A “Great” Day For Baseball

Great American East/West All-Star Game at Great American Ball Park

 “The kids are our future in baseball and this (event) is for the city and the fans…the public built this place (GABP) so it should be used.” - Declan Mullin, senior director of ballpark operations for the Cincinnati Reds.

Great American Ball Park has been the focus of rave reviews from players and fans alike since its inaugural opening back in early April.

Now several of the area’s top senior high school players will get a chance to experience first hand what all the hoopla has been about as high school baseball returns to the riverfront in the form of the Great American East/West All-Star Game, a high school baseball all-star game scheduled to be played on Thursday, June 19, at Great American Ball Park following the completion of the Cincinnati Reds-Chicago Cubs Business Day Special that is scheduled for 12:35 p.m.

 The event, put together by Hacks Sports, benefits the Southwest Ohio Baseball Coaches Association (SWOBCA) and will feature 24 senior players selected by the SWOBCA. All fans that attend the Reds-Cubs game are invited to stay and watch the All-Star Game.

“My best memories are from some of the amateur all-star games I was fortunate to play in. Getting to know and play with some of the finest opponents the game will see, I found a deeper appreciation for their talent,” said former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Ted Power.

The last time the East/West All-Star Baseball Game was played on the riverfront was in 2000 at Cinergy Field.  The last two years the game was played at the University of Cincinnati and was not affiliated with Major League Baseball. 

“It was an easy decision for us to make,” said Declan Mullin, senior director of ballpark operations for the Cincinnati Reds.  “The kids are our future in baseball and this (event) is for the city and the fans…the public built this place (GABP) so it should be used.”

The Cincinnati Reds organization has stepped to the plate as gracious hosts.  In keeping with their “Spirit of Baseball” theme and showing support for the high school baseball community, the Reds are providing rent-free use of the stadium, charging only nominal fees for staffing.  Other organizations are also lending their support to the All-Star Game, including Beacon Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.

“Baseball is still the most popular sport in America. The hard work the athletes have put forward has been well recognized by their team this past season, but the honor of being one of the best in the city and competing and playing with and against the best is a real honor and testimony to talent and the discipline of the player,” said Timothy E. Kremchek, MD, of Beacon Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. 

Other sponsors of the Great American East/West All-Star Game include Great American Insurance, Cincinnati Reds, Hacks 9Sports Magazine, Check Your Game and WCPO/Channel 9.

Hacks Sports (www.hacksportsmarketing.com) is considered to be one of the leading sports marketing companies in the region and operates under four distinct business units, including Publishing, Events, Promotions and Apparel.  Products and promotions include Hacks 9Sports Magazine and Website, high school sporting events, media partnerships, clothing apparel and more.

For more information on the Great American East/West All-Star Game (includes east/west team coaches and rosters, ticket information and more) log onto http://www.hacksportsmarketing.com/EventsDivision.Baseball.AllStarGame.htm.

To download the official Great American East/West All-Star Game logo log onto: http://www.hacksportsmarketing.com/EventsDivision.Baseball.AllStarGame.logo.htm.

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