The return of baseball season is still months away, but that doesn’t mean the Tri-City ValleyCats aren’t already planning for 2020. The local minor league team has opened applications for their 2020 youth field renovations and has announced their Spanish name for the MiLB’s 2020 Copa de la Diversión. Read on to learn more!
Applications Open for Annual Youth Field Renovation Project
Is there a youth baseball or softball field in your community that you feel needs a makeover? The ValleyCats are currently accepting applications for their annual “4 in 24” youth field renovation project, in which the ValleyCats, along with volunteers from BlueShield of Northeastern New York and Hannaford Supermarkets, come together to fix up four local fields within 24 hours.
The event takes place every April, and this year will mark the 40th renovated field since the program was launched in 2003. The ValleyCats originally renovated one field each year before starting their “4 in 24” program in 2011.
Each ballfield will receive several improvements, such as new grass, plates, bases, and pitching rubber, as well as renovated home plate areas, pitcher’s mounds, and baselines.
“Our mission for this project since day one was to fulfill our duty as ambassadors of the game by impacting as many youth ballplayers in our communities as possible,” said Matt Callahan, ValleyCats General Manager, in a statement.
Interested in having your youth baseball or softball field fixed up by the ValleyCats? You can apply online on their website.
ValleyCats Announce Team Name for MiLB’s Copa de la Diversión
The Tri-City ValleyCats will be joining Minor League Baseball’s Copa de la Diversión (Fun Cup) campaign for the 2020 season. Three games will be held at the Joseph L. Bruno stadium next summer with the ValleyCats playing under the team name Los Puentes de Tri-City (The Bridges).
Copa de la Diversión was launched in 2017 as part of the Es Divertido Ser Un Fan (It’s Fun to be a Fan) Hispanic fan engagement initiative. 72 MiLB teams participated in the campaign in 2019, which boasted 1.8 million attendees at almost 400 games, a 20% increase from average game attendance. The MiLB teams also donated $400,000 to over 200 Hispanic/Latino organizations.
There will be 94 teams participating this year, including the ValleyCats. In addition to their Spanish name, they’ll be rebranding their logo and uniforms for those three games next summer. Merchandise will also be available.
“Whether cheering for their favorite team or playing side-by-side on the field, baseball brings people from all different backgrounds together,” said Matt Callahan, ValleyCats General Manager, in a statement. “Given the many varied bridges that span the Hudson River, a defining geographical feature of the Capital Region, Los Puentes celebrates the ability of our great game to connect our communities, cultures, and countries.”
