Leading off

In 2008, the Timber Rattlers switched the name of the Welcome Home Banquet to The Leadoff- Experience. They also switched formats from dinner and speakers to an experience. I'm told that it was a big success. The plan is to do it again this year. Here is the team release.

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are proud to welcome Gord Ash, Vice-President - Assistant General Manager of the Milwaukee Brewers as the featured guest at the 2009 Lead-Off Experience. The event, formerly known as the Welcome Home Banquet, will feature an interactive interview program hosted by [some guy who announces, blogs, and sells advertising for the Rattlers]. Fans attending the event will hear from the newest Timber Rattlers players along with the new coaching staff, including field manager Jeff Isom, pitching coach Chris Hook and hitting coach & Appleton resident Matt Erickson.

The Timber Rattlers’ ‘Lead-Off Experience’ will be held at the Wave Bar and Ballroom on Wednesday, April 8, 2009. It will feature an autograph session with players & coaches along with a cash bar beginning at 5:30pm. Autographs will continue until 6:15pm followed by a family-style dinner served at 6:30pm before the interactive program begins at 7pm.

Tickets are $30 each or $300 for a table (9 people plus a player). A kid’s meal (chicken fingers & French fries) will also be available to fans 12 and under for $15. Seating is limited and tickets must be purchased in advance. Please contact Mary Robinson at (920)733-4152 or mrobinson@timberrattlers.com to reserve your tickets.

I may have changed something in that release. It's in the brackets. Hey, I'm only doing what the Post-Crescent did on their website, kind of did.

An autograph session with Rattlers players and coaches will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by a family style dinner at 6:30 p.m. An interactive interview program in which fans can hear from Rattlers manager Jeff Isom, hitting coach and Appleton native Matt Erickson and pitching coach Chris Hook will start at 7 p.m.

Tickets cost $30 per person or $300 for a table, which includes nine people and a player. A kids’ meal will be made available to fans 12 years of age and younger for $15.

By the way interactive means you get to ask questions of the coaching staff, players, and Gord Ash.

I'll bet you can come up with better ones than [some guy who announces, blogs, and sells advertising for the Rattlers]. See you there.

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