Twenty-two high school teams from across the region will play on the same field as the Mud Hens in the 2012 season as they take part in the club’s “Play a Game at Fifth Third Field” promotion.
“It’s very popular,” said Michael Keedy, manager of special events for the Mud Hens. “We get teams from both Ohio and Michigan, and depending on how many dates we have
available, we typically have 20 or 30 teams per year.”
Due to a heavy concentration of home games in the Mud Hens’ schedule for April and May, Keedy said Fifth Third Field won’t be able to host as many games as the club would
like.
But 22 teams will still get the opportunity, playing 11 games on six different dates. Keedy said the high school games started several years ago with just a few teams, but grew quickly.
“The feedback is always incredibly positive,” he said. “The kids get to come in, get to use the dugout, the facilities that they’ve been seeing since they were kids, and they get to come out and play on a professional baseball diamond.”
Anthony Wayne High School baseball coach Mark Nell will be bringing his team to Fifth Third Field for the third straight year. The Whitehouse team will face Sylvania Southview High School on May 9.
“If you’re a baseball person, to have an opportunity to play on a Triple-A field — not only a Triple-A field, but from my understanding one of the best Triple-A fields — they’re just thrilled,” Nell said.
Nell said play seems to move a little faster because the grass is so short and the field so well-groomed.
“We have a nice facility ourselves, but nothing like that,” Nell said.
Sylvania Southview baseball coach Ed Mouch said many players are used to watching games at Fifth Third Field from the stands, so it’s a fun experience to get to play on the field instead.
“It’s a great experience for the kids, being able to play at a facility like that,” Mouch said.
Mouch said his team played Defiance High School at Fifth Third Field in 2010. The students who were underclassmen two years ago and didn’t get much playing time are now seniors and will have their chance to come out of the dugout and take the field, he said.
Playing at Fifth Third Field doesn’t cost the schools any money up front. The only requirement is that they sell 300 ticket vouchers, which are good for any regular-season Mud Hens game except Opening Day, Keedy said.
The teams can either sell the vouchers at face value, which is $9, or they can add a markup and use it as a fundraiser. Admission to the high school games is free.
“Nobody needs a ticket to enter the high school games at all,” Keedy said.
For more information, visit www.mudhens.com under Promotions.
High school games
- April 14: Erie Mason vs. Woodmore, 1 p.m., North Central vs. Montpelier, 4 p.m.
- April 16: Liberty Center vs. Patrick Henry, 4 p.m., Mohawk vs. Tiffin Calvert, 7 p.m.
- April 18: Fremont Ross vs. Oregon Clay, 4 p.m., Kalida vs. Hopewell Loudon, 7 p.m.
- April 24: Whiteford vs. Ida, 4 p.m., Oak Harbor vs. Lakota, 7 p.m.
- May 9: Anthony Wayne vs. Sylvania Southview, 4 p.m.
- May 10: Defiance vs. Start, 4 p.m., Danbury vs. Old Fort, 7 p.m.
