COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Crash the River Rascal wants to read a good story this Halloween. After all, what could be more fun than combining one of his favorite holidays (Halloween...second favorite after Opening Day) with one of his favorite activities (reading...third favorite after eating and chasing kids around bases)?

Crash has his costume all ready to go, and now he's waiting rather impatiently for the big holiday. But with a month to go, what's a Rascal to do? He's already read every spooky library book ever written, so he decided to ask his West Michigan kid friends for help.

Crash is asking elementary school classes to submit an original suspenseful, thrilling Halloween short story to the Whitecaps' Halloween Writing Contest. Crash and his friends at the Whitecaps will read all the submitted stories and will select one winner. The winning classroom will receive a one-hour visit from Crash on Halloween.

Contest details: Open to West Michigan schools, grades 1 through 5. As a class, please write a Halloween story. Topics can range from a horrifying haunted house story to a trick-or-treat adventure. All stories should be between 300 and 500 words. Entries should include your school name, address, teacher's name and email, your grade and the number of students in your class. Submit your entry via email to community@whitecapsbaseball.com or via mail to Whitecaps Halloween Writing Contest, P.O. Box 428, Comstock Park, MI 49321.

Deadline for entry is Wednesday, October 24 at 5 p.m. The winning classroom's teacher will be contacted on Thursday, October 25 to schedule the Crash visit. The one-hour visit must take place between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on October 31.

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