'Cats Scratch Back But Come Up Short In Slugfest

New Hampshire falls out of first for first time since July 14 after 10-9 loss in Portland

PORTLAND, ME - The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays) lost a slugfest against the Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox) Wednesday night at Hadlock Field, a 10-9 defeat that featured a combined 29 hits. With the loss and a Trenton Thunder (Yankees) win in Altoona earlier tonight, the 'Cats and the Thunder are tied for first in the Eastern Division with five games to play, but Trenton owns the tiebreaker.

Trailing 8-3 after four, New Hampshire used a four-run fifth to make it close. Bo Bichette started the inning with a single and Max Pentecost followed with a two-run home run. Santiago Espinal matched the effort later in the frame, launching his first-career Double-A home run over the 37-foot Maine Monster in left field to plate a pair and make it 8-7.

After a scoreless sixth, Portland got two runs (one earned) in the seventh to go up 10-7.

In the eighth, Forrest Wall notched a lead-off single and scored on a Jon Berti triple. Berti came home on a wild pitch as the 'Cats scratched back within one.

Down 10-9 in the ninth, Espinal worked a walk to start the stanza and moved to second on a passed ball during the next at-bat. Despite having the tying run in scoring position with no outs, New Hampshire failed to bring him in and lost 10-9.

Espinal led the way on offense with three hits, three runs scored and two RBI. Bichette, Pentecost, Wall and Andrew Guillotte logged two hits apieve while Danny Young twirled two scoreless frames of relief. Travis Bergen put up a zero in the ninth to extend his scoreless innings streak to 20 frames, a season-high for the Fisher Cats.

New Hampshire concludes the regular season road schedule tomorrow night in Portland. RHP Hector Perez will go for the 'Cats while LHP Kyle Hart gets the nod for the Sea Dogs. Coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. with the Fisher Cats Pregame Show and continues with first pitch at 7:00 p.m. on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network.

The Fisher Cats return home Friday - Monday for a Labor Day Weekend series against the Hartford Yard Goats (Colorado Rockies).

The Eastern League Playoffs begin on Wednesday, September 5. With a two-game lead on second-place Trenton, the Fisher Cats magic number to clinch home field advantage is seven. With home field, New Hampshire would host Round 1 playoff games on Friday, September 7, as well as Saturday, September 8 and Sunday, September 9 if necessary. 

For tickets and information, visit NHFisherCats.com.

Daniel Webster Council Raises Nearly $4,000 with Fisher Cats Fundraiser

(From left to right) Fisher Cats Vice President of Sales Mike Ramshaw and team mascot 
Fungo present a check for $3,984 to John Rainville, Program Director, and Greg Osborn, 
Marketing & Public Relations Director, of the Daniel Webster Council of the Boy Scouts of America. 
The New Hampshire council raised the money through the 
Centrix Bank Community Outing Fundraising Program during a pair of games in the 2012 Fisher Cats season.

Over 1,000 scouts involved in sleepover, fundraising effort

Manchester, New Hampshire - Through the Centrix Bank Community Outing Fundraising Program, scouts from the Daniel Webster Council raised nearly four thousand dollars with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in the summer of 2012. The scouts participated in a pair of games, spending the night at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium while raising $3,984 for the scouting community of New Hampshire.

"The Boy Scouts are such a unique organization for the youth of New Hampshire, teaching valuable, life-long lessons," said Joseph B. Reilly, President/CEO of Centrix Bank. "Centrix Bank is proud to present this check with the Fisher Cats to support such an important program for these children."

More than one thousand participants represented scout packs and troops in the Daniel Webster Council on Scout Night Sleepovers on June 8 and August 3 during the Fisher Cats season. On each night, the respective packs were recognized in a pre-game scout parade around the field and presented colors during the National

Fisher Cats Thanksgiving 5K to Benefit New Hampshire's Hospital for Children

Road Race Begins with Thanksgiving Eve Party in Samuel Adams Bar & Grill

Manchester, New Hampshire - The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, and Millennium Running, NH's premier road race management company, announced a new beneficiary for the 2012 running of the Fisher Cats Thanksgiving 5K, presented by MVP Health Care. The second installment of the annual race will benefit New Hampshire's Hospital for Children, the pediatric specialists in the Elliot Health System.

"The inaugural Thanksgiving 5K was a huge success thanks to our fans, our partner Millennium Running, and the event's presenting sponsor, MVP Health Care," said Rick Brenner, Fisher Cats President. "We are excited to see this year's race benefit the outstanding care provided by New Hampshire's Hospital for Children."

Fisher Cats Earn John H. Johnson President's Award Nomination

Team will represent Eastern League for award recognizing Minor League Baseball's 'complete franchise'

MANCHESTER, N.H. - The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, have been chosen to represent the Eastern League for the 2012 John H. Johnson President's Award. The prestigious honor, presented annually by Minor League Baseball, is given to one minor league team in recognition of long-term success while positively impacting the local community and the game of baseball.

"We are honored to receive the nomination for this award from the Eastern League," said Fisher Cats President Rick Brenner. "We have been blessed to have a hard-working staff, the best fans in baseball, and great partners in our community who have enabled us to put on a fun, affordable show and make a positive impact on those around us."

The John H. Johnson President's Award is Minor League Baseball's top award, presented to "honor the complete baseball franchise." Teams are nominated based on franchise stability, their contributions to league stability, impact on the community, and promotion of the baseball industry.

"Under the leadership of Art Solomon and Rick Brenner, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats have become one of the model franchises in all of Minor League Baseball," said Eastern League President Joe McEacharn.  "In addition to providing fans with the affordable, family entertainment they've come to expect on a nightly basis at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium, the Fisher Cats have become equally well known for their work in the community, raising money and awareness for numerous charities throughout the state of New Hampshire."

The Fisher Cats earned their first President's Award nomination by becoming one of the most successful teams in minor league baseball. Highlights for the Fisher Cats nomination include:

• Fisher Cats and Fisher Cats Foundation have provided nearly $2 million in monetary and in-kind donations to more than 3,000 non-profit organizations since 2006.
• Annual Granite State Baseball Dinner has generated more than $800,000 for the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, the Ted Williams Foundation, and the Fisher Cats Foundation. Proceeds from the dinner have been used by the Fisher Cats Foundation to provide $170,000 in scholarships to 56 students in New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 2007.
• The Fisher Cats Reading Challenge, presented by the Community College System of New Hampshire, has reached more than 155,000 students since its introduction in 2007.
• Welcomed the three-millionth fan on August 16, 2012, a feat accomplished in their ninth season; Total attendance in nine years is 3,064,395.
• With Manchester Christian Church, Queen City Paint, and the Ted Williams Foundation, hosted Manchester Goes Back to School 2012 to provide free school supplies to 3,000 families in Manchester; Host several other programs and events to raise money and awareness for hundreds of community organizations.
• Continuously recognized in several New Hampshire publications as 'Best Sporting Event to Take Clients', 'Best Sports Team', 'Favorite Sporting Event for Families', and 'Best Mascot'.
• Owner Art Solomon has published 'Making It in the Minors', an enjoyable read that provides a first-hand testament to making a team successful.
• Northeast Delta Dental Stadium upgrades include Samuel Adams Bar and Grill, MVP Healthcare Generation Go Play Area, and 140' LED board in left field.
• 2004 and 2011 Eastern League Champions; Host of 2008 and 2011 Eastern League All-Star Game.
• With their major league affiliate, the Toronto Blue Jays, 61 players have advanced to the majors.

The President's Award would be the latest national honor for the Fisher Cats. In 2009, they won Baseball America's Double-A Bob Freitas Award recognizing the Fisher Cats as the most outstanding franchise at the Double-A level for overall business operation and long-term success. A year later, 2010, the team was honored with the Larry MacPhail Award as the nation's best in promotional effort and community involvement.

Minor League Baseball has presented the President's Award to one team each year since 1974. Three Eastern League teams have won the honor, the last coming in 2006.

Fisher Cats Full and Half-Season Tickets are on sale now. Season Ticket Holders enjoy a host of benefits, including monthly all-you-can-eat barbecues, flexible exchange policy, a free kids birthday party, invitation to exclusive events, and much more. Fans that purchase by October 15 will also receive triple the Fisher Cash - up to $150 per full season seat - to use at concessions stands or in the Souvenir Store. Opening Day at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium is April 4, 2013, against the Reading Phillies (Philadelphia Phillies). For tickets, visit www.nhfishercats.com or call (603) 641-2005.