Reno Aces to Kick Off 2014 Season

Photo: Matthew B. Brown

The Reno Aces begin the 2014 campaign Thursday, April 3 as they host the El Paso Chihuahuas at 6:35 p.m. at Aces Ballpark in Reno.

The opening day festivities feature guest appearances by Claire Champlin of “The Amazing Race,” Benjamin Wade of “Survivor,” Reno Mayor Bob Cashell, and Sparks Mayor Geno Martini. Prior to the national anthem, all four men will deliver ceremonial first pitches.

The national anthem will be performed by the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Choral Director Jennifer Tibben.

Pre-game attractions include a hot-air balloon in front of the rotunda entrance courtesy of The Great Reno Balloon Race. Joining the hot-air balloon are several classic cars provided by Hot August Nights. Also, Harrah’s show girls will accompany the Aces starting lineup as they’re introduced before the national anthem. The show girls will be available for photos near the Aces Team Shop during the game.

Photo: Matthew B. Brown

Opening Day promotions include the magnet schedule giveaway to the first 9,000 fans. Like every other Thursday at Aces Ballpark in 2014, it’s Thirsty Thursday presented by ESPN Radio 94.5 and the Reno News and Review. As a new promotion in 2014, adults can run the bases after each Thursday game.

“We are so proud to open the sixth season of Aces Baseball here in Northern Nevada, and want to make sure our fans know how important they are to our team. The events planned and guests joining us, coupled with the tradition that is opening day, will make for a tremendous evening,” says Eric Edelstein, Aces executive vice president/chief operating officer.

Part of the opening day celebration is the bold weather guarantee recently issued by Manager Phil Nevin. If the temperature at first pitch is not 60 degrees or above, Nevin will buy each fan in attendance a ticket to a future Aces game.

Discounted full and partial season tickets are on sale now. For more information and to purchase an Aces ticket plan, call 775-334-4700. For up-to-date news and notes throughout the off season, visit renoaces.com, follow the club on Twitter or like the team on Facebook.—Reno Aces

Reno Hosts its First Triple-A All-Star Game

Photo: Matthew B. Brown

As the days become longer and hotter, it is evident that summer in Reno is in full swing. Summer means baseball, and Aces Ballpark in Reno hosted a spectacular display Wednesday during the Dolan Auto Group Triple-A All-Star Game. An Aces Ballpark record crowd of 10,135 fans gathered to watch the best Triple-A players.

Editor Matthew B. Brown and I were fortunate enough to attend the game, enjoying some much-needed ballpark food, sunshine, and, of course, baseball. The familiar organ music and the concession men shouting, "Get your popcorn here!" set the stage for a great evening at Aces Ballpark.

The highlights, according to the Reno Aces' communications department, are as follows:

The International League defeated the Pacific Coast League by a score of 4-3.

Catcher Tony Sanchez of the Indianapolis Indians hit a three-run home run to right field off PCL starter Jarred Cosart of the Oklahoma City RedHawks in the second inning, giving the IL a 4-2 lead. Sanchez finished 1-for-3 with three RBIs and was named the IL Top Star for his game-deciding home run. 

Michael Wacha of the Memphis Redbirds was named Top Star for the Pacific Coast League after pitching one-and-two-thirds innings without allowing a base runner. 

International League starter Greg Reynolds of the Louisville Bats tossed one inning giving up two runs off three hits and earned the win. Cosart received the loss and was replaced after allowing four runs over one-and-two-thirds innings. 

Photo: Matthew B. Brown

Louisville’s Billy Hamilton led off the game with an infield single and followed that up by stealing second. Back-to-back ground outs advanced Hamilton to third and eventually home to give the IL an early 1-0 lead. 

The PCL answered back in the bottom half of the first as Albuquerque’s Nick Buss and Reno’s Chris Owings hit back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. Buss quickly scored off another single from Brett Pill of the Fresno Grizzlies. Owings advanced to third and would score on an RBI ground out off the bat of Brock Peterson of Memphis, giving the PCL a brief 2-1 lead. Peterson finished 1-for-2 with an RBI.

Sanchez’ blast in the top of the second inning was the first home run hit in in a Triple-A All-Star Game since Russ Canzler launched one in 2011. The PCL would score another run in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI ground out by Fresno catcher Johnny Monell, but the IL relief pitchers closed the door, only allowing just one hit after the fourth inning.

Chris Bootcheck of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders contributed two shutout innings allowing only one hit. Earning the save was Columbus Clippers closer Preston Guilmet after he came in with two outs in the ninth to get Aces catcher Tuffy Gosewisch to ground out to end the game. 

Matt Davidson, the IGT Home Run Derby champ and Reno Aces third baseman, finished 0-for-2 and failed to reach base.

The International League’s victory gives them a 9-7 advantage over the Pacific Coast League in Triple-A All-Star Games since the format switched from AL vs. NL 16 years ago. The win also secures home-field advantage for IL’s representing team in the Gildan Triple-A National Championship to be held on Tuesday, September 17th at Coca-Cola Park, home of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

Broadway Comes to Reno

For the last 15 years, The Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts has brought some of Broadway's most loved musicals to Reno. Last Friday, November 6, the 15th season of the Pioneer Center's Broadway Comes to Reno opened with a three day, five show performance of the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic, "Cats." To celebrate my mother's birthday, my brother, sister, and I took her to the opening performance of the play she had not seen in more than 20 years.

Not your typical point-to-point storyline, "Cats" is based on the 1939 collection of whimsical poems, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, by T.S. Eliot. Through the loose story, the audience is introduced to various Jellicle Cats and their individual quirks and eccentricities. Characters include the incorrigible Run Tum Tugger, wise Old Deuteronomy, the trouble making Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer, and of course, the most clever and cunning, Mr. Mistoffelees.

Exceptional dancing and singing defined the performance, and tasteful special effects were a nice surprise. The standout performance was, with little surprise, the ubiquitous "Memory" by the outcast, former glamour cat, Grizabella.

While Sunday, November 8 was the last day of "Cats" in Reno, Pioneer's Broadway season features five more musicals: "The Wedding Singer," January 15-17; "Avenue Q," February 26-28; "The Drowsy Chaperone," March 26-28; "Stomp," April 16-18; and "The Wizard of Oz, May 14-16.

Reno Aces World Series Dinner

Matt Williams, who grew up in Carson City and was a three-sport (baseball, basketball, and football) star at the high school in the early 1980s, had a few surprises for a crowd of about 600 Reno Aces season ticketholders who turned out to see him speak at the Silver Legacy on October 28. The attendees were treated to dinner and a viewing of the World Series opener between the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees. Of course, there were a few of us media hounds in attendance as well.

Williams, a former Major League Baseball player best known in Northern Nevada for his seasons spent in a San Francisco Giants uniform (1987-1996), answered questions from the crowd after he gave a short introduction speech.

The toughest pitcher he ever faced? No, it wasn't Pedro Martinez or Roger Clemens, two of the dominant hurlers during Williams' prime — it was Mark Portugal. "You know those Bugs Bunny cartoons where the pitcher throws the ball and it's 'Strike one,' 'Strike two,' 'Strike three' all on the same pitch," Williams said. "That was what it was like facing Mark Portugal. His fastball was only 82 (mph), and he had a devastating change-up." Portugal and Williams weren't always in opposing dugouts; they were Giants teammates in 1994 and '95.

That may have not been the most shocking answer, however. When a man asked, "Which one of your teammates had the best work ethic?", the last thing I expected to come out of Williams' mouth was "Manny Ramirez." The two were Cleveland Indians teammates for only one season in 1997, but Ramirez made quite the impression on Williams with his intense batting-practice sessions, mostly focused on learning how to hit a slider. The mercurial Ramirez has taken heat in recent years for his sometimes lackadaisical attitude.

Williams is a part-owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks, the team he won a World Series with as a player in 2001. The D'backs are the parent organization to the Triple-A Aces, which made Reno their home starting with the 2009 season.

For a 2010 Reno Aces home schedule, click here. For more information, visit the Aces official Web site.