The Victoria Generals of the Texas Collegiate League will host the 2012 TCL All-Star Game presented by the University of Houston-Victoria on Monday, July 9 at Riverside Stadium. It will be the second time in three years that Victoria has hosted the high-profile exhibition game.
“We were very excited to get the news earlier in the year that we would be hosting the All-Star Game again,” stated Blake Koch, Victoria’s general manager. “We put on a good show back in 2010 and plan to build on that experience to make this year’s event even better through our partnership with UHV.”
The all-star teams will be announced by the TCL on Wednesday, July 4. Making up the South squad will be the Victoria Generals, the Acadiana Cane Cutters, and the Woodlands Strykers. The North squad will be represented by the East Texas Pump Jacks, the Brazos Valley Bombers, the Alexandria Aces, and the McKinney Marshals.
Each team will have 22 players that are voted on by the head coaches from around the league. When making the final rosters, the TCL also takes input from several Major League Baseball scouts that frequently attend games around the league.
Generals head coach Chris Clemons will lead the South squad while East Texas Pump Jacks head coach Ben Taylor will lead the North.
“Coach Clemons and Coach Taylor combined have won the last three TCL Coach of the Year awards,” commented Koch. “The TCL is fortunate to have two coaches of their caliber guiding our all-star teams.”
Prior to the exhibition game at Riverside Stadium on Monday, July 9, the Generals will host the 2012 TCL Home Run Derby presented by Victoria Nissan beginning at 6:00pm. One representative from each team in the league will take part in the contest. Each player will receive 10 “outs” in the first round. The top two home run hitters from the first round will advance to the championship where they will go head-to-head for the Home Run Derby crown. The championship round will be 10 “outs” as well for the final two participants.
This year, one lucky fan will have the chance to win $10,000 cash during the Home Run Derby thanks to Victoria Nissan. Each player in the competition will be paired up with one fan in attendance based on a ticket draw before the start of the competition. Every fan in attendance will have their ticket stub entered into the drawing. During the first round, if one of the participants hits a home run through a hole that will be directly over the Victoria Nissan sign in left-field, the fan he is matched up with will go home with $10,000 cash.
“The TCL has always been about getting the fans excited and involved at every game,” stated Koch. “Victoria Nissan came up with agreat idea to make the Home Run Derby even more entertaining.”
The 2012 TCL All-Star Game presented by the University of Houston-Victoria is set to start at 7:05pm. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a free UHV koozie.
The game will be broadcast live online through PSB Live using four different camera angles and an instant replay machine.
“PSB Live does a remarkable job with their live broadcasts,” Koch stated. “Fans from around the league will have the chance to watch a professional quality broadcast of the game at home in case they cannot make it down to Victoria to see the event live in person.”
About a week after the All-Star Game, the event will also be broadcast nationally on Fox College Sports Network three separate times. Dates and times for the tape-delay broadcasts will be announced later on next week.
“This will be the second straight year that the TCL All-Star Game has been broadcast on Fox College Sports,” claimed Koch. “The TCL has quickly become one of the top summer collegiate leagues in the country and we want to do everything in our power to keep building on that reputation.
Tickets for the 2012 TCL All-Star Game and Home Run Derby are on sale now. Fans can purchase tickets at the Generals team store located at 3708 North Navarro, Suite A in the Landmark Shopping Center, online at www.VictoriaGenerals.com, or by calling 361-485-9522. Tickets can also be purchased at any of the Victoria Generals upcoming home games leading up to the All-Star Game on Monday, July 9.
