George Jones, Fireworks, and Multiple Giveaways Headline June 30 - July 3 Homestand
 

Your playoff-bound West Tenn Diamond Jaxx will return home for the holiday weekend to play four games against the first place Huntsville Stars starting Thursday, June 30th. This festive weekend is jam packed with giveaways and the best deals around.

Thursday, June 30th will be Thirsty Thursday at Pringles Park. Fans that buy one (1) 16oz. draft beer or Pepsi product can receive a second one (1) free of charge. Game time is 7:05pm.

Friday, July 1st will be an action packed day at Pringles Park. Country music legend George Jones will make an appearance at the Big Chip. There will be a George Jones autographed guitar that will be auctioned off to benefit the Carl Perkins Child Abuse Center. Other autographed memorabilia, including several dozen Southern League baseballs, bats, and an additional guitar, will be given away to fans throughout the stadium. To go along with the George Jones theme, all hamburgers sold during the game will be George Jones Burgers. Friday, July 1st is also a giveaway night at Pringles Park. Central Distributors will be giving away FREE Budweiser Racing 6-Pack Coolers to the first 1,000 fans 21 and over through the turnstiles. Game time is 7:05 pm.

Saturday, July 2nd features the second giveaway in as many nights. The first 1,000 fans that enter the ballpark will receive a FREE Diamond Jaxx tee shirt courtesy of Gold’s Gym. Saturday is also Mascot Mania night and a special day for members of Ribbee’s Cubs. Children who have joined this prestigious club will have their own pre-game Diamond Jaxx autograph ession on the field and they will also celebrate Ribbee’s Birthday with Ribbee. It's not too late to sign your child up for Ribbee's Cubs - just call (731) 988-5299 for details. Game time is set for 7:05pm.

The Diamond Jaxx close out the short four game homestand on Sunday, July 3rd and they will be celebrating Independence Day one day early with the post-game fireworks extravaganza presented by Doubletree Hotel and WBBJ. Doubletree will also be distributing their fresh baked cookies to fans as they enter the ballpark. Game time is 6:05pm.

With all that is going on this weekend, be sure to avoid the lines at the box office by ordering your tickets early! Tickets can be ordered by calling the Pringles Park box office at (731) 988-5299. Log on to our website at www.diamondjaxx.com for more information.

Seven Diamond Jaxx Players Named to the All-Star Team; Pie and Dickerson Selected to the All-Star Futures Game
 

The Northern Division All-Star roster was set earlier today and the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx secured a Northern Division high seven players for the upcoming Southern League All-Star Game, to be played on July 13th at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. The Diamond Jaxx players named to the All-Star game include SS Buck Coats, former Jaxx closer Talley Haines, 3B Casey McGehee, OF Matt Murton, RHP Ricky Nolasco, RHP Andy Shipman, and OF Felix Pie.

Coats has appeared in sixty-seven games, compiling a .310 average with no homers and twenty-six RBI's. Coats has also stolen thirteen bases on the campaign.

Haines was the Diamond Jaxx closer until he was called up to Triple-A Iowa on June 21st. Haines had a record of 4-2 with thirteen saves and a 1.78 ERA.

McGehee has compiled a .305 average with four homers and thirty-two RBI's in sixty-three games played this season. He has also provided solid defense at third base.

Murton is currently second in the Southern League with a .342 average. Murton has hit five homers and driven in thirty-eight runs. Murton is also second in the league with ninety-five hits.

Nolasco has a 7-0 record with a 2.78 ERA. Ricky is third in the league in ERA, tied for fourth in the league in wins and is tied for second in the league in strikeouts with ninety.

Shipman has appeared in thirty-one games, all out of the bullpen. The right-hander has a record of 1-4 with one save and a 3.03 ERA.

Pie has appeared in fifty-nine games with the Diamond Jaxx. He is hitting .304 with eleven homers and twenty-five RBI's. Pie has also stolen thirteen bases.

In addition, to the All-Star selection, Pie along with manager Bobby Dickerson have been selected to the World squad for the 7th annual All-Star Futures Game, to be held on Sunday, July 10th at Comerica Park in Detroit as part of Major League Baseball's All-Star Week.

Dickerson is in his fourth year as the manager of the Diamond Jaxx and seventh in his professional baseball career. He has won two league championships and has led his team into post-saeson in five of his seven years, including the first half championship won by the Diamond Jaxx this season. This will be Dickerson's second consecutive appearance as a coach in the All-Star Futures Game. Last season, Dickerson helped coach the USA squad.

The XM Satellite Radio All-Star Futures Game will be a seven-inning game between some of the best Major League prospects from the United States and from various countries throughout the world.

Please call (731) 988-5299 or log on to our website at www.diamondjaxx.com for more information.

2005 Diamond Jaxx Team Sets Now Available
 

The first half division champion West Tenn Diamond Jaxx are pleased to announce that the 2005 Team Card Sets are now on sale at the Clubhouse Store, located in Pringles Park. The sets will be available in the online store at www.diamondjaxx.com beginning the middle of next week.

Highlighting this year’s Team Set are the seven Diamond Jaxx who will be participating in the 2005 Southern League All-Star game in Mobile, AL. The league-leading seven All-Stars are 3B Casey McGehee, SS Buck Coats, RHP Talley Haines, LF Matt Murton, RHP Ricky Nolasco, CF Felix Pie, and RHP Andy Shipman.

Also featured in the card sets are the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation Teachers of the Year, Jan Thompson and Helen New. Jan Thompson, the recipient of the Kindergarten through 6th grade award has spent 24 years in the classroom, including 12 years at Pope Elementary School, where she currently teaches. Helen New has spent 7 years teaching at Tigrett Middle School and Highland Park, and is the winner of the 7th through 12th grade award.

This is the second straight year the Diamond Jaxx have featured the Teachers of the Year on their own baseball cards. Mrs. Thompson and Mrs. New will also be honored during the pre-game festivities at Pringles Park on July 30, when they will each throw a ceremonial first pitch and spend the evening in the First Tennessee Luxury Suite. Additionally, Mrs. Thompson and Mrs. New each received a $1000 check from West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation and 2 Diamond Jaxx season tickets to the remaining 2005 home games.

The West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, the “AA” Southern League Affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, take pride in their involvement with the communities of west Tennessee. For more information, call the Diamond Jaxx at (731) 988-5299 or log on to our website at www.diamondjaxx.com.

Diamond Jaxx 10-Game Mini Plans Still Available
 

Your playoff-bound West Tenn Diamond Jaxx are still offering a Ten Game Mini-Plan for the remainder of the 2005 season. The Ten Game Mini-Plan is a smaller version of a season ticket package, giving the fans an alternative to making a commitment on full season tickets. It is also a very cost-effective way for ticket holders to guarantee their seat location at Pringles Park for all ten Diamond Jaxx games of their choice so you do not miss out on the exciting Southern League baseball action at Pringles Park!

By taking advantage of the Ten Game Mini-Plan, ticket holders can customize their own Mini-Plan to fit their busy schedule. The cost for the Ten Game Mini-Plan is $60 for one Field Box Seat, $50 for one Box Seat and $40 for one Club Seat. Ticket holders can save $2.50 per game on the regular price of a Field Box or Box Seat and $1.50 a game on the regular price of a Club Seat. All prices include applicable taxes.

To sign up, call (731) 988-5299 or print the 2005 Diamond Jaxx Mini Plan flyer and return the completed form with payment to:

West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
Attn: Box Office
Pringles Park
4 Fun Place
Jackson, TN 38305
 

Or, fax the completed form to 731-988-5246.

For more information, please call (731) 988-5299 or log on to our website at www.diamondjaxx.com.

Diamond Jaxx Off To Shaky Start in Second Half
 

On June 21st, the Diamond Jaxx opened up the second half of the season, with a 7-4 win over the Jacksonville Suns at Pringles Park. RHP Jae-kuk Ryu pitched seven solid innings. Ryu allowed just two runs on five hits over seven innings. The Seoul, South Korea native walked two and struckout two. Ryu also had two hits and two RBI's on the night. Buck Coats had three hits and Adam Greenberg had two hits and a RBI to help lead the Diamond Jaxx twelve hit attack.

On June 22nd, the Suns defeated the Diamond Jaxx 5-4 in eleven innings before a crowd of 1841 fans at Pringles Park. The Suns won the game despite three of their starting position players getting thrown out of the game in the seventh inning. The Diamond Jaxx chipped away at the lead, getting single runs in the first, second and fourth innings before taking the lead in the fifth. Adam Greenberg hit a lead-off homer in the first and a RBI single in the second to pull the Diamond Jaxx to within a run. Brandon Sing led off the fourth inning with a home run over the left-field wall, tying the game at three. 3B Casey McGehee gave the Diamond Jaxx the lead at 4-3 with a two-out RBI single to center. Jacksonville came back in the seventh inning to tie the game. Jacksonville then took a 5-4 lead in the top of the eleventh.

On June 23rd, the Diamond Jaxx jumped out to a 7-0 lead and held on to defeat the Jacksonville Suns 7-6. The Diamond Jaxx jumped on Jacksonville starting pitcher Justin Orenduff. He gave up seven runs on five hits with three walks. RHP Ricky Nolasco was the recipient of the Diamond Jaxx offense. Nolasco , who contributed to his own cause by driving in two runs, cruised through the first four innings. In the fifth inning Jacksonville started mounting a comeback as they scored two in the fifth inning and three in the sixth inning to make it a 7-5 game. Righty Thomas Atlee came on in the eighth inning and nailed down his first Double-A save, despite giving up a run in the ninth inning. Buck Coats had two hits while Jose Reyes and Nolasco had two RBI's each to lead the Jaxx offense.

On June 24th, Andy LaRoche's homer in the seventh capped a two-inning offensive outburst in the Suns' 11-2 victory over the Diamond Jaxx. Trailing 2-1 after the fifth, the Suns shined with a three-run sixth. Edwin Jackson allowed two runs on five hits, walked one and fanned three over seven frames, his longest outing this year.

On June 25th, the Diamond Jaxx defeated the Mobile BayBears 5-2 before a crowd of 3,466 fans at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile. Renyel Pinto gave up just two runs on five hits with eleven strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings of work. Thomas Atlee and David Aardsma combined to give up no runs on two hits over the final 2 1/3 innings with Aardsma getting his first save of the season. Brandon Sing crushed his 14th home run of the year, while Richard Lewis had two hits to pace the seven hit attack. Sing hit his homer over the centerfield wall, becoming the first player this season to hit the ball over the sixteen foot high wall in straightaway centerfield.

On June 26th, Joe Gerber's fifth-inning grand slam helped energize the BayBears lineup as Mobile beat West Tenn 8-3. The BayBears had tied the game at 1-1 on an RBI single by pitcher Michael Thompson when Gerber came up with the bases loaded against Diamond Jaxx starter Jae-kuk Ryu. Mobile managed only two singles off Ryu before the fifth, as he retired the first seven hitters he saw. The Diamond Jaxx got their lone run in the top of the fifth, with Adam Greenberg drawing a one-out walk from Thompson. Matt Murton drove Greenberg home in the next at-bat with his 16th double. Greenberg was 2-for-2 on the night with a double, while Murton had a pair of RBIs.

On June 27th, the BayBears beat the Diamond Jaxx 2-1. With the Diamond Jaxx in front 1-0, Andy Shipman came on for Sean Marshall, who blanked the BayBears on six hits in six innings of work. Shipman retired the first two batters before giving up a base-hit to Casey Baker. Pinch-hitter Jason Clements walked to put runners at first and second with two outs. Shipman then walked Kennard Jones to load the bases. Diamond Jaxx manager Bobby Dickerson brought Thomas Atlee in for Shipman. Atlee walked Brian Burgamy, forcing in Clements with the tying run. Atlee then walked Ronnie Merrill, driving in the eventual winning run for the BayBears. The Diamond Jaxx had two on with one out in the ninth inning but Dale Thayer retired Casey McGehee on an infield grounder and Buck Coats on a fly to left, ending the Diamond Jaxx last threat.

On June 28th, the Diamond Jaxx salvaged a split of the four game series with the BayBears with a 6-4, 12-inning win. With the BayBears nursing a 3-2 lead, Murton hit a solo homer in the ninth inning to send the game into extra frames. The teams traded runs in the 10th before the Diamond Jaxx broke through with two in the 12th on Matt Craig's two-run single for the win. Murton opened the game's scoring with an RBI triple in the fourth, coming around to score himself on the play when Kennard Jones bobbled the ball in center field. Nate Theriot went 3-for-5 with an RBI single for West Tenn, while Craig had a double in addition to his game-winning hit. Andy Shipman picked up his second save with the win.

The Diamond Jaxx have Wednesday off and then return to Pringles Park for a four game homestand with the Huntsville Stars from June 30th- July 3rd.