Celebrity Softball Game to Kickoff All-Star Festivities
(AKRON, OHIO) June 21, 2016 - With the Eastern League All-Star Game and Home Run Derby coming to Akron for the first time July 12-13, the Akron RubberDucks wanted to make a big splash, so today it announced the RubberDucks Celebrity Softball Game will kick off the two days of festivities on Tuesday, July 12 at 7 p.m., before the start of the 2016 Eastern League Home Run Derby. The game will feature local Northeast Ohio celebrities with RubberDucks' manager David Wallace leading Team Wallace, and three-time Major League all-star and Cleveland Indians' Hall of Famer Carlos Baerga leading Team Baerga.
"We are very excited to host the Celebrity Softball Game prior to the Home Run Derby, and as a Northeast Ohio native and life-long Indians fan, I am thrilled to have a legend like Carlos Baerga leading the way," said RubberDucks General Manager Jim Pfander. "Fans will get to cheer on some of their favorite local celebrities as they battle it out as part of the start to two unprecedented days of fun coming to Canal Park."
Rosters for each team will be announced closer to the event date, but others participating include former Cleveland Browns linebacker and St. Vincent-St. Mary standout Frank Stams and 1590 WAKR morning show host Ray Horner. City of Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan will throw out the first pitch and ESPN Cleveland will be broadcasting The Bruce Hooley Show live from Canal Park, along with fellow ESPN Cleveland personality Jerod Cherry, who will be broadcasting live during the Home Run Derby from a raised cherry picker.
Gates will open at 6 p.m. and the Celebrity Softball Game will begin at 7 p.m. The Eastern League Home Run Derby, featuring some of the top young talent in all of Minor League Baseball, will start at 8:05 p.m. Following the Derby, there will be a special fireworks show featuring Akron musicians.
"Our fans are the key aspect of everything we do in our pursuit of being Northeast Ohio's epicenter of affordable, family fun. We want Akron's first time hosting the Eastern League All-Star Game and Home Run Derby to create amazing long-lasting memories, while showing the league and all of Minor League Baseball our fans' and the community's support for the RubberDucks and what we have been working to build over the last four seasons," said Pfander.
Tickets for the Eastern League Home Run Derby and RubberDucks Celebrity Softball Game are $10 for reserved seats and $6 for general admission. Tickets for the 2016 Eastern League All-Star Game are $18 for reserved seats, $10 for general admission, groups of 24 or more can get $15 reserved tickets, and McDonald's Family Territory seats are $35, which includes a two-hour, all-you-can-eat picnic. Tickets can be purchased by calling the RubberDucks at 330-253-5151 or at www.akronrubberducks.com/allstar.
2016 RubberDucks Celebrity Softball Game & Eastern League Home Run Derby Details
CANAL PARK - TUESDAY, JULY 12.
Gates open at 6 p.m.
RubberDucks Celebrity Softball Game (7 p.m.)
- Team Wallace, led by RubberDucks manager David Wallace vs. Team Baerga, led by three-time Major League All-Star and Cleveland Indians' Hall of Famer Carlos Baerga
Eastern League Home Run Derby (8:05 p.m.)
- Eight players, four from both the Western and Eastern Division teams.
- Three two-minute rounds with the top four, regardless of team, advancing to round two, and the top two from that round advancing to the final round.
Following the Home Run Derby: Akron-themed Fireworks Show
TICKETS: $10 reserved; $6 general admission - 330-253-5151 or www.akronrubberducks.com/allstar
The Akron RubberDucks are the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The 2016 season is its 20th since moving to Akron and third since becoming the RubberDucks. Akron will host the Eastern League All-Star Game and festivities July 12-13. For more information about the team, please visit the RubberDucks' website, www.akronrubberducks.com, Facebook page www.facebook.com/AkronRubberDucks, Twitter feed @AkronRubberDuck, and Instagram at @akronrubberducks.