River Cats reveal spring schedule

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Sacramento River Cats begin their 2008 Spring Training schedule on Wednesday, March 12, against the Fresno Grizzlies (Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants) in Phoenix, Ariz., team officials announced today. The Spring Training schedule will conclude when the Cats take on Oakland's Class A affiliate, the Stockton Ports, in a home-and-home scrimmage series prior to Opening Day. The two teams will square off at Stockton's Banner Island Park on Tuesday, April 1, and at Raley Field on Wednesday, April 2.

The River Cats, along with all other A's Minor League affiliates, make their spring home at the Papago Park Baseball Complex in Phoenix. The Cats will play eight "home" games at Papago Park and seven "road" games over a two-and-a-half-week span leading up to the 2008 regular season.

Many of the players on the 2008 River Cats will be joining the A's in Major League Spring Training at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. For those players, as well as the rest of the A's 40-man roster, pitchers and catchers reported to camp on Thursday, Feb. 14, and position players are set to report on Wednesday, Feb. 20.

All Minor League Spring Training games in Arizona begin at 1:00 p.m.

2008 SACRAMENTO RIVER CATS SPRING TRAINING SCHEDULE (Phoenix)

March 3 -- Minor League pitchers and catchers report
March 7 -- Minor League position players report
March 12 -- River Cats at Fresno Grizzlies (San Francisco Giants), Scottsdale, Ariz.
March 13 -- Salt Lake Bees (LA Angels of Anaheim) at River Cats, Phoenix
March 14 -- Intra-squad Game
March 15 -- River Cats at Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers) - Phoenix
March 16 -- Intra-squad Game
March 17 -- Fresno Grizzlies (San Francisco Giants) at River Cats, Phoenix
March 18 -- River Cats at Salt Lake Bees (LA Angels of Anaheim), Tempe, Ariz.
March 19 -- River Cats at Charlotte Knights (Chicago White Sox), Tucson, Ariz.
March 20 -- Salt Lake Bees (LA Angels of Anaheim) at River Cats, Phoenix
March 21 -- Charlotte Knights (Chicago White Sox) at River Cats, Phoenix
March 22 -- River Cats at Salt Lake Bees (LA Angels of Anaheim), Tempe, Ariz.
March 23 - Intra-squad Game
March 24 -- Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers) at River Cats, Phoenix
March 25 -- Fresno Grizzlies (San Francisco Giants) at River Cats, Phoenix, Ariz.
March 26 -- River Cats at Fresno Grizzlies (San Francisco Giants), Scottsdale, Ariz.
March 27 -- Salt Lake Bees (LA Angels of Anaheim) at River Cats, Phoenix, Ariz.
March 28 -- River Cats at Charlotte Knights (Chicago White Sox), Tucson, Ariz.
March 29 -- Salt Lake Bees (LA Angels of Anaheim) at River Cats, Phoenix, Ariz.
March 30 -- Intra-squad Game
March 31 -- Camp breaks, River Cats travel to Sacramento
April 1 -- River Cats at Stockton Ports, Stockton, Calif.
April 2 -- Stockton Ports at River Cats, Raley Field, West Sacramento, Calif.

The River Cats open their 2008 regular season home schedule on Friday, April 11th, when they host the Las Vegas 51s (Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers) at Raley Field at 7:05 p.m. Tickets for this game are currently available only through purchase of River Cats Full Season Tickets, Mini Plans or Group Packages. 2008 River Cats Season Tickets or Mini Plans can be purchased at the Raley Field Ticket Office and by calling the River Cats Ticket Hotline at (916) 371-HITS. For more information about the 2008 River Cats season, visit www.rivercats.com. For information on other events at Raley Field, visit www.raleyfield.com.