Newark Bears Gear Up For Home Opener

Our own Jill Nicolini is playing ball with the Newark Bears. She's fielding, batting and pitching with the team.

The Newark Bears are kicking off their first home game for the 2009 season on Friday, May 1. Newark’s only pro baseball team will host a 71 home-game season including the All-Star Game that is going to heat up spring and summer in the city, welcoming families, men and women of all ages together to show spirited competition and a love of the game on and off the field.

The Bears will hold its annual team tryouts along with tryouts for mascots and national anthem singers on April 11th. For more information, visit www.newarkbears.com.

The team also has a thrilling opening weekend planned for May 1st – May 3rd, which includes General Colin Powell and legendary singer Patti LaBelle. General Powell is scheduled to throw out the "Ceremonial First Pitch" at the Home Opener on May 1st where partial proceeds of the game will be donated to America’s Promise Alliance, the national children’s advocacy organization he founded. Grammy Award Winner Patti LaBelle will also sing the National Anthem.

On Saturday, May 2 the Bears will feature a military night honoring active duty military, veterans and fallen heroes at their "Salute to the Military" benefiting the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and Sunday, May 3rd, former Yankee All-Star Tino Martinez will throw out the first pitch to kick off the first of the Bears Legends Sundays for the 2009 season.

For more information and thir home game schedule, log onto www.newarkbears.com.