Name the new mascot contest

Comstock Park, MI - Fun and Fifth Third Ballpark are synonymous with West Michigan summers. As the baseball season draws near, the West Michigan Whitecaps are adding to the fun. Today the team announced a new mascot for the 2014 season, a female River Rascal (the same species as primary mascot Crash).

"We are always looking to improve the fan experience and this is a great way of doing that," Whitecaps Promotions Manager Keith Roelfsema said. "We're very excited with this addition and looking forward to introducing her on opening day."

The Whitecaps are asking fans to help decide the name of the latest fuzzy addition. A naming contest will be held on the Whitecaps social media outlets as well as on the webpage, running from now until noon on February 24. Submissions can be submitted via the Whitecaps facebook page (facebook.com/wmwcaps), on Twitter (twitter.com/wmwhitecaps) with the hashtag of #newcapsmascot, or emailed to [email protected].

The winning submission will receive a prize pack including tickets to opening day, new mascot merchandise, and a personal visit with the new mascot.

This Saturday the Whitecaps are hosting an Open House for fans from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is the first public event at the ballpark since a fire on January 3 destroyed the first base side of the structure and caused heavy damage to the home plate section and the third base suites.

Individual game tickets will go on sale at the Open House. Anyone in attendance who buys an Opening Day ticket will receive a free ticket of equal value to any April or May game.

The Whitecaps open the 2014 season on Tuesday, April 8 @ 6:35 p.m. against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Season and group tickets for the 2014 season are now on sale and can be purchased by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131, by visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com, or in person at the temporary administrative offices located two miles from the ballpark at 5716 West River Drive NE in Belmont.

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