jointly by Operation Boot Camp, The Brick and 95SX radio.

Runners will have to navigate backwards as they cover 0.62 miles (three laps) around the baseball field’s warning track. The course begins in the right-field corner of The Joe and finishes in Doby’s Deck. Tracking everyone’s speed — or lack thereof — will be split times at each two-tenths of a mile, in addition to a beer station to hydrate at the halfway mark.

All participants will enjoy a post-race dinner party at Doby’s Deck, where prizes will be awarded from most leisurely runner to largest beer belly.

Following the ceremony and dinner party, the event leads right into the Charleston RiverDogs’ game against the West Virginia Power. It’s also another Thirsty Thursday at The Joe, where there is a special $1 beer price. The after-party celebration will conclude downtown at The Brick, which is located at 213 East Bay St.

There is a minimum age of 21 for all participants. A $20 registration fee covers the entry for the race, commemorative 1K Run koozie (while supplies last), post-race dinner and awards ceremony in addition to a ticket to the game. Additional game tickets are available for $7 each.

“The RiverDogs like to keep annual events exciting, so we decided to make it a backwards run this year,” said RiverDogs Special Events Director Melissa McCants. “The backwards twist has created a lot of buzz and we can’t wait to see how much fun the runners have.

Participants can register for the race at Riley Park, online at www.riverdogs.com or on the day of the race between 3-5:15 p.m.

For more information about the 1K Backwards Run, please contact Amy Fritzsche or Melissa McCants at (843) 577-DOGS or amy@riverdogs.com.

(from press release)

Starring:

Clifton Collins Jr., Cheech Marin, Jake T. Austin, Ryan Ochoa, Emilie de Ravin, Patricia Manterola, Moises Arias, Louis Gossett Jr. and Jansen Panettiere

Synopsis:

Living amidst the gritty poverty of 1957 Monterrey, Mexico, a rag–tag group of boys from the wrong side of the tracks discovers the joy of sandlot baseball under the guidance of Cesar, an aspiring Major League Coach thwarted by discrimination.

Armed with the dream of playing a real Little League game, the young players defy a total lack of resources, disapproving parents, and widespread prejudice to score their first Little League victory and find themselves at the beginning of a once-in-a-lifetime journey.

Relying on their faith, a warm-hearted priest and their love of the game, the nine players and their coach embark on an incredible, record-breaking winning streak that leads them across the border to America, and all the way to the 1957 Little League World Series where a miracle will cement their place in history and change their lives forever.

Official Site:

http://www.theperfectgamemovie.com/

Trailer:

(from press release)

President of the United States Barack Obama will throw the ceremonial first pitch at Nationals Park in Washington D.C. prior to the 2010 season opener between the Washington Nationals and the defending National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies on Monday, April 5 at 1:05 p.m.

Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, who will be in attendance for the historic First Pitch, says:

“Opening Day of the baseball season is a special event for our country and its importance has been reinforced by the 100-year history of Presidential participation.  I am proud that President Obama will continue the long Presidential tradition of throwing out the first pitch of Opening Day in Washington D.C.”

Obama’s appearance will mark the 100th anniversary of the first time a U.S. President threw an Opening Day first pitch and the 48th time a President has done so in Washington, D.C. On April 14, 1910, William Howard Taft began the tradition before the Washington Senators went on to defeat the Philadelphia Athletics 3-0 behind a one-hit, complete game shutout by Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Johnson.

Therefore it’s only fitting that 100 years later, Washington once again faces their neighbors to the north in a highly-anticipated Opening Day showdown. This year, the Nationals made various changes during the offseason, adding plenty of new faces to the roster including catcher Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, pitchers Brian Bruney, Matt Capps and Jason Marquis, and second baseman Adam Kennedy. These and other new additions will join Nationals veterans Adam Dunn, Ryan Zimmerman and John Lannan, who will take the mound against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay following pregame ceremonies that begin at 12:30 p.m.

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