March 18, 2007

NEW BERN, NC—The River Rats are now accepting applications for new host families for the upcoming season.  Host families provide housing for players, coaches, and interns during the 10-week Coastal Plain League season that begins May 30 and ends August 8.  Host families receive free season tickets for hosting and are invited to a number of exclusive events, including a chance to take batting practice with the team.

"The host family experience can be a very rewarding one, particularly for a family with children involved in youth sports," said River Rats General Manager Michael Weisbart.  "We are very proud of our host family network and the way it represents the true hospitality of the New Bern area."

"We hear over and over again from our host families that the relationships built during the brief 10-week summer continue long after the player returns to college,"  Weisbart said.  "Host families have gone to visit players at their colleges, met them at road games, and attended their weddings.  It is one of the things that makes this level of baseball very special."

More information about the Host Family Program and the application is available on the team's website at www.newbernriverrats.com.  For further information, contact the River Rats at (252) 675-5689.

2006 River Rat and UNC sophomore pitcher Adam Warren was featured in an article in Saturday's New Bern Sun Journal.  Warren is off to a terrific start for the Tarheels, who are hoping to return to the College Word Series for the second straight year.

Rats notes:  

Fans can still register for the River Rats and Gold's Gym "Pound for Pound" Weight Loss Challenge, a free contest designed to give area baseball fans added incentive to lose excess pounds and start or continue an exercise program. 

Registration for the Challenge continues this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Gold's Gym in New Bern.  Contestants do not need to be members of Gold's Gym to partipate.  Gold's will offer non-members a free one-week membership to get them started in the contest. 

About the River Rats:

The New Bern River Rats baseball club is a member of the Coastal Plain League, a high-profile wood-bat collegiate summer baseball league.  The team will open the 2007 season on Wednesday, May 30 against the Wilmington Sharks at New Bern High School’s Boykin Field.  All 57 games can be heard on the Meinke Car Care Center Broadcasts on ESPN Radio 1490 AM. The team’s official website is www.NewBernRiverRats.com.

About the Coastal Plain League:

The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 10th anniversary season, the CPL is the largest summer league in the country, featuring 15 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL is certified by Major League Baseball, and gives college players the chance to refine their skills with wooden bats during the summer months. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com.