The Alexandria Aces, the newest member of the Texas Collegiate League, have announced that the first TCL game to be played at Bringhurst Field will not be the home opener on Thursday, June 3rd. Instead, the opening of the 2010 season for Aces’ fans and the TCL will be Saturday, May 29th, with the inaugural TCL Kick-Off Classic presented by Marler Ford.
The Kick-Off Classic presented by Marler Ford will be a showcase game for the top prospects of the TCL that will be available to play that evening. Prior to the game, the players will display their talents for major league scouts in a combine-type setting, running the 60-yard dash and participating in infield-outfield drills to showcase their defensive skills. The pre-game festivities will culminate in a home run hitting contest before the game. The one-night event will essentially be a pre-season All-Star Game, with one team led by the Aces’ head coach, Mike Byrnes.
Coach Byrnes commented, “This is a great opportunity for the Aces, the TCL, and the city of Alexandria. The fans of the Aces will get to see the high level of competition the TCL has, while the Aces, the city of Alexandria, and Central Louisiana get to showcase what we bring to the league. We are also proud to have a great CenLa business like Marler Ford sponsor this event.”
While the event is designed to showcase the TCL's talent, for Aces’ fans, Alexandria and Central Louisiana, it will be a warm-up to the actual season. The true baseball enthusiasts will be excited to see the high level of competition on display that evening, which will only be a precursor to the Aces’ inaugural TCL season.
“The Aces organization is proud that Marler Ford was willing to present this game to the fans. Without them, we probably wouldn’t be able to host an event like this,” said Aces’ President & CEO, Eric Moran.
“I envision a number of scouts will attend this game to check on some of the players prior to the Major League Baseball (MLB) Amateur draft. It is likely that some players that participate in the Kick-Off Classic will be drafted by MLB teams less than three weeks later.”
The Kick-Off Classic presented by Marler Ford will culminate an All-Star Baseball Weekend in Alexandria, as Bringhurst Field will host the Louisiana High School Coaches’ All-Star Games the night before and Saturday afternoon at Bringhurst Field.
