RailRiders to Hold Baseball Equipment Drive Saturday

Adult Equipment to be Sent to Troops Overseas, Youth Donations to Local Little Leagues

June 18, 2013

Moosic, Pa. - The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) will hold a baseball equipment drive to benefit both soldiers in Afghanistan and local little leagues. The drive will take place on Saturday, June 22, when the RailRiders host the Norfolk Tides (Baltimore Orioles) in a split doubleheader. Equipment will be accepted at both games with the first contest starting at 12:05 p.m. and game two getting underway at 7:05 p.m.

"We wanted to bring a little piece of home to our troops overseas," said RailRiders community relations manager Rachel Mark. "Giving them the ability to participate in America's favorite pastime is the least we can do for the men and women who have given so much."

Donation bins will be set up at the front gates at PNC Field and will be manned by volunteers from The American Legion Post 665 in Dickson City until the third inning of each game. This will allow fans to drop off their gently-used equipment as they enter the ballpark. The drive is designed to bring a piece of home to our soldiers, and also make a direct impact in the NEPA community.

Following the game, all of the equipment that was donated will be sorted by the volunteers. The adult equipment will be shipped to soldiers stationed in Afghanistan, while the youth equipment will be donated throughout the NEPA area. The RailRiders will be accepting all baseball equipment that is in usable condition.

Gates will open up at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 22. The first 2,500 fans in game one will receive a free bat courtesy of Kost Tire & Auto. The gates for game two will open at 6 p.m. and the Cowboy Monkey Rodeo will perform after the nightcap. With no upper deck at PNC Field anymore, every seat in the ballpark provides the supreme views and intimacy that make minor league baseball so special at incredibly affordable prices. For more information, please visit the team's official website, www.swbrailriders.com, or call 570-969-BALL (2255).

- SWB RailRiders - All Aboard! -