Blue Crabs embracetradition

Friday, Feb. 22, 2008

The Blue Crabs have announced that 19 of their 70 home games this season will feature fireworks shows or guest appearances by entertainment companies that travel the country.

‘‘It’s a draw for us crowd-wise. But it also goes back to everything we want to do. It’s about entertainment,” said Blue Crabs general manager Mark Viniard. ‘‘If we have fireworks, if we have giveaways and if we have all of the goofy stuff we do between innings going on, then it all adds to the entertainment value.”

The team has invited entertainment acts Birdzerk, Zooperstars, and Reggy to come to the stadium on separate dates of May 16, June 22 and June 27, respectively.

Viniard describes Birdzerk and Reggy, which was created by the original Philly Phanatic, as mascots similar to characters from Sesame Street and Muppets that perform comedic acts both on the field and in the stands at games.

Zooperstars is a comedic troupe of larger-than-life inflatable characters with names, like Cow Ripken and Clammy Sosa, that mimic those of star athletes.

The Blue Crabs hope that the presence of these entertainers caters to a family atmosphere at the ballpark.

‘‘It goes back to why we are in the baseball business, and we are in the business to make sure that we are entertaining our fans to the best of our ability,” Viniard said. ‘‘These acts help us achieve our goal.”

While the entertainment groups will make just one appearance each, the team will have fireworks shows at nearly a fourth of its home games, including every game played on a Saturday.

‘‘There is kind of an unwritten rule with fireworks and sporting events, specifically minor league baseball,” Viniard said. ‘‘It seems like the more fireworks you do, the bigger the crowds you will have and for more games. It’s a fun night and a festive atmosphere, and we know that fans love fireworks shows.”

The Blue Crabs have contracted Fireworks Productions, a Pennsylvania company. The team hopes to have large shows on opening day, Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.

According to Viniard, in the coming weeks the team also plans to announce concert dates and giveaway nights, where fans that arrive at the stadium early will receive a door prize.

Currently fans can visit the team’s Web site, www.somdbluecrabs.com, to vote on which door prizes the team should giveaway.

During the season, the Blue Crabs also hope to celebrate special dates, such as the 100-year anniversary of the song, ‘‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” as well as the 350th birthday of Charles County.

Notes: Game times have been finalized for the upcoming season. Games Monday through Friday are scheduled primarily for 7:05 p.m.. Saturday games will begin at 6:35 p.m., and games scheduled for Sundays are slotted for a 2:05 p.m. start. Some game times will vary.

The exceptions will be a 2:05 p.m. start on Memorial Day, a 6:35 p.m. start on Sunday, July 13 and a pair of 11:05 a.m. starts on Thursday, July 10 and Thursday, July 31, which will be targeted as camp days.

sdemedis@somdnews.com