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Giveaways, Former Pro-Wrestler Sgt. Slaughter Highlight Pelicans Opening

Posted: Apr 8th 2010 By: CMBurnham

Baseball is back at the beach. The Myrtle Beach Pelicans 2010 season kicks off this Thursday, April 8, with the first of a four-game series with Kansas City Royals third baseman Alex Gordon and the Wilmington Blue Rocks at BB&T Coastal Field, and the Pelicans have rolled out the red carpet to welcome the new year.

The first series of the season at BB&T Coastal Field is packed full of promotions and giveaways for Pelicans fans as well as a surprise late addition to the visitors? roster. Royals? third baseman Gordon will begin a rehabilitation assignment with the Blue Rocks starting on Opening Day against the Pelicans. The fourth-year big leaguer is working his way back from a fractured thumb he suffered in spring training action during a March 6 Cactus League game against the Texas Rangers.

The opening series fun begins on Thursday night at 7:05 (gates open at 6 p.m.), when the Pelicans unveil their annual schedule magnet for the first giveaway of the season. This year?s magnet, sponsored by New Era, will go to the first 5,000 fans through the ballpark gates on Opening Day. Thursday night is also the first Thirsty Thursday of the 2010 campaign. From 6-8 p.m., fans can enjoy dollar draft beers at BB&T Coastal Field concession stands. The events don?t stop there on Opening Day. Immediately following the first game of the season, the Pelicans will launch the first of 15 fireworks shows this year.

Myrtle Beach will send highly-touted right-hander Randall Delgado, Baseball America?s seventh-rated Braves prospect, to the mound for the first game of 2010. Delgado went 5-10 with a 4.35 ERA for Class A Rome last year and owns a 3.55 career minor league ERA through three seasons.

Friday night, the giveaways continue. The first installment of Free Stuff Friday arrives with a Pelicans drawstring bag giveaway for the first 1,000 fans for the 7:05 p.m. second game of the Pelicans-Blue Rocks four-game tilt. Southpaw Cole Rohrbough, a 2009 Pelican, gets the ball for game two looking to recapture some of his early season magic from last year.

On Saturday, the Pelicans host their first celebrity appearance of the year. Wrestling legend Sgt. Slaughter will be on hand to sign autographs and meet fans prior to the night?s contest. Righty Zeke Spruill (BA # 8) debuts in Myrtle Beach for Saturday night?s 7:05 game looking to add to his 16-6 career record and 3.18 ERA in the minors.

The first day game of 2010 comes on Sunday with a 3:05 scheduled first pitch (gates open at 2 PM) leading the Pelicans into their first off day and first road trip of the year. The third and final giveaway of the Pelicans? opening homestand will be a replica bat for the first 1,000 fans ages 12 and under presented by the Hampton Inn. Fans are encouraged to bring their gloves for the Pelicans? signature Sunday pregame Catch on the Field. Sunday is also Jackie Robinson Day around professional baseball as all levels of the minor leagues as well as Major League Baseball pay tribute to the civil rights pioneer and Hall of Famer. Right-hander J.J. Hoover (BA #11) will take the hill for his first start of 2010.

Single game tickets, season tickets, flex books, and mini-plans are available now for the Pelicans? 2010 season, as are tickets to the 2010 California-Carolina League All-Star Game, through the Pelicans Box Office at (843) 918-6000 or (877) 918-TIXX or by visiting the Tickets page at the all-new MyrtleBeachPelicans.com

Tags: Sgt. Slaughter