Taconic, PHS Baseball Teams to Play Games at Joe Bruno Stadium
PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- The Pittsfield Public Schools Athletic Department is pleased to announce its support of the upcoming “Coaches vs. Cancer” high school baseball series at Joe Bruno Stadium in Troy, N.Y.
The Tri-City ValleyCats, the NY-Penn League affiliate of the Houston Astros, are opening up their stadium on two consecutive Friday nights this spring in an effort for local high school teams to showcase their talents and also give back to the community. Both Pittsfield High School and Taconic High School have the honor of being selected to participate in the series, which also serves as a charity event benefiting the American Cancer Society’s Coaches vs. Cancer, as well as The ValleyCats Charitable Foundation.
The Coaches vs. Cancer series will pit the city’s local teams up in a “Battle of the Border” against two opponents from New York State on consecutive Fridays in late April and early May. Taconic will play Columbia (East Greenbush, N.Y.) on April 29 at 7 p.m. Pittsfield will face Averill Park on May 6 at 4 p.m.
Joseph L. Bruno Stadium and the Tri-City ValleyCats have just completed their 14th season of Minor League Baseball. Nicknamed "The Joe,” the stadium was built in 2002 and has become the premier baseball complex in the Capital Region of New York.
Members of the prestigious 14-team New York-Penn League, the ValleyCats’ alumni include 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel, 2014 AL Batting Champion Joe Altuve, and MLB All-Stars Hunter Pence, Ben Zobrist, and JD Martinez. Pittsfield native, and Taconic High School alum, Rick Murphy, also leads the ValleyCats front office. Serving in his 28th season in professional baseball, Murphy is the ValleyCats Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
The stadium is located on the Hudson Valley Community College campus in Troy. The facility features 4,500 seats, 10 luxury suites, a covered picnic pavilion, an open air concourse, and is designed to provide fans a great view of the field and an intimate ballpark feel. This state-of-the-art ballpark also includes a video scoreboard, extensive concessions menu, and a variety of other great amenities.
“We are excited about this opportunity,” Taconic baseball coach Kevin Stannard said. “It’s not only a unique experience for the kids to be able to play at a professional stadium, but it’s also a chance for them use the game they love as a means of giving back.”
First-year Pittsfield coach Seamus Morrison is also looking forward to the games.
“We truly appreciate the efforts of the ValleyCats organization and the American Cancer Society,” Morrison said. “We are excited to face these strong teams from New York, while also providing our players the opportunity to showcase their talents on a big stage.”
Tickets to the games on April 29 and May 6 are also just $5 each. All revenues generated via ticket sales and fundraising efforts will benefit Coaches vs. Cancer and The ValleyCats Charitable Foundation. Coaches vs. Cancer Foundation funds are dedicated to increasing cancer awareness and supporting lifesaving research and treatment, while the ValleyCats Charitable Foundation funds are dedicated to helping renovate youth baseball and softball fields.
Players from Pittsfield High and Taconic are supporting the cause in the weeks leading up to the games through fundraising efforts aimed at honoring and remembering those impacted by cancer. Supporters can honor or remember a loved one by simply making a $5 donation. Names of those honored and remembered will be listed in the event program. Players, along with representatives from PHS and Taconic, will also participate in a variety of fundraising efforts on their respective game days.
For additional information about the games, to sponsor the event, to place an ad in the program, or to make a donation to the cause, please contact the Pittsfield Public Schools Athletic Department at (413) 499-9522 or via email at jabel@pittsfield.net.
Donations can be sent to:
Pittsfield Public Schools Athletic Department
Attention: Coaches vs. Cancer
269 First Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201
Checks should be made payable to “American Cancer Society”.
For additional information about the American Cancer Society’s Coaches vs. Cancer program, please contact Loretta Hackney (Senior Coordinator) at (518) 220-6931 or Loretta.hackney@cancer.org.