Orioles to conduct first-ever Girls Softball Clinic with BATS and Y of Central Maryland tomorrow

Orioles to conduct first-ever Girls Softball Clinic with BATS and Y of Central Maryland tomorrow

Tomorrow, Saturday, June 23, from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. the Orioles will partner with The Y of Central Maryland, Baltimore Area Travel Softball (BATS), and the Coppin State University women's softball team to conduct their inaugural youth softball clinic at the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Family Center Y on the Ripken Youth Development field, located on the same site where Memorial Stadium once stood.

The participants will consist of 100 girls from BATS and the Y of Central Maryland. BATS is a new league in inner city Baltimore focused on providing girls ages 12-16 the opportunity to play the game while preparing for high school. The youth will be instructed on the fundamentals of softball by Orioles shortstop JJ HARDY and his fiancée, Adrienne Acton, a four-year starter and two-time NCAA softball champion at the University of Arizona. The girls will also receive one-on-one instruction from the coaches of Coppin State University's Division 1 softball team and members of the Oriole Wives.

IN THE COMMUNITY

CHRIS DAVIS CHRISTIAN YOUTH ATHLETICS VISIT
Orioles first baseman CHRIS DAVIS will visit with children from the Christian Youth Athletics program on Saturday, June 23 from 11:00 - noon. Davis will speak to the children and then throw out the first pitch before the game. This event is not open to media coverage or to the public.

WALTER REED NATIONAL MILITARY MEDICAL CENTER VISIT
On Monday, June 25, members of the Orioles will visit Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda. This is a continuation of the Orioles' commitment to Walter Reed, as they have hosted many wounded soldiers at the ballpark this year as part of the Military Sunday Suite program. Orioles players and coaches will meet with the soldiers, sign autographs and pose for pictures. This visit is not open to the media or the public.

GIANT FOOD AND ORIOLES YOUTH CLINICS
The Orioles have once again partnered with Giant Food to host a series of youth baseball clinics at Oriole Park. On June 25, two clinics will be held, the first from 9:00 a.m. - noon with RHP LUIS AYALA and the second from 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. with RHP PEDRO STROP. The third and final will be held on June 29 from 9:00 a.m. - noon with RHP JIM JOHNSON. The youth will participate in baseball drills and receive expert instruction from the current Oriole players and several Orioles alumni.

JASON HAMMEL AT THE ORIOLES TEAM STORE IN YORK, PA
On Friday, June 29, JASON HAMMEL will make an appearance at the Orioles Official Team Store in the York Galleria Mall in York, PA from 11:00 a.m. - noon. Hammel will sign autographs and greet fans. This event is free of charge and open to the public.

BRIAN MATUSZ TO VISIT PEDIATRIC PATIENTS AT SINAI HOSPITAL
LHP BRIAN MATUSZ will again visit with pediatric patients at the Herman and Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai on behalf of the Casey Cares Foundation on Friday, June 29. The Casey Cares Foundation is a charity that provides uplifting programs for critically ill children. This visit is not open to the public or to media coverage.

AT THE BALLPARK

CAMOUFLAGE SCRIPT JERSEY AUCTION RESULTS
In honor of the Orioles' Military Appreciation Day, all Orioles uniformed personnel wore special jerseys with the Orioles script in camouflage and numbers and names in dark green on May 27. Each player's autographed and authenticated jersey was auctioned at www.orioles.com, raising over $12,500 to benefit The Fort Meade Alliance, an independent community organization designed to promote the well-being of the region.

UNION NIGHT AT CAMDEN YARDS
Tonight, the Orioles will host their annual Union Night at Camden Yards with more than 22,000 members of the American Federation Congress Industrial Organization. Members will throw out the first pitch and will be honored in a pre-game ceremony. Additionally, one dollar of every ticket sold will benefit the Baltimore AFL-CIO Community Services Food Pantry.

STATE OF THE ORIOLES EVENT
On Saturday, June 23, the Orioles will host a special "State of the Orioles" event open only to Orioles Season Plan Holders. Gates A and H will open to Full Season and Plan A holders at 3:30 p.m. and those fans will have access to a special autograph session with Orioles players. Six stations will be set up around the ballpark, with multiple players per station. At 4:15 p.m., gates A and H will open to all Plan B holders. At 4:30 p.m., a special Q & A session with Orioles Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations DAN DUQUETTE and Manager BUCK SHOWALTER will take place in the seating bowl.

PINCH HIT AND RUN TOURNAMENT
On Saturday, June 23, the Orioles will host the Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run Tournament at Oriole Park. The top 16 qualifiers from Maryland and Virginia will compete in hopes of advancing to the National Finals at the 2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Kansas City, MO. Later in the day, the participants will be honored in an on-field ceremony before the Orioles' game against the Washington Nationals.

GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA 100th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
In celebration of the Girl Scouts' 100th Anniversary and the 50th Anniversary of the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, the Orioles will host the Girl Scouts' Grand Slam Celebration on Sunday, June 24 at Oriole Park. Throughout the last hundred years, girls have worked with their adult leaders to improve neighborhoods; provide comfort and company to nursing home and hospital residents; and help feed the hungry. In the 1940's and 1950's, Girl Scouts were prepared to assist our military, serving as bicycle messengers and first-aiders. Today the tradition of partnering with the military continues, as Girl Scouts can often be found at the USO Welcome Center at BWI/Marshall airport cheering soldiers as they return from and depart to duty overseas.  

The Girl Scouts have sold over 7,000 tickets for the Grand Slam Celebration, of which a portion of the proceeds benefits the Girl Scouts themselves. As part of the celebration the Orioles will welcome 1,000 of the girls to line-up on the warning track as the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland Chorus performs the National Anthem and presents the colors. Sheela Murphy, Chair of the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland Board of Directors, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, and the top ticket sellers will be welcomed on-field to receive a baseball and be recognized for their efforts.

U.S. MILITARY ALL-STARS GROUND ZERO FLAG PRESENTATION
In a special pre-game ceremony on June 26, the U.S. Military All-Stars will present the Ground Zero Flag that was on-site following the September 11 attacks in 2001 to Wounded Warrior and Purple Heart recipient, Corporal Justin Crabbe, USMC. The flag has been presented by the U.S. Military All-Stars to thousands of heroes. This tour provides everyone the opportunity to honor the Ground Zero Flag during its cross-country tour back to New York for the anniversary of 9/11.

ORIOLES TO HOST 30th ANNUAL BUDDIES NIGHT
On Thursday, June 28, the Orioles will host the 30th annual Buddies Night. Buddies is a group consisting of Baltimore Police and local businessmen and women who raise money for inner city youth programs for the Baltimore Police Department. Each year, Buddies sells around 4,000 tickets. The group will participate in a pre-game check presentation and ceremony.

SHANNON'S FUND FUNDRAISING EVENT
On Friday, June 29, the Orioles will host a private, exclusive fundraising event for Shannon's Fund from 4:45 - 6:30 p.m. For $50 fans will enjoy batting practice from the center-field Roof Deck, a visit by BRIAN ROBERTS, photos with the Oriole Bird, light refreshments, an Orioles gift bag including an autograph from Roberts, a left-field lower box seat and post-game fireworks. Fans interested in attending should call 888.848.BIRD by June 25 and reference the Shannon's Fund event.

In 2008, the Orioles and OriolesREACH established Shannon's Fund, an endowment at the University of Maryland Medical Center to provide financial assistance to hospital patients and their families. Created in memory of Shannon Obaker - the team's former Director of Community Outreach who bravely fought cancer for over a year before passing away in 2007 at age 29 - Shannon's Fund is administered by the University of Maryland Medical Center. Funds are donated to patients and their family members as need arises to assist with the general expenses associated with the treatment process, including hospital parking, alternate housing, food costs and household bills.

EARL WEAVER SCULPTURE UNVEILING
On Saturday, June 30, Orioles Hall of Famer EARL WEAVER will be honored as part of the Orioles Legends Celebration Series. A larger-than-life bronze sculpture of Weaver will be revealed prior to the game, and all fans in attendance will receive a replica sculpture. Weaver will also participate in an on-field ceremony. All gates will open at 2:00 p.m., with the unveiling ceremony to begin at 2:15 p.m.

ORIOLES MILITARY APPRECIATION PROGRAM
As part of the Orioles' Military Appreciation Program, sponsored by GEICO, the Orioles and OriolesREACH donate a catered private suite at each Sunday home game at Oriole Park to servicemen and women. This Sunday, June 24, military members from Yellow Ribbon Fund will enjoy the game vs. the Washington Nationals from a catered suite and will have an opportunity for a meet and greet with TOMMY HUNTER, and receive an Under Armour Player t-shirt.

STEAL SECOND BASE PRESENTED BY ESSKAY
The Orioles will again feature the Steal Second Base contest for every Sunday home game this season. Presented by ESSKAY, the Steal Second Base contest allows a young fan to participate in a timed race from the grounds crew area in center field to retrieve second base. Fans can sign up for the opportunity at the ballpark at any Fan Assistance Center. The lucky winner will receive four tickets to that day's game, gift certificates to use inside the park, an Orioles jersey and an Orioles prize pack. This year, for the first time, the contestants will also get to keep the authentic base that they steal. This Sunday's winner is Aiden Bradley, an eight year old from Perry Hall, MD.

GIANT FOOD HONORARY BAT KIDS
Once again, the Orioles have partnered with Giant Food stores this summer to host the Giant Honorary Bat Kids program. Children ages 6-14 can enter by filling out an entry form at select Giant Food stores and submitting in the entry box in the store or mailing the form directly to the Baltimore Orioles. This program will take place through August 30. One boy and one girl will be selected to be the Honorary Bat Kids at each Orioles game, excluding Sundays. Winners will receive four tickets to the game, on-field access to watch Orioles batting practice and the opportunity to receive autographs, an Orioles t-shirt and hat. Each winner will also participate in an on-field, pre-game ceremony where they are presented with an official Honorary Bat Boy/Girl certificate and have a photo opportunity with the Oriole Bird.

ORIOLES REACH COMMUNITY BOOTH
During each home game the Orioles provide a community booth for charitable, non-profit organizations to distribute information, sell raffle tickets, register participants or conduct health care screenings for Orioles fans. The following groups will be at the community booth, located near Gate D, during this homestand:
 

ORIOLES REACH GAMEDAY EXPERIENCE PROGRAM
This season, OriolesREACH will again host thousands of underprivileged youth as part of the OriolesREACH Gameday Experience Program. Group members receive game tickets, concessions vouchers, an Orioles t-shirt, a cap and transportation to and from the game. Tickets are provided courtesy of Orioles players. Players participating in the program this year include ROBERT ANDINO, JAKE ARRIETA, WILSON BETEMIT, WEI-YIN CHEN, KEVIN GREGG, JJ HARDY, TOMMY HUNTER, ADAM JONES, NICK MARKAKIS, and BRIAN MATUSZ. The following organizations will attend games at Oriole Park during this homestand, courtesy of these Orioles players:
 

GIVEAWAYS AND TICKET OFFERS