Intimidators inaugural Reading All-Stars include hundreds of students from Kannapolis City Schools

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (March 19, 2014) - The Kannapolis Intimidators are excited to announce that, as a part of the team's new reading program, hundreds of students in Kannapolis City Schools are among the first in the community to be named 2014 Reading All-Stars.

The Intimidators' Reading All-Stars Program challenges third through eighth grade students to read four extracurricular books in four weeks to be named a Reading All-Star and receive a complimentary ticket to an Intimidators game and participate in a pre-game parade around the field. The four-week reading program for Kannapolis City Schools recently came to a close, and students will receive a voucher through their schools in the coming weeks good for a ticket to the KCS Reading All-Stars Celebration Game on Friday, April 4, at 7:05 p.m. at CMC-NorthEast Stadium.

"The Reading All-Stars program has been a tremendous success, and we are extremely grateful to the Kannapolis Intimidators for bringing it to our schools," said Dr. Pam Cain, Superintendent of Kannapolis City Schools. "Building a love of reading is one of the most important things we can do to help children succeed, and we look forward to continuing this outstanding partnership."

In addition to working with KCS, the Intimidators have also teamed up with Cabarrus County Schools, Rowan-Salisbury School System and Stanly County Schools to offer this opportunity to more than 33,000 third through eighth grade students in the community. The reading period for students in Cabarrus, Rowan and Stanly counties is still in progress. 

"We launched this program to do our part to encourage local students to get excited about reading," said Intimidators General Manager Randy Long. "If giving these children a fun experience at the ballpark will get them to pick up a book, then we are more than happy to reward them for their hard work."

In addition to providing a complimentary ticket to the students who are named a Reading All-Star, the Intimidators are offering discounted tickets for $3 to family members of the students to attend the Celebration Game. 

Dates of Reading All-Stars Celebration Games for other school districts are Friday, May 2 for Cabarrus County Schools; Friday, May 16 for Stanly County Schools; and Sunday, May 18 for Rowan-Salisbury School System. Information on attending the Celebration Games will be distributed through the schools two to three weeks before the game. 

The Intimidators are preparing for the 20th season of professional baseball in Kannapolis and 14th as a Chicago White Sox affiliate. Opening Night of the 2014 season is Thursday, April 3, against the Greenville Drive (Boston Red Sox) at 7:05 p.m. Since the team came to town in 1995, a total of 77 players have gone from Kannapolis to the Major Leagues, including 2007 NL MVP Jimmy Rollins and former NFL standout and 1998 Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams. Season tickets, mini-plans and single-game seats are currently available by calling the F&M Bank Box Office at (704) 932-3267 or by visiting the team website at www.IntimidatorsBaseball.com.