Chatham-Kent’s new Intercounty Baseball League team has been named the“Blackbirds,” following a community-wide online contest. First General Manager introduced, has storied baseball past.BLENHEIM — The Chatham-Kent Blackbirds have officially hatched. The Blackbirds will soar onto Fergie Jenkins Field at Rotary Park in May of 2024 for C-K’s historic first season of Intercounty Baseball.The management team,…
Chatham-Kent’s new Intercounty Baseball League team has been named the“Blackbirds,” following a community-wide online contest. First General Manager introduced, has storied baseball past.
BLENHEIM — The Chatham-Kent Blackbirds have officially hatched. The Blackbirds will soar onto Fergie Jenkins Field at Rotary Park in May of 2024 for C-K’s historic first season of Intercounty Baseball.
The management team, led by Team Owner and President Dom Dinelle, made the big announcement on Friday morning at the Red Barn Brewing Company in Blenheim following a community-wide online contest.
“We are thrilled with the outpouring of support and love from the community,” said Dinelle. “The involvement of the entire municipality is so important to us. We want this to be a team for the whole community of C-K. We now have an identity. And now the real work begins.”
The new expansion Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) franchise received more than 600 entries with 400-plus names submitted in an online contest held on the Let’s Talk Chatham-Kent website. The five finalists on the list were revealed as North Stars, Legends, Wheat Kings, Field Kings and Blackbirds.
The Blackbirds concept was adopted by the club in relation to the popularity of the birds throughout Chatham-Kent and following an overwhelming number of “Crow” related entries in the online contest. With a nod to C-K’s feathered friends, management believes the name will aid in creating a fun and family-friendly atmosphere, while allowing for multiple options on the marketing front, with respect to logos, uniforms, a team mascot and more.
Fifteen local residents who submitted the top five finalist names will be rewarded with two tickets each to the very first Blackbirds Home Opener in 2024. There were five entries for the winning name, all of whom will also receive two tickets to the Home Opener.
Baseball lifer Harry Muir was introduced as the first-ever Blackbirds General Manager during the media and community conference. Muir, from London, spent four years in the Toronto Blue Jays minor league system during their heyday of title runs in the early 90s. He also etched his name in the Canadian baseball history books by becoming the first Canadian to throw a no-hitter in international play.
Harry won a gold medal representing Team Ontario at the Canadian Nationals in Trois Rivieres with Team Ontario in 1990. Later that summer, Muir was selected to join Team Canada and traveled to Cuba for the World Junior Championships. In his first start, Harry would throw that historic first-ever no-hitter by a Canadian in international play. The following spring, Harry would travel to Florida, after being signed by the Toronto Blue Jays as a Canadian free agent directly out of high school. He would spend the next four years in their minor league system. While a member of the St Catherine’s Blue Jays, Harry was featured in an award winning documentary produced by CBC television titled, “Chasing the Dream.” In 1995, Muir found himself in Montpellier, France playing for the Barracudas of the French Premier League. He went undefeated, won another National Championship and captured “Import Pitcher of the Year” honours. Upon returning to Ontario, Harry had a brief stint with the London Majors of the IBL as a player before switching his focus to coaching for the team. Muir also spent 12 years managing and coaching in the London Tecumsehs Organization helping to grow youth players passion for the game. Recently, Harry helped launch POSI (Purpose of Sport Initiative), an organization to promote and support the growth of positive character and culture in sport.
The new ball team has also introduced their first fundraiser, a special stand-up comedy night at The Red Barn Brewing Company on Thursday, April 6. Working alongside Denny Vervaet and the Red Barn team, the Blackbirds are bringing in a special headliner and making plans for a VIP seating area, the first chance at Blackbirds merchandise and more. An announcement about tickets is expected soon.
The Blackbirds also introduced their Corporate Sales team, led by Sales Manager and Executive Assistant to the President, Mark Jackson. The sales personnel will consist of Allan Cameron (Dresden), Anthony Clark (Sarnia), Laura Kalika (Merlin), Gregg Ross (Ridgetown) and Mathew Speed (West Lorne). The sales and marketing teams will be hitting the ground running in early February, seeking corporate and community sponsorship and partnerships.
Victory Ford and Victory Lincoln in Chatham was named as the Blackbirds first corporate sponsor.
“The support from the community has been overwhelming,” said Jackson. “Shortly after announcing my involvement, Victory immediately approached us about a fit. The early support makes a big difference for the team and for the community.”
Jackson added that corporate packages are designed to accommodate any budget and to maximize return on investment while supporting Chatham-Kent’s new IBL franchise.
“Yes, we will have signage in the outfield, and yes – we will have ads in our game-day programs,” Mark added. “But we also want to offer experiences. How does taking batting practice or shagging fly balls with the team sound? Or throwing out the ceremonial first pitch? A VIP work-related team building experience? We want to think outside of the box and we want all of C-K to be able to join us for Intercounty Baseball right here at home.”
Longtime local radio host and community booster Jay Smith was also named as the club’s Vice President Executive of Media Relations and Marketing Director.
“I’m super excited for this to become a reality,” said Smith. “I’m a self professed baseball nerd and a long-time IBL and London Majors fan. I’ve wondered about the possibility of the IBL coming to C-K for decades. And now it’s happening. We’ve got that good kind of nervous energy happening right now, but there’s a lot of work to be done between now and that first pitch in May of 2024. It will take a community truly coming together to support this and to make it work. I’m proud to be a small part of it.”
The team previously introduced Chatham-Kent baseball legends Bill Atkinson and Fergie Jenkins as prominent fixtures of the organization. Atkinson will act as Team Ambassador and be in attendance at Blackbirds home games regularly. Atkinson, a pitcher, signed with MLB’s Montreal Expos in 1971 and played and coached professionally for 11 years with the Expos and Chicago White Sox organizations. Atkinson reached the majors in 1976 with Montreal and played in 98 Major League games between ‘76 and ‘79. Jenkins, Canada’s first Baseball Hall of Famer and one of Canada’s most prominent sports figures will serve as Honorary President.
Follow the Chatham-Kent Blackbirds on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @ckblackbirds
LONDON – The London Majors are pleased to announce the signing of local outfielder Will Pollard.Pollard joins the Majors after playing for the Western Mustangs during the fall season where he was a teammate of Majors outfielder Austin Wilkie. This past year for the Mustangs Pollard hit an average of .286 with 10 rbi with…
LONDON – The London Majors are pleased to announce the signing of local outfielder Will Pollard.
Pollard joins the Majors after playing for the Western Mustangs during the fall season where he was a teammate of Majors outfielder Austin Wilkie. This past year for the Mustangs Pollard hit an average of .286 with 10 rbi with 12 runs in 13 games. Pollard is also an alumni of the St. Thomas Tomcats junior team where he had a .400 average and 9 RBIs in 7 games during the 2022 season.
Pollard also played with the London Badgers where he was a teammate of Majors AP players, Jaryd Lund and Connor Ambrogio, where they teamed up in 2018 and won gold in Fort McMurray.
Growing up in London, it’s a dream come true for Pollard who shared memories of attending games “As a kid, I remember having a blast going to majors games. Whether that be running around the bases, chasing after foul balls, getting autographs, you name it. I specifically remember this one moment when Cleveland Brownlee hit a grand slam on Mother’s Day to help give the majors the win. The atmosphere in the park was absolutely incredible.”
Another new Major, Roop was asked about adding to the local talent pool on the Majors roster and how important it is to the success of the team “Will is another good local player that we have added to our roster.” He then went on to talk about what he brings to the roster “Will is a line-drive hitter with some pop and is a good defensive outfielder”
The London Majors are a member of Canada’s top baseball league, the Intercounty Baseball League. In 2021 the London Majors won the IBL Jack & Lynn Dominico Trophy. The 100-year-old summer league is one of the oldest baseball leagues in the world. The league was established in 1919, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. For more information, visit www.londonmajors.com or follow the Majors on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Twitter, and TikTok at @Londonmajors
The Kitchener Panthers would like to congratulate 2019 IBL All-Star, Yoennis Yera, on his selection to team Cuba’s World Baseball Classic roster.The bulldog competitor went 7-1 with a 3.88 ERA in 2019 for the Panthers, making 12 starts and picking up 87 strikeouts in 72 innings pitched.The 33 year old is a veteran of the…
The Kitchener Panthers would like to congratulate 2019 IBL All-Star, Yoennis Yera, on his selection to team Cuba’s World Baseball Classic roster.
The bulldog competitor went 7-1 with a 3.88 ERA in 2019 for the Panthers, making 12 starts and picking up 87 strikeouts in 72 innings pitched.
The 33 year old is a veteran of the Cuban National Series, having been the longtime ace of the Matanzas Crocodiles and recording a career record of 98 wins and 50 losses across 14 seasons with a 3.24 ERA. He has recorded 1023 strikeouts and has a dominant 3.38 strikeouts to walks ratio.
Yoennis made headlines last year while dominating for the Tabasco Olmecas of the Mexican AAA league where he was named a league All-Star as well as tossing a complete game no- hitter. He was one of the top arms in the league with an 8-2 record, ERA of 3.01 and 88 strikeouts in 86.2 innings pitched.
Yera will be suiting up alongside the likes of MLB stars Luis Robert (White Sox), Yoan Moncada (White Sox) and former Mets and A’s slugger Yoenis Cespedes as Cuba is scheduled to play in the opening game of the tournament on March 8th vs the Netherlands.
Yoennis is amongst a group of 5 former Panthers who have represented Team Cuba at the world baseball classic which includes Frank Morejon, Noelvis Entenza, Jonder Martinez and Miguel Lahera.
We wish Yoennis the best of luck in what will be his second appearance at the World Baseball Classic and look forward to his expected return to Kitchener in the coming years.
LONDON – The London Majors are pleased to announce the signing of first baseman Kayne McGee.A product of West Liberty University (NCAA D2) has been the Hilltoppers second best hitter so far this young season. As of March 1st after 8 games, Kayne has a 0.381 batting average, 2 doubles and 3 rbi. Last year…
LONDON – The London Majors are pleased to announce the signing of first baseman Kayne McGee.
A product of West Liberty University (NCAA D2) has been the Hilltoppers second best hitter so far this young season. As of March 1st after 8 games, Kayne has a 0.381 batting average, 2 doubles and 3 rbi. Last year the Almonte Ontario native had 24 RBIs in 45 games which was second on his team, trailing the team leader at 28. McGee has also played for the Great Bend Bat Cats (Great Bend Kansas) and Jamestown Tarp Skunk (Jamestown NY) at the summer collegiate league level in the USA.
Another new addition to the Majors infield, fans will be excited to see come opening day, we asked the Hilltoppers infielder what Majors fans can expect from him when they see him in the lineup and patrolling 1st base “The fans can expect from me is a left-handed power bat that likes to work the gaps, looking to make an impact every time I’m up at the plate. (I’m)Excited to be playing in front of the best fans in the IBL and bringing home another championship come opening day!”
With the first baseman joining the Majors, Roop Chanderdat was asked about the new infielder “Kayne is a left-handed power hitter that likes to go gap to gap. He is another hard-working young player that wants to get better.”
The London Majors are a member of Canada’s top baseball league, the Intercounty Baseball League. In 2021 the London Majors won the IBL Jack & Lynn Dominico Trophy. The 100-year old summer league is one of the oldest baseball leagues in the world. The league was established in 1919, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. For more information, visit www.londonmajors.com or follow the Majors on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Twitter and TikTok at @Londonmajors.
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