Post by sader1970 on May 26, 2022 6:29:31 GMT -5
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'It’s money well spent and time well spent' - Bravehearts open at home Friday, dedicating season to fans
Bravehearts kick off 'Twenty-Twenty You' home slate Friday against Nashua
Rich Garven
Telegram & Gazette
WORCESTER — The Worcester Bravehearts have consistently provided Central Mass. baseball fans with a triple crown experience since their debut in 2014.
That is, high-quality play on the field, an entertaining experience from the first to the last pitch and affordable prices (did someone say free parking?) at the ticket kiosk and concession stands.
Expect more of the same this season beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday when the Bravehearts host the Nashua Silver Knights in their home opener at historic and cozy Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field, the game to be followed by Worcester baseball’s original Friday night fireworks display.
Make that way more, especially when it comes to the funfest for loyal and new fans alike.
“Even though it’s always been a fun experience, we are continuing to amp it up,” general manager Dave “Peterman” Peterson said prior to Thursday’s season opener at Brockton. “And we’ll be doing things this year at Bravehearts games that have never happened anywhere in the country.”
That includes tinkering with the rule book for a couple of days.
The Bravehearts will play exhibition games here June 7 and 8 as part of Baseball in Education Day. New rules, that were primarily devised by Worcester Public Schools students and selected by Peterson and his staff, will be unveiled each day.
A couple of possible examples are a batter taking a pie to the face if he strikes out or a fielder having to sit out the rest of an inning if he commits an error. The rules will apply to both teams.
The sunset is always a pretty sight over Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field when there's a Bravehearts home night game.
“We’re not going to do anything that would put these student-athletes at risk,” Peterson said. “So we’re not going to be run the bases backward, but we’ve got kids — a lot of kids — that have come up with creative rules that they want to see in the game, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
As for those players, the Bravehearts again have a talented roster that is appealing to area fans as they look to seek their ninth playoff berth in as many seasons, a run that has seen them win FCBL championships in 2014, ’15, ’18, and ’19 and advance to the final three other times.
There are close to 20 players on the 46-man roster who have ties to CMass, many of whom are among the 23 who compete collegiately at the Division 1 level and also check the requisite boxes on the organization’s list.
They include the likes of Frankie Hernandez (St. Peter-Marian/Monmouth), David Pedanou (Doherty/Dayton), Gavin Price (Quabbin Regional/Farleigh Dickinson), and Mikes Simes, a UMass Lowell commit who will join the Bravehearts after he completes his senior season at Wachusett Regional.
“I think every year we're trying to build a balanced team that is going to have quality pitching with back-end arms and an offense that can swing it,” said fourth-year manager Alex Dion, a Westboro High graduate who resides in Hudson and teaches and coaches at Milford.
“And when we’re going through the recruiting process we’re looking at a number of different things. Yes, I want good players, but I (also) want guys who are going to be positive, give back to the community and want to work hard and be selfless.
“It’s early, we’ve only worked out twice, but for the guys who have been here _ about three-quarters of the team has reported so far _ are all of those things. And they certainly have me excited.”
The Bravehearts have dedicated the season to their fans, dubbing it Twenty-Twenty You.
To that end, Fitton Field will have a more personalized, local look this season with a “Home is Where The ‘Hearts Are” fan fall in right field that measures 90 feet by 12 feet and will be adorned with 500 faces of fans and logos of area businesses.
And it’ll mark the return of the all-you-can-eat ticket. For $22 for adults, $11 for kids 12 and under, fans gain admission to the park and the opportunity to endlessly devour Fitton jumbo franks, Angus beef burgers, grilled chicken sandwiches, chips and popcorn, soda or bottled water.
That’s down $3 from a year ago.
Taken together, the Bravehearts believe they offer baseball fans the opportunity to watch top-notch baseball and experience whimsical fun and exuberant entertainment at wallet-friendly prices in a city it now shares with the Worcester Red Sox.
“We take great pride in the value proposition that we’re able to offer folks,” team president and owner John Creedon Jr. said. “It’s money well spent and time well spent.
“The general consensus is at the end of a Bravehearts game as folks are exiting the gates back to their cars, whether the team has won or lost, people are leaving with smiles on their faces wanting more Bravehearts baseball. And that is the fuel in our engine that keeps us going.”
www.telegram.com/story/sports/2022/05/25/worcester-bravehearts-add-excitement-home-opener-set-friday/9905928002/
Bravehearts kick off 'Twenty-Twenty You' home slate Friday against Nashua
Rich Garven
Telegram & Gazette
WORCESTER — The Worcester Bravehearts have consistently provided Central Mass. baseball fans with a triple crown experience since their debut in 2014.
That is, high-quality play on the field, an entertaining experience from the first to the last pitch and affordable prices (did someone say free parking?) at the ticket kiosk and concession stands.
Expect more of the same this season beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday when the Bravehearts host the Nashua Silver Knights in their home opener at historic and cozy Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field, the game to be followed by Worcester baseball’s original Friday night fireworks display.
Make that way more, especially when it comes to the funfest for loyal and new fans alike.
“Even though it’s always been a fun experience, we are continuing to amp it up,” general manager Dave “Peterman” Peterson said prior to Thursday’s season opener at Brockton. “And we’ll be doing things this year at Bravehearts games that have never happened anywhere in the country.”
That includes tinkering with the rule book for a couple of days.
The Bravehearts will play exhibition games here June 7 and 8 as part of Baseball in Education Day. New rules, that were primarily devised by Worcester Public Schools students and selected by Peterson and his staff, will be unveiled each day.
A couple of possible examples are a batter taking a pie to the face if he strikes out or a fielder having to sit out the rest of an inning if he commits an error. The rules will apply to both teams.
The sunset is always a pretty sight over Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field when there's a Bravehearts home night game.
“We’re not going to do anything that would put these student-athletes at risk,” Peterson said. “So we’re not going to be run the bases backward, but we’ve got kids — a lot of kids — that have come up with creative rules that they want to see in the game, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
As for those players, the Bravehearts again have a talented roster that is appealing to area fans as they look to seek their ninth playoff berth in as many seasons, a run that has seen them win FCBL championships in 2014, ’15, ’18, and ’19 and advance to the final three other times.
There are close to 20 players on the 46-man roster who have ties to CMass, many of whom are among the 23 who compete collegiately at the Division 1 level and also check the requisite boxes on the organization’s list.
They include the likes of Frankie Hernandez (St. Peter-Marian/Monmouth), David Pedanou (Doherty/Dayton), Gavin Price (Quabbin Regional/Farleigh Dickinson), and Mikes Simes, a UMass Lowell commit who will join the Bravehearts after he completes his senior season at Wachusett Regional.
“I think every year we're trying to build a balanced team that is going to have quality pitching with back-end arms and an offense that can swing it,” said fourth-year manager Alex Dion, a Westboro High graduate who resides in Hudson and teaches and coaches at Milford.
“And when we’re going through the recruiting process we’re looking at a number of different things. Yes, I want good players, but I (also) want guys who are going to be positive, give back to the community and want to work hard and be selfless.
“It’s early, we’ve only worked out twice, but for the guys who have been here _ about three-quarters of the team has reported so far _ are all of those things. And they certainly have me excited.”
The Bravehearts have dedicated the season to their fans, dubbing it Twenty-Twenty You.
To that end, Fitton Field will have a more personalized, local look this season with a “Home is Where The ‘Hearts Are” fan fall in right field that measures 90 feet by 12 feet and will be adorned with 500 faces of fans and logos of area businesses.
And it’ll mark the return of the all-you-can-eat ticket. For $22 for adults, $11 for kids 12 and under, fans gain admission to the park and the opportunity to endlessly devour Fitton jumbo franks, Angus beef burgers, grilled chicken sandwiches, chips and popcorn, soda or bottled water.
That’s down $3 from a year ago.
Taken together, the Bravehearts believe they offer baseball fans the opportunity to watch top-notch baseball and experience whimsical fun and exuberant entertainment at wallet-friendly prices in a city it now shares with the Worcester Red Sox.
“We take great pride in the value proposition that we’re able to offer folks,” team president and owner John Creedon Jr. said. “It’s money well spent and time well spent.
“The general consensus is at the end of a Bravehearts game as folks are exiting the gates back to their cars, whether the team has won or lost, people are leaving with smiles on their faces wanting more Bravehearts baseball. And that is the fuel in our engine that keeps us going.”
www.telegram.com/story/sports/2022/05/25/worcester-bravehearts-add-excitement-home-opener-set-friday/9905928002/
