Baseball Team Hosts Action-Packed Weekend at the Joe
5/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 6, 2009
TUCSALOOSA, Ala. - Two teams battling for the Southeastern Conference Western Division championship square off this weekend when No. 22 Alabama hosts No. 11 Arkansas in a pivotal three-game series at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The series opener is Friday, May 8, at 6:35 p.m. and continues Saturday, May 9, at 4:05 p.m. and Sunday, May 10, at 2:05 p.m.
The Crimson Tide and the Razorbacks are both 14-9 in SEC play this season, 1 1/2 games behind league leaders LSU, Florida and Mississippi. In fact, only two games separate the league's top six teams, making this one of the most hotly contested races in recent memory. Alabama has won seven of its last eight and 11 of its last 14 SEC games to get back in the league race. Alabama brings in the league's most potent offensive attack. The Crimson Tide leads the SEC in hitting, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, runs scored, hits, doubles, RBI and total bases this season.
While the series will have a great impact on the SEC standings, there are a lot of activities planned this weekend as the Crimson Tide plays its final SEC home series.
The Crimson Tide will offer "Picnic at the Park" all weekend for fans to come to the game and enjoy a buffet dinner down the left field line. The cost is $12 for adults and $6 for children and the buffet will be served beginning two hours prior to the game until the end of the third inning.
The Tide will also open the weekend with its "Friday Night Fireworks" post-game show.
On Saturday, Alabama will honor its 10 seniors in a pregame ceremony beginning at 3:40 p.m. A highlight video will be shown on the video board on Saturday and messages from the 10 seniors will played on the video board throughout the weekend.
The 2009 senior class includes catcher Vin DiFazio, first baseman Wes Henderson, pitcher Austin Hyatt, pitcher Casey Kebodeaux, center fielder Alex Kubal, right fielder Kent Matthes, catcher Kyle Moore, outfielder Tyler Odle, outfielder Ryan Rhoden and pitcher Miers Quigley. Six of the 10 seniors will receive their diplomas on Saturday, while the other four are scheduled to graduate in August.
In Sunday's series finale, Alabama will honor the baseball mom's in the annual Mother's Day tribute. The mother's of all Tide players will throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Sunday. In addition, the bases will be painted pink in recognition of Mother's Day and Breast Cancer Awareness. The bases will be signed by Alabama head coach Jim Wells and sold on the RollTide.com auction. All proceeds from the bases will be donated to the DCH Foundation.
Sunday is also "Kid's Day" and all kids are allowed to run the bases after the game. In addition, the 2009 Alabama baseball card sets will be given away on Saturday and Sunday. There are two, 16-card sets featuring the 2009 Crimson Tide and on set will be given away each day.
