By Paul Gotham
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – In their first year of existence, the Genesee Rapids will host the 2014 New York Collegiate Baseball League All-Star Game Tuesday, July 8th at Houghton College’s brand-new Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex. New Era, the Official Cap of Major League Baseball, will sponsor the annual event.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for us,” Rapids president Ralph Kerr said. “We’re really excited to have the All-Star Game coming to Houghton and to allow the Rapids to host it this year.”
Buffalo-based New Era will provide all-star hats and shirts along with additional game sponsorship.
“We were able to reach out to New Era and make this connection,” Kerr continued. “They appear to be really excited about it and we’re obviously thrilled by it. It will help us with some of the expense that we’ll have.”
“New Era, the Official Cap of Major League Baseball, is proud to sponsor the 2014 New York Collegiate Baseball League (NYCBL) All Star game,” stated New Era Sponsorship Manager Gary Borkowski. “We are excited to be the involved with the NYCBL and look to grow our relationship for years to come.”
A luncheon for all-star participants, coaches, league personnel and media, featuring guest speaker Ed Kilgore, will start the day. Kilgore is the former Sports Director at Channel 2 in Buffalo.
The day continues with the Skills Competition coordinated by Major League Baseball. Players will take part in the 60 yard dash, infield/outfield and batting practice. Scouts will also evaluate catchers and bullpen work. Representatives from more than 20 MLB teams were on hand last year in Geneva.
Country music artist Kelsea Ballerini, of Black River Entertainment in Nashville, Tennessee will perform from 5 to 6 p.m.
NYCBL Home Run Derby contestants take the field at 6 p.m. Annex Baseball will sponsor the Annex Bat Award given to the derby champion.
Player introductions and a ceremonial first pitch from New Era scheduled for 7 p.m. will follow.
Teams will represent a pair of local charities: the Royal Family Kids Camp and Houghton Volunteer Fire Department. The Royals will wear blue New Era caps, and the Volunteers will don red. Royal Family Kids Camp helps heal the emotional scars children receive when left in Social Services. Local EMT’s will provide training and standby service at all Genesee Rapids home games.
Borkowski added: “Good luck to all participants and we look forward to watching their careers advance.”
D Bat Inc. will sponsor the 2014 Outstanding Defensive and Offensive Player Awards.
Post-game fireworks will be provided by Young Explosives.
Rob Winemiller (Geneva Red Wings) highlighted the 2014 NYCBL All Star. In one inning the relief pitcher went from relative obscurity to a draft prospect. MLB.com and the Cleveland Plain-Dealer both wrote articles about the Case Western Reserve player.
The recently opened Kerr-Pegula Complex includes stadiums for baseball and softball, a multi-sport field and field house with an indoor track and tennis courts. Initial funding was provided by Terry and Kim (Kerr ’91) Pegula, daughter of Genesee President Ralph Kerr.
Along with World Headquarters in Buffalo, New Era has 14 locations worldwide including facilities in London, Tokyo and Los Angeles.
Leave a Reply