Bullard Cal Ripken Carnival Draws Thousands

FRESNO, CA - The Fresno Grizzlies, Triple-A affiliate of the 2010 World Champion San Francisco Giants, are proud to announce that nearly 3,000 Bullard Cal Ripken youth baseball players and their families filled Chukchansi Park last Saturday for the organization's annual Carnival. Despite inclement weather, organizers estimate the overall attendance was easily the largest in the event's history.

The Carnival began at 8:00am and ran all the way until 7:00pm, with every one of the 74 Bullard Cal Ripken teams getting the opportunity to play on the field at the ballpark. In all, the league enrolls nearly 900 young athletes, from four-year-old Tee-Ball all the way up through the 13-15-year-old Prep League.

"This was a tremendous chance for young baseball players in our community to experience the game in a whole new way," said Grizzlies Executive Vice President Brian Glover. "We are very thankful for everyone with Bullard Cal Ripken who helped us make this such a positive event."

This is the fourth year that Bullard Cal Ripken, a non-profit organization, has held their annual Carnival fundraiser, but the first in cooperation with the Grizzlies at Chukchansi Park. As the organization recoups only about 60% of its annual operating budget from league dues, events like the Carnival are crucial to their ability to survive and continue to grow. The Carnival is Bullard Cal Ripken's largest fundraiser of the year, and league President Anthony DeMaria estimated that with the upgrade in venue, the organization experienced a 25 percent increase in funds raised from the 2010 event.

"Our kids had an absolute blast," said DeMaria. "It's probably the most successful baseball day in my eight years of involvement with Bullard Cal Ripken, and we couldn't have done it without the help of the Grizzlies."

The Fresno Grizzlies host Fresno Pacific University in an exhibition game on April 5th and begin their 10th Pacific Coast League season at Chukchansi Park on Thursday, April 7th, 2011 when they welcome the Las Vegas 51s to Downtown Fresno. Season ticket and mini-plan packages are now available at the Chukchansi Park Box Office or by calling 559-320-HITS.