April 29, 2008

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- The Marist baseball team's game against Albany, scheduled for 3 p.m. Tuesday, has been canceled. The Red Foxes will return to action on Wednesday, as they will face Army in the Hudson Valley Baseball Classic at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

The contest pits the Hudson Valley's lone Division I baseball programs, Army and Marist, and brings together residents and fan bases from neighboring communities for an evening of quality entertainment at the home of the area's lone minor league baseball team affiliated with a major league franchise, the Hudson Valley Renegades.

For the third consecutive year, in conjunction with the WPDH Hudson Valley Baseball Classic, a free baseball clinic for boys and girls ages 8 to 18 will be conducted by players and coaches from both Army and Marist on the Dutchess Stadium playing field prior to the game from 4:00 to 4:50 p.m.

In a new twist this year, four youths who preregister and attend the pregame clinic will be selected at random to participate in on-field festivities during the game itself. Two lucky youngsters will accompany Army head coach Joe Sottolano and Marist head coach Dennis Healy to home plate to present lineup cards during the Umpires Meeting prior to the game. Two others clinic attendees will be chosen to hold the on-field microphone during the U.S. Military Academy and Marist Singers' joint renditions of The Star Spangled Banner (pregame) and God Bless America (seventh-inning stretch).

All of the game-day features associated with a Hudson Valley Renegades home contest will be in operation for the Hudson Valley Baseball Classic once again, with Renegades' staff members shouldering their normal game-day details. "Rookie," "Rene" and "Rascal," the Renegades' popular family of mascots, will be attendance, joining mascots from both Marist and Army.

Pregame festivities will include an autograph session with players from both Army and Marist, an on-field Color Guard presenting colors and a contingent of the Marist and U.S. Military Academy Glee clubs singing the National Anthem. Additionally, members of the U.S. Military parachute team are scheduled to deliver the game ball, weather permitting. A spectacular fireworks show provided by Legion Fireworks Company will cap the evening. The impressive fireworks display will begin immediately following the on-field presentation of the Hudson Valley Baseball Classic Trophy to the team captains and head coach of the winning club.

The game will be televised live in the Hudson Valley by both Time Warner and Cablevision, with live radio origination provided by WBNR (1260-AM) and WLNA (1420-AM). The game will also be broadcast live on GoRedFoxes.com, with Geoff Brault and Mike Ferraro calling all the action beginning at 6:45.

As in the past, there will be no admission charge for the event. However, complimentary tickets will be required to enter Dutchess Stadium.

Sponsorship revenue as well as a portion of the concessions revenue will be donated by the Hudson Valley Renegades to the Greater Southern Dutchess Chamber of Commerce, Poughkeepsie Area Chamber of Commerce and Orange Country Chamber of Commerce. Each chamber has received a significant donation from the Hudson Valley Renegades, courtesy of the WPDH Hudson Valley Baseball Classic, each of the past two years.

Batting practice for both teams will be open to the public with the sessions running from 5-6:10 p.m. Army will conduct its batting practice period from 4:55 to 5:30 p.m., followed by Marist from 5:30 to 6:05 p.m. Team autograph sessions will take place from 6:30-6:45 p.m. in the stands along both baselines.