Baseball fans heard the first crack of the bat this year on Saturday when the University of North Florida played Jacksonville University at the Baseball Grounds. Actually, the sound was more of a “clink” because of the metal bat used in college games.
Under sunny skies and with a temperature of 76 degrees for the first pitch, baseball officially returned to the Downtown venue.
Jacksonville Suns General Manager Peter Bragan was roaming the ballpark during the game, making sure the fans were having fun and the concessions were flowing. He said the Suns have a clear goal for the 2010 Southern League season – to repeat as champions.
“We’re going to try to go back-to-back,” said Bragan. “It hasn’t been done in a while, but I think we have a chance.”
Bragan added that no matter what happens on the field, the Suns are bringing back the fans’ favorite promotions this year, including 50 Cent Family Feast Night and Friday night fireworks. New souvenirs, including the 2010 collection of bobble heads, are arriving for the season’s giveaway nights.
“This year we’re doing bobble heads of local celebrities,” Bragan said. One of the souvenirs will be fashioned after the University of North Florida’s Dusty Rhodes, who will manage his final game in an Ospreys uniform on April 6 at the Baseball Grounds when the Ospreys play Florida State University.
“We also might have a bobble head of a certain former college quarterback who wore No. 15 on his jersey,” Bragan said.
Also new this year, in addition to the traditional slogan, “Baseball’s never been hotter with the Jacksonville Suns,” Bragan has added another marketing mantra for 2010: “We’re making beautiful memories one inning at a time.”
The Suns’ season begins April 2 with an exhibition game against the Florida Marlins. For single game and season ticket information, visit www.jacksonvillesuns.milb.com.
Billy Burbank, owner of Burbank Net Shop in Fernandina, and Jacksonville Suns President and General Manager Peter Bragan Jr. surveyed some of the improvements for the 2010 season, including new nets manufactured by Burbank’s company to shield seats.