There is electricity in the air at the start of every baseball season as fans are excited to hear the crack of the bats, smell the ballpark hot dogs and see their favorite players take the field. This is especially true for the minor league teams in our service territory that FirstEnergy partners with as part of our commitment to living our core value of Stewardship.

From community initiatives to kids’ baseball clinics, there will be a lot of action both on and off the field this season. Mark your calendars so you and your family can participate in the events taking place in your area.

Supporting the Home Team in Ohio

For Electric Blue Fridays – powered by FirstEnergy – the RubberDucks don their electric blue jerseys during Friday home games throughout the season.

FirstEnergy recently enhanced its longstanding relationship with the Akron RubberDucks through a multiyear agreement that includes new community programs focused on school children and young athletes. Here are some of the initiatives we have planned in conjunction with the team:

• Quack Open a Book – Students in grades 3-6 who read and log three books from April to July will earn a free ticket to the RubberDucks game on Sunday, Aug. 6, and they can participate in a pregame parade around the field. The student who reads the most books will be invited to throw out a ceremonial first pitch at the game. One deserving school will be selected to host a live reading event with the RubberDucks mascots, team personnel and FirstEnergy representatives.
• Akron RubberDucks Baseball Academy – Gives local youth teams the opportunity to play baseball at Canal Park. The RubberDucks Academy on the Road also is set to debut with local youth baseball programming and instruction during the 2023 season, courtesy of FirstEnergy.
• Electric Blue Fridays, powered by FirstEnergy – A returning fan-favorite, the RubberDucks don their electric blue jerseys during Friday home games throughout the season.
• Halfway to Christmas Night – On Saturday, June 24, the first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a FirstEnergy holiday stocking. Fans also will be treated to a holiday-themed fireworks show immediately following the game, courtesy of FirstEnergy.

“Our ongoing sponsorship of the Akron RubberDucks not only strengthens community ties but also illuminates the path to a brighter future for younger residents of greater Akron through the youth baseball programming and summer reading initiative,” said Lorna Wisham, vice president, Corporate Affairs & Community Involvement. “By promoting summer literacy programs and encouraging a love for baseball and teamwork, we are investing in the growth of our future leaders and empowering the community with the tools it needs to succeed.”

The RubberDucks play their home games at Canal Park, which is located just a few blocks from FirstEnergy’s general office building in Akron. The team has been the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians since 1997, and their season runs through September 17.

Hosting a Baseball Fantasy Camp in Pa.

On Saturday, July 15, a kid’s baseball clinic will be held at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading, Pa. The clinic – which is open to children of FirstEnergy employees and their families – allows participants to step onto the field to experience life as a minor league baseball player.

FirstEnergy Stadium is home to the Reading Fightin Phils, the Double-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. Players from the Fightin Phils kick off the day’s activities by having lunch with the kids, which includes hot dogs and other baseball stadium treats. During the clinic portion of the event, small groups rotate through various stations, including warm-ups, batting practice, pitching drills and base running. The day ends with all participants being invited to the evening home game.

According to Met-Ed’s Anika Niehans, executive assistant, Leadership, the Fightin Phils and the stadium’s management team go above and beyond to make the clinic a special experience for the kids and their families.

“It’s a fun and unique event, and the kids really enjoy interacting with the players and running around the bases,” she said. “The clinic has been part of the naming rights package for FirstEnergy Stadium since 2000, and we appreciate how great the team and stadium management have been to work with over the last two decades.”