Giving young ballplayers from 12 regional high school baseball teams a chance to live out their big league dreams, the Minnesota Twins this week announced a series of six prep games to be held at Target Field this spring: Owatonna vs. Red Wing on Saturday, April 20; Prior Lake vs. Shakopee and Edison vs. Johnson on Thursday, April 25; New Life Academy vs. St. Agnes on Thursday, May 9; Hopkins vs. Rogers on Thursday, May 16; and – for the first time – an all-Iowa matchup between Kee (Lansing, IA) and South Winneshiek (Calmar, IA) on Thursday, May 30.
Additionally, the Twins are the presenting sponsor for a high school softball game between Edison and Johnson this Saturday, April 13 at the renowned Jane Sage Cowles Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus – home to the Golden Gophers softball program.
The six regular season high school games mark the most at Target Field in a single season in the ballpark’s 15-year history; all six contests will be held following the conclusion of that afternoon’s Twins home game (April 20 vs. the Detroit Tigers at 1:10 p.m.; April 25 vs. the Chicago White Sox at 12:10 p.m.; May 9 vs. the Seattle Mariners at 12:10 p.m.; May 16 vs. the New York Yankees at 12:10 p.m.; and May 30 vs. the Kansas City Royals at 12:10 p.m.).
Fans looking to support the teams should contact the specific school for ticket information, as proceeds from tickets bought through the school will be used to support their baseball programs. Additionally, fans holding tickets to the Twins game on the date of the high school game will also have access to both contests.
Each of the six games will feature the pomp and circumstance of a Twins game, including ceremonial first pitches, a public address announcer and Target Field’s full assortment of videoboards and LED screens. The Twins will cover costs associated to bring high school softball to the University of Minnesota’s Division I facility this Saturday.
“The Minnesota Twins believe that baseball and softball change lives for the better, and we are proud to provide both our home ballpark and our financial support to create lifelong memories for these young athletes and their communities,” said club President & CEO Dave St. Peter. “We thank the Minnesota State High School League and the University of Minnesota for their continued partnership, and we look forward to welcoming the student-athletes, coaches and fans from these 12 schools to Jane Sage Cowles Stadium and Target Field this spring.”
(info courtesy of Twins)
