KINSTON, NC - The Down East Bird Dawgs are excited to announce the inaugural 2025 season promotional schedule! The schedule is packed with exciting theme nights, giveaways, community initiatives, and unforgettable ballpark experiences for fans of all ages. “Baseball season is right around the corner, and we couldn’t be more excited about what we have in store for Bird Dawgs fans,” said Kristopher Dumschat, Director of Marketing, Promotions & Fan Experience. “Our team is dedicated to providing a fun experience for everyone, and we believe this year’s promotional schedule delivers just that.” Key promotional events for the 2025 season include: May 2025 Friday, May 9 th - Inaugural Opening Night, Friday Fireworks, Bojangles Full Season Magnets Giveaway Saturday, May 10 th - Star Wars Night, Clear Bag Giveaway by UPS Store & Medsource Sunday, May 11 th - Mother's Day Celebration sponsored by Brain West Jewelers Wednesday, May 14 th - School Dayz (First Pitch at 11AM) Wednesday, May 21 st - School Dayz (First Pitch at 11AM) Friday, May 23 rd - Mission ImPAWsible Night Saturday, May 24 th - Memorial Day Weekend, Basketball Jersey Giveaway sponsored by Walker Insurance Group Sunday, May 25 th - Memorial Day Weekend, Mini American Flag Giveaway June 2025 Wednesday, June 4 th – Military Appreciation Night Friday, June 6 th - Friday Fireworks Saturday, June 7 th - Parrot Head Night, Hawaiian Shirt Giveaway sponsored by Down East Homes Wednesday, June 18 th , Military Appreciation Night Friday, June 20 th - Superhero Night, Superhero Cape Giveaway sponsored by Kinston Police Department Saturday, June 21 st - Scouts Night, Dog Bandanna Giveaway sponsored by DEPS Security July 2025 Wednesday, July 2 nd - Camp Day (First Pitch at 11AM) Friday, July 4 th - Fourth of July Fireworks, Friday Fireworks sponsored by the City of Kinston Saturday, July 5 th - Red, White, and Blue Night, Patriotic Hate Giveaway sponsored by Stallings Friday, July 11 th – Mascot Rowdy’s Birthday Celebration Saturday, July 12 th - Giveaway Night, Baseball Jersey Giveaway sponsored by Pepsi Sunday, July 13 th - Christmas in July Wednesday, July 30 th - Camp Day (First Pitch at 11AM) August 2025 Wednesday August 6 th - Camp Day (First Pitch at 11AM) Friday, August 8 th - Friday Fireworks Saturday, August 9 th - Giveaway Night, Lunchbox Cooler Giveaway sponsored by Pizza Hut Wednesday, August 20 th – Military Appreciation Night Friday, August 22 nd - Friday Fireworks Saturday, August 23 rd - Country Night, Cowboy Hat Giveaway sponsored by Country View Western Store Sunday, August 24 th – Fan Appreciation Day The Bird Dawgs will also have weekly promotions throughout the season at their home games this year: Every Tuesday: Bark in the Park! Can you handle a whole season of Tuesdays being the ruff-est day of the week? We're paws-itive it's possible, and that's why we're unleashing Bark in the Park nights at Historic Grainger Stadium - EVERY Tuesday home game this season! Every Thursday: Thirsty Thursday! Warning: Our EIGHT Thursday home games at Historic Grainger Stadium may cause excessive cheering, spontaneous dancing, and a sudden urge to high-five strangers. Come for the Bird Dawgs, stay for the drinks (and also the Bird Dawgs)! Every Saturday: Giveaway Night! Come to a Bird Dawgs home Saturday game and leave with some swag! Every Saturday home game will have a special giveaway to the first fans into the ballpark, while supplies last! Every Sunday: Sunday FUNday & Kids Run the Bases presented by Davis Wholesale Tire Co. Who needs brunch when you can hang with the Bird Dawgs all season long? Come out to Historic Grainger Stadium for our inaugural 2025 season and join us for Sunday FUNday at every Bird Dawgs Sunday home game, where kids get to run wild (literally, they run the bases after the game) presented by Davis Wholesale Tire Co. - first pitch on Sunday's is at 1:30PM! Friday FIREWORKS! The Bird Dawgs are about to light up the sky over Historic Grainger Stadium like a bunch of crazy fireflies on steroids! We will be hosting FIVE Friday Fireworks night's throughout the inaugural 2025 season! You can purchase our special Friday Fireworks Ticket Package and reserve the same seat for all five games & post-game fireworks! Friday, May 9, 2025 (Opening Night) Friday, June 6, 2025 Friday, July 4, 2025 (Independence Day) Friday, August 8, 2025 Friday, August 22, 2025 Single-game tickets for the 2025 season are available through the Bird Dawgs website or on the Tixr ticketing platform. Tickets start at $10 per ticket for games on Sunday through Thursday and $14 per ticket for games on Friday & Saturday. The Bird Dawgs will kick off their inaugural season on Friday, May 9, 2025, at 7:00 PM first pitch. Additionally, the team has scheduled an exhibition game against Lenior Community College Lancers on Monday, May 5, 2025, starting at 6:00 PM.

AUGUSTA, NJ – As the Sussex County Miners enter their 10th anniversary season, the organization is thrilled to announce a major investment in the franchise’s future: the installation of a state-of-the-art turf field at Skylands Stadium. The capital improvement marks a pivotal step in the Miners’ long-term commitment to the community, enhancing the fan experience and the facility’s versatility for years to come. Work is anticipated to be completed this spring. “We’re entering a very exciting time in our organization’s history,” said Michael Dorso, owner and president of the Miners. “The new turf field represents more than just a superior playing surface—it symbolizes our continued commitment to growth, reliability, and building a sustainable future for sports and entertainment in the region.” Dorso added, “Our mission after 10 years is to demonstrate to our fans, partners, and the broader Sussex County community that we are here to stay and plan on elevating this franchise to greater heights.” The decision to install a turf field comes as the Miners celebrate back-to-back seasons of record attendance, a testament to the growing enthusiasm and support from the community. “We’ve seen firsthand how passionate our fans and partners are,” noted Vincent Sangemino, the team’s general manager. “It’s because of them that an investment of this magnitude is possible.” The synthetic turf will address several operational challenges, including minimizing the impact of inclement weather on games. “Rainouts have long been a challenge, but with this new surface, we can drastically reduce the number of postponed games and shorten rain delays. Fans will be able to come to the ballpark with confidence that even if a shower is forecasted, the game will go on,” Sangemino explained. The turf field will also provide a professional, safe, and reliable playing surface for year-round use, significantly expanding opportunities for adult and youth sports programs throughout Sussex County. It will be available to rent for community events, practices, and games, creating more ways for local athletes to experience a world-class facility. Fans will get their first look at the stadium’s latest enhancement during the Miners’ annual Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival on Saturday, May 3. This family-friendly event takes place on the field and features a fun day of great food, drinks, live music, games, and more. Tickets can be purchased at skylandsstadium.com/foodtruck.  This announcement marks the first of many as the Miners continue to roll out exciting news leading up to Opening Day on May 8. Fans are encouraged to visit scminers.com and follow the team’s social media accounts for the latest details on improvements, theme nights, and offerings. For information about renting or scheduling an event on the new field, please reach out to the Miners at contact@scminers.com or (973) 383-7644.

The new Frontier League Network is set to launch for the 2025 season!

WASHINGTON, PA – Tyler Wehrle, a right-handed pitcher that played his college ball at Tiffin before signing with the Milwaukee Brewers organization, has signed with the Wild Things in the team’s latest transaction ahead of the team beginning camp in 23 days. Wehrle spent the last three summers pitching in the Brewers farm system, getting as far as High-A Wisconsin (2024). Last season, Wehrle was 2-3 with a 4.07 ERA in 28 games (two starts). He finished five games as well, recording one save. In 59.2 innings, he struck out 52 versus 27 walks with 62 hits against. In 2023, Wehrle pitched for the Carolina Mudcats (Class A) and was 8-7 with a 4.11 ERA in 28 appearances, only one of which was a start. He finished 11 games that season and had two saves. In 81 innings, he struck out 74 and walked 31 with 76 hits allowed, good for a career-best 8.2 K/9. He began his pro career in 2022 with ACL Brewers Gold. He appeared in two games, making one start for the rookie affiliate and struck out two in three innings. In four seasons at Tiffin University (NCAA Division II), the righty was 23-11 with a 3.92 ERA in 42 games (34 starts). He logged five complete games and 213.1 total collegiate innings of work. In that work he fanned 219 batters and walked 76 against 190 hits. As a senior in 2022, he worked his way to a 3.24 ERA in 66.2 innings and was 6-1 before being named a First Team GMAC selection. He was second team All-Conference as a junior in 2021. He was a four-year letterwinner at Lakota High School. Wehrle figures to factor into the competition for a role in Washington’s starting rotation in his first taste of independent baseball. He and his teammates report in just over three weeks for the first practice of Spring Training, scheduled for April 24, league-wide. The Wild Things open their season on the road Friday, May 9, and the home opener, presented by EQT and at EQT Park, is scheduled for Tuesday, May 13 at 7:05 p.m. Season tickets, group packages and premium areas are available now by calling 866-456-WILD or by going to washingtonwildthings.com. Fans can also follow the team’s social media pages and site for news, including on X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok and YouTube. Search @WashWildThings, go to youtube.com/@WashWildThings or go to facebook.com/washingtonwildthings.

The Washington Wild Things were the class of the Frontier League’s West Division in 2024, winning a franchise-record 67 games, the Division Championship, and making it all the way to the Championship Series. Although their run ended up falling short, Washington is set to pursue the division title and make a deep playoff run again in 2025. There were plenty of individual awards to go around the Wild Things organization after last season, the most notable of which was the Morgan Burkhart Most Valuable Player award being bestowed upon outfielder Caleb McNeely. He was also part of the 2024 All-Frontier League Team, along with designated hitter Tyreque Reed and relief pitcher Gyeongju Kim. A significant change to keep an eye on in 2025 for the Wild Things is the hiring of pitching coach Hector Nelo. Nelo, a former draft pick of the Texas Rangers, will oversee a Washington staff that ranked at or near the top of the league in most major statistical categories, including ERA and WHIP. The Wild Things also added two more names to a long list of former players in Major League Baseball organizations this offseason. Star reliever Alex Carillo was picked up by the New York Mets and assigned to Triple-A after last season concluded. Infielder Cole Roberts, who was a late addition to Washington’s roster, was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies on a minor league deal in January. Former pitcher Spencer Bivens, who was with the team in 2021, was recently announced as part of the San Francisco Giants’ Opening Day roster. On an organizational level, the Wild Things had one of the more eventful offseasons in the league. The team recently had its playing surface replaced, thanks to a partnership with FieldTurf. The synthetic turf system incorporates a new design with FieldTurf's state-of-the-art XTHD-50 artificial surface. It is the first replacement of the playing surface since 2011. Another massive development that occurred on March 25 was the debuting of Washington’s Partnership with EQT Corporation. The new three-year partnership was announced in a press conference where the naming of the Wild Things’ home as “EQT Park” was debuted. The stadium will play host to events such as concerts, the Taco and Tequila Festival, the Pride Festival and so much more in 2025. The Wild Things will welcome fans back into their refurbished stadium with an Opening Night firework show on Tuesday, May 13 when they host the Ottawa Titans. Washington will be putting on firework shows after every Friday home game. Other promotions the team has announced include a series of bobblehead giveaways on select Saturday games, free tickets for all senior citizens on Wednesday games as a part of their Senior Slugger Program, and free Sunday afternoon tickets for children 12 and under when they sign up for the Wild Things Kids Club! The Wild Things will open their season on Friday, May 9 on the road against the Windy City ThunderBolts. To keep up with all of the team’s announcements, promotions, and for ticket information, head over to washingtonwildthings.com! 

AVON, OH - The Lake Erie Crushers have signed Juan Zapata , a 26-year old right-handed pitcher from the Dominican Republic out of the Cleveland Guardians organization. Zapata, 26, began his professional career at the age of 19, appearing in the Dominican Summer League before breaking into A-Ball with the Lynchburg Hillcats in 2021. Since then he has seen time at every level of the Guardians’ minor league organization, making it to AAA-Columbus as recently as last season in 2024. He dazzled in his opportunity, giving up just one run in five innings across his two appearances. Overall, in his six seasons in MiLB, Zapata sported a 4.87 ERA across 364 innings. He pitches to contact and limits walks, surrendering 3.0 BB/9 in his career to go with 276 strikeouts. Zapata made five starts for the Lake County Captains (High-A) in 2024 and has 46 career starts under his belt. Zapata gives Skipper Jared Lemieux options to expand his starting rotation or supplement the strong bullpen in 2025.

WASHINGTON, PA – Outfielder Kadon Morton is the newest Wild Thing following his release in spring training that followed five seasons in the Braves organization. Morton was back in the outfield this spring after pitching during the 2024 season for two different Atlanta affiliates. His first four playing seasons in affiliated ball were as an outfielder, the position he was drafted for in the 19 th round of the 2019 draft. Morton logged 20 appearances, eight of which were starts, last summer and totaled 47.1 innings. He struck out 44 and had an ERA of 6.27 in his first season on the mound with a lively arm. He was drafted as an outfielder from Seguin High School in Texas and latched on with some pop during his time in the Braves farm system. He began his pro career in 2019 and played in 32 games for the GCL Braves (rookie ball). He hit a homer and had five doubles and two triples with nine RBI in 113 plate appearances. After the 2020 MiLB season was cancelled due to COVID-19, he played with the FCL Braves in 2021. In 45 games, he drove in 17, had 10 doubles, three triples and a homer to go along with 14-for-17 in the stolen base department. The 2022 season was split between two affiliates for Morton as he played in 113 total games: five for Rome (A+) and 108 for Augusta (A). In total, he posted a .226/.337/.383 slash line with 13 homers and 51 RBI that coupled with 11 doubles and four triples. He stole 12 bags and walked 57 times that season. In 2023, he played 80 games with Rome and hit four homers while driving in 18. Morton figures to compete for a spot in the outfield and on the Wild Things roster when camp begins in just less than a month.  The Wild Things open their season on the road Friday, May 9, and the home opener, presented by EQT and at EQT Park, is scheduled for Tuesday, May 13 at 7:05 p.m. Season tickets, group packages and premium areas are available now by calling 866-456-WILD or by going to washingtonwildthings.com . Fans can also follow the team’s social media pages and site for news, including on X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok and YouTube. Search @WashWildThings, go to youtube.com/@WashWildThings or go to facebook.com/washingtonwildthings .

By Christian Gingras QUÉBEC CITY, QC – The Quebec Capitales enthusiastically announce the signing of Kenen Irizarry, a dynamic and athletic player who will strengthen the infield for the 2025 season. A 25-year-old native of Puerto Rico, Irizarry is a former 13th-round draft pick of the Texas Rangers in 2018. After beginning his professional career in affiliated baseball, he continued his successful career in the Frontier League with the Lake Erie Crushers, where he played in 2022 and 2023. Considered primarily a defensive player, he still, in 160 total games with Lake Erie, maintained a batting average of .269, hit 16 home runs, and drove in 78 runs. An explosive athlete, Irizarry stands out for his intensity on the field and his defensive skills. "He's a player who can hurt the opponent in several ways. He's aggressive and fast at second base and could significantly help solidify the Capitales' infield," said manager Patrick Scalabrini. During the winters of 2021 to 2025, Irizarry also played in the Puerto Rico Winter League (PRWL), primarily with the RA12 team, a team founded by legend Roberto Alomar and focused on developing young local talent. Known as a springboard as well as a rallying point for some major league players, this league offers a high level of competition. Irizarry rubbed shoulders with several players from the major leagues and affiliated leagues, which helped refine his batting approach and solidify his defensive game. With the arrival of Kenen Irizarry, Patrick Scalabrini's recent recruiting mission to Puerto Rico is already bearing fruit. "We saw a lot of talent there. Kenen is a great example of the type of player we wanted to attract: athletic, intense, and accustomed to a high level of competition," he said. The addition of Irizarry is part of the Capitales' desire to rely on versatile and competitive players to defend their title. Already three-time Frontier League champions, the Capitales will begin the 2025 season with an ambitious and well-balanced roster. Fans will have the opportunity to discover Irizarry starting in mid-May, when training camp begins at Canac Stadium.