Possibly you root for Keene State or maybe Plymouth State; perhaps you’re just a fan of college baseball. Whatever your reason, on April 20th MerchantsAuto.com Stadium will host a pivotal Little East Conference match-up between the Owls and the Panthers.
MerchantsAuto.com Stadium, home of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Double A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, will host the two arch-rivals when they play the first game of a doubleheader at 1 P.M. At 6:30 P.M., after Keene and Plymouth slug it out, the Fisher Cats will host the Portland Sea Dogs, the Double A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.
Fireworks will be displayed following the Fisher Cats-Sea Dogs game. Tickets for the Plymouth State section cost $8 and are good for both games. You can purchase tickets by calling the PSU Athletic Department at 603-535-2770.
“It’ll be very exciting,” said John P. Clark, the Plymouth’s Director of Athletics, “This will be a wonderful event for the state of New Hampshire. We have a special relationship with Keene State and we’re both looking forward to be there [MerchantsAuto.com Stadium].
As of press time, the Plymouth State Baseball team had an overall record of 6-10 and 2-2 in the LEC. The Keene State Baseball team has thus far posted an overall record of 14-7 and 3-1 in the conference.
“This is a big event for our kids, our parents and for the two schools, and we’re looking forward to it,” said PSU baseball coach Dennis McManus. “It’s particularly big for our team, because it’s an important Little East Conference game, and we can’t lose sight of that.”
Rick Brenner, the President and General Manager of the Fisher Cats, is a PSU alumni and is responsible for credit for the event. The 2007 season marks Brenner’s first season as the Fisher Cats President and General Manager in his 14th year in Minor League Baseball according to the Fisher Cats official website.
“I think it’s a really neat opportunity for the two schools and the fans,” said Brenner. “It’s great for the fans to see these two great schools and the Fisher Cats play.”
“I think it will be good to promote PSU playing the game at the stadium and the positive effects it will be for our students to play in a minor league park,” said Facilities/Events Coordinator Peter Cofran. “It’s great for the Keene-Plymouth rivalry and it’s important that it’s an LEC game.”
The baseball game and following game between the Fisher Cats and the Portland Sea Dogs is also a Senior Night, sponsored by the Senior Class and Plymouth State Athletics. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the Student Activities Office. There are only 45 tickets available, and the $15 gets seniors who attend the games food at the game and transportation to and from them. The bus for the games leaves Plymouth at 12 noon and the Senior Class invites anyone who wishes to come to get their tickets early.