Kane County Cougars Homestand Preview: April 19-24

The Kane County Cougars, Class-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, open a six-game homestand on Thursday. The homestand includes a pair of autograph sessions this weekend, a magnetic schedule giveaway on Friday and Saturday and Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Day on Saturday. Tickets are available for each game on the upcoming homestand by calling (630) 232-8811 or visiting www.kccougars.com.

Thursday 4/19 — Fort Wayne Tincaps (San Diego Padres farm team)        6 p.m. (gates open at 5 p.m.) — WBIG 1280 AM (5:45 p.m.)

• Pre-game Ozzie’s Reading Club Parade
• Ozzie pencils for the first 1,500 fans
• National Anthem – St. Mary School (DeKalb)
• ake Me Out to the Ballgame – led by Lincoln Elementary School (Wheaton)
• Fans can run the bases after the game

Friday 4/20 — Fort Wayne Tincaps — 6 p.m. (gates open at 5 p.m.)            WBIG 1280 AM (5:45 p.m.)

• Pre-game Ozzie’s Reading Club Parade
• Cougars magnetic schedules for the first 1,500 fans, courtesy of Country House
• National Anthem – Kennedy Middle School (Lisle)
• Take Me Out to the Ballgame – led by Grace McWayne School (Batavia)
• Fans can run the bases after the game

Saturday 4/21 — Fort Wayne Tincaps  — 1 p.m. (gates open at 11 a.m.) — WBIG 1280 AM (12:45 p.m.)

• Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Day
• Cougars magnetic schedules for the first 1,500 fans, courtesy of Country House
• Pre-game Ozzie’s Reading Club parade
• Pre-game autograph session with Cougars players, 12:30 p.m.
• National Anthem – Patterson School (Naperville)
• Fans can run the bases after the game

Sunday 4/22 — Lake County Captains (Cleveland Indians farm team) — 1 p.m. (gates open at Noon) — WBIG 1280 AM (12:45 p.m.)

• Pre-game Ozzie’s Reading Club Parade
• Pre-game autograph session with Cougars players, 12:30 p.m.
• ational Anthem – Kendall Elementary School (Naperville)
• olor Guard – Cub Scout Pack 39 Tiger Den
• Take Me Out to the Ballgame – led by Jamie McGee Elementary School (Bolingbrook)
• Fans can run the bases after the game

Monday 4/23 — Lake County Captains                                                        Noon (gates open at 11 a.m.) — WBIG 1280 AM (11:45 a.m.)

• Ozzie’s Reading Club Kids Day
• Pre-game Ozzie’s Reading Club Parade
• High School Sports Business Seminars (Downers Grove North, Romeoville and Minooka High Schools)
• National Anthem – Jackson Concert Band (Villa Park)
• Fans can run the bases after the game

Tuesday 4/24 — Lake County Captains — 11 a.m. (gates open at 10 a.m.) — WBIG 1280 AM (10:45 a.m.)

• Ozzie’s Reading Club Kids Day
• Pre-game Ozzie’s Reading Club Parade
• Pre-game performance by South Elgin High School/Kenyon Woods Middle School bands
• National Anthem – South Elgin High School/Kenyon Woods Middle School bands
• Fans can run the bases after the game

Homestand Notes

Organ/Tissue Donor Awareness Day set for Saturday: Fans attending Saturday's Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Day can sign up to be an organ and tissue donor through Gift of Hope, and have a chance to win a Cougars team autographed bat. People who already have registered to be organ and tissue donors can show their driver's license to provide proof of registration and be eligible. Heartland Blood Centers will also hold a community blood drive outside the stadium Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Also in conjunction with Gift of Hope, the Cougars will honor several families who have been touched by organ and tissue donation, through an on-field ceremony before the game.

More theme nights coming: The Cougars’ May The Fourth Be With You Star Wars Night is set for Friday, May 4. Fans are encouraged to dress in character, take part in a pre-game parade and ballpark scavenger hunt, and enjoy a Star Wars-themed fireworks show following the game. Members of the Midwest Garrison will be on hand to pose for photos as well. The May 11 and 12 games will be the Cougars’ Halfway to Halloween Nights, with pre-game trick-or-treating, a costume parade and contest, along with Halloween-themed fireworks shows following both games. Tickets are available at kccougars.com or by calling (630) 232-8811.

Team News: After taking three of four games at Burlington, the Cougars (6-4) open a three-game series at Beloit this afternoon at 4:30 p.m. with a doubleheader. Yesterday’s game was postponed due to inclement weather…Jorge Bonifacio is batting .410 to rank fourth in the Midwest League…River Grove native Mike Giovenco has made three appearances and allowed just one run over five innings…Cougars starting pitcher Aaron Brooks is 2-0 to open the ’12 campaign…fellow starter and converted reliever Edwin Carl has posted a 4.32 ERA in two starts…the Cougars as a team are second-highest in the league with a .285 team batting average. (statistics through games played on 4/15).

Where’s Ozzie? Ozzie T. Cougar is scheduled to make upcoming appearances in the community at the following locations:

• Friday, April 20 from 6-7 p.m.  – Hanover Park Little League 
• Saturday, April 21 from 8-9 a.m. – Central District Baseball (Elgin)
• Sunday, April 22 from 12-1 p.m. – Brookfield Zoo Party for the Planet