RailRiders Announce 2022 Pinstripe Pals Program Participants

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, in conjunction with US Foods, are pleased to announce the ten leagues that have been selected for the 2022 Pinstripe Pals program.

The winning leagues and districts are:

-Forest City Baseball & Softball Association

-Wallenpaupack Area Little League

-Wyoming-West Wyoming Little League

-Wilkes-Barre City Little LeagueMilton Little League

-Millville Little League

-Greater Carbondale Miss C Softball League

-Valley View Little League

-North Scranton Little League

-Dunmore Little League

2022 marks the seventh season of the Pinstripe Pals program. Each of the ten leagues selected will receive a $500 sponsorship from the RailRiders to assist in league expenses, as well as a $500 gift card courtesy of US Foods, which can be used to help teams pay for concession stand products and supplies.

Each league selected will have the opportunity to participate in a pre-game parade at PNC Field before a RailRiders home game and the opportunity for RailRiders assistance with league fundraising. Selected leagues will have a photo of their choice placed in the GuideRail game day program on their league’s night and one of the teams in each league will serve as the “Field of Dreams” club on that night and take the field with our players.

For more information, please contact the RailRiders front office at (570) 969-BALL or visit swbrailriders.com.

RailRiders University Community Series

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are pleased to announce the schedule for the Sixth Annual RailRiders University Community Series, presented by Geisinger. Each spring, the RailRiders welcome local high school and special needs teams onto PNC Field to showcase their talents.

2022 RailRiders University Community Series

April 31:00 P.M.The West Scranton Invaders, managed by Brian Minich, take on the crosstown-rival Scranton Knights, managed by Jamie Higgins.
April 54:30 P.M.The Scranton Knights will be back at PNC Field to take on District 2-5A Champions Abington Heights Comets, led by manager Billy Zalewski.
April 64:30 P.M.Division 3 powerhouses square off against each other as the Mid Valley Spartans, managed by Ryan Kropa, take on the Holy Cross Crusaders, managed by Sandy Menichetti.
April 84:30 P.M.Two perennial conference champions battle as the North Pocono Trojans, skippered by Brian Jardine, host the Holy Redeemer Royals, managed by Chris Ristick.
April 912:30 P.M.We welcome two new teams to PNC Field as District 4’s Athens Area Wildcats, managed by Charles Havens, play the Sayre Redskins, managed by Jamie VanDuzer.
April 184:30 P.M.One of the area’s biggest rivalries hits the diamond as the Valley View Cougars, managed by Jason Munley, take on Abington Heights. 
May 1TBDAfter the RailRiders play Lehigh Valley, come and catch a Wyoming Valley Conference rivalry game with District 2-6A Champs. The Hazleton Area Cougars, managed by Russ Canzler, play the Crestwood Comets, led by Sean Foley.
May 56:30 P.M.District 11 rivals meet at PNC Field as the Pocono Mountain East Cardinals, skippered by Matt DelGuidice, host the Stroudsburg Mountaineers, managed by Phil Stokes.
May 71:00 P.M.DOUBLEHEADER- District 2- 6A champion Hazleton Area plays 6A State Champions La Salle College High School, managed by Kyle Werman.  Game two features the District 2-AA Champion Riverside Vikings, managed by Sean Hughes, against the Dunmore Bucks, managed by Sid Hallinan.

There is no parking or admission fee for any of the 2022 RailRiders University Community Series games.

The RailRiders are also proud to host the Wyoming Valley Challenger League as part of the Community Series on May 15, June 5, 19 and July 17.

RailRiders University is offering Spring Training Clinics in April. The clinics run from 9-11 A.M on April 3 and 24. One clinic session is $60.00, but participants can do both dates for $110.00 and each includes tickets for a 2022 RailRiders game and a clinic t-shirt. The RailRiders University Spring Training Clinics staff now includes former Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Ray Black, as well as high school and college coaches and players. Contact Robby Judge at (570) 558-4612 or rjudge@swbrailriders.com for additional information.

The RailRiders University Community Series is presented by Geisinger as part of their continued commitment to Northeastern Pennsylvania.  For more information, please contact the RailRiders front office at (570) 969-BALL.

RailRiders Set Custom Jersey Nights For 2022 Season

As the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders prepare for the 2022 season, the team is pleased to unveil its custom jersey nights slated for the upcoming schedule. The season begins on the road on April 5 with the home opener one week later at PNC Field. In addition to the daily promotions already announced, the RailRiders will wear five custom jerseys this season and each will be auctioned off to benefit local charities.

As part of a celebration of our Armed Forces, SWB will wear red, white and blue tops over Memorial Day weekend. The players will wear these jerseys again in July and the custom tops will be auctioned off over Independence weekend.

Villains be warned! Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond Night is June 3 at PNC Field. The RailRiders will wear custom Captain America-themed jerseys plus Captain America himself will be patrolling the concourse.

Pride Night is slated for June 16 with a jersey auction after that Thirsty Thursday game.

Paradise is found at PNC Field on July 15. That RailRiders will once again wear Margaritaville-inspired Hawaiian jerseys. Waste away and search for that lost shaker of salt with us and be sure the fireworks are to blame after the final out.

Calling all Super Heros! The RailRiders return to Marvel Universe on August 6 with custom Thor jerseys. The Asgardian God of Thunder will also make a guest appearance on the concourse for fan photos.

All jersey auctions in 2022 will be online through the Minor League Baseball auction site.

Ticket memberships, including full, half and partial season plans, as well as a wide range of mini-plans, are on sale now and single-game tickets are available online at swbrailriders.com beginning at 10 A.M. on March 8.

Follow March Madness and Win with the RailRiders

It’s nearly tournament time and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are marching on towards their 2022 season with the return of a fan-fav ticket promotion. The RailRiders are giving fans the opportunity to pair ticket packages purchased with teams from the NCAA men’s college tournament field for a chance to win.

Each new Full Season Ticket Membership purchased through March 16 will be paired with FOUR NCAA men’s tournament participants. Each Half Season Ticket Membership purchased will be paired with three teams. A Partial Plan purchase will net two teams in the tournament and any Mini-Plan will be assigned one corresponding team in the big dance. The team assignments will be done on Monday, March 14, after Selection Sunday via a random lottery pick system. Teams will be assigned on a per-seat basis rather than being limited to one per account.

If your designated team advances, you will be given the following prizes based on performance: Advance to the round of 32 to receive the FULL Legends Race Bobblehead Series (Both the Mantle & Munson Bobblehead AND the DiMaggio & Martin Bobblehead); advance to the Sweet 16 to receive a team hat with the classic SWB logo; advance to the Elite 8 to receive four tickets to Yankee Stadium (2 vouchers) and four Standing Room Only tickets to the Geisinger Champions Club level for a RailRiders game of their choice this season; advance to the Final 4 to receive a Roger Clemens autographed baseball, $25 gift certificate to theSWB Station Team Store and a game-worn RailRiders jersey.

One person will ride their team’s success all the way to the title. If your randomly-assigned team wins the NCAA Championship, you will take home an autographed Legend’s Series bat, a personalized RailRiders jersey, 50% off RailRiders suite May through September and a $100 gift card to the SWB Station Team Store.

The 2022 season opens on April 5 in Syracuse with the home opener on April 12 against the Norfolk Tides at PNC Field. Season ticket memberships and mini-plans are available now on www.swbrailriders.com and single-game tickets will be available beginning at 10 A.M. on March 8.

Single-Game SWB RailRider Tickets for 2022 Season on Sale March 8

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, have announced that single-game tickets for the upcoming 2022 season will go on sale March 8. The RailRiders begin the season on the road in Syracuse on April 5 before opening PNC Field for the first time on April 12.

Starting on March 1 at 10 A.M., season ticket members will have the opportunity to purchase additional single-game tickets as well as exchange their current game tickets for other dates.

At 10 A.M. on March 8, individual tickets for all 75 home games at PNC Field in 2022 will go on sale online only at www.swbrailriders.com.

The RailRiders host 11 games in April, 14 in May, 14 during June, nine in July, 14 during August and close with 13 games at PNC Field during September. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre will welcome the top affiliates of the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Miami Marlins, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays and Washington Nationals throughout the year.

2022 homestands will follow the standard set in 2021 with a six-game series against each opponent with one exception at the close of the year when SWB plays Buffalo in a three-game series. Each day of the week will once again feature promotions that appeal to fans of all ages and interests.

Tuesdays are two times the fun each and every week. The RailRiders will offer Two-for-One Lawn or Bleacher Seats for each Tuesday game this season. This tremendous ticketing promotion will be available online only and details on how to redeem the offer will be announced soon. Plus… our friends at Northeast Eagle are pleased to present $2 Landshark Lager Tallboys for two hours after gates open during Tuesday home games this season (excluding Opening Night).

Mid-week goes to the dogs on Waggin’ Wednesdays. Fans can bring their four-legged besties to Wednesday home games during the 2022 season. There is no cost to bring your pup to the park, but the RailRiders encourage a donation to their weekly animal-friendly non-profit of choice. Fans may purchase seats on the lawn or in the bleachers if they bring their dog out on a Waggin’ Wednesday. It’s also our Dollar Dog night with $1 hot dogs for two hours after gates open courtesy of Sahlen’s Hot Dogs.

Thirsty Thursdays return with $1 Bud Light drafts and $1 Pepsi Fountain drinks for two hours after gates open.

As a token of thanks, the RailRiders will offer complimentary tickets to the brave men and women that have kept us safe over the years on our First Responders Fridays. 50 tickets will be given away to our first responders each Friday. Tickets are given away on a first-come, first-serve basis and are limited to four per week per first responder. First responders will be able to register for complementary tickets by completing the form under the Community tab at www.swbrailriders.com.

Beginning on May 27, fans can finish the work week with a bang! Friday Night Fireworks will light up the night throughout the summer with the best pyrotechnic show in NEPA.

Saturdays will once again feature great giveaway items all season long. Giveaways will be announced over the coming weeks leading up to single-game ticket sales.

Bring the whole gang every Sunday for a Geisinger Family Fun Day! There is no better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than at PNC Field with family-friendly fun. Gates open at noon and kids can play catch on the field until 12:20 P.M. During the game, kids can get $2 Dippin Dots. After the final out, children 12 and younger can run the bases.

Additional promotions, giveaways and theme nights will be announced soon. All promotions are subject to change.

Please note that May 11 and May 25 are School Day Games and the two Wednesday promotions are not applicable on those dates. Additional terms and restrictions may apply during each promotional night.

Ticket memberships, including full, half and partial season plans, as well as a wide range of mini-plans, are on sale now. For more information, please visit swbrailriders.com or call (570) 969-2255.

MiLB Expands Triple-A Schedule to 150 Games

Minor League Baseball has announced that six additional games will be added to the 2022 Triple-A season, expanding the slate to 150 games. The additional games help Triple-A baseball better align with the Major League season and push the end date of the Minor League campaign to September 28.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre was slated to close the season with a three-game set at Lehigh Valley from Monday, September 19 through Wednesday, September 21. That series will now begin on Tuesday, September 20, and run through Sunday, September 25.

The RailRiders will now close the 2022 season at PNC Field with a three-game series against the Buffalo Bisons from Monday, September 26 through Wednesday, September 28. Each of those three games will begin at 6:35 P.M. Full season ticket members will have tickets for the additional three home games added to their accounts while all other plans will have the ability to exchange unused tickets or vouchers for these games per the RailRiders exchange policy.

This 150-game schedule will be the longest for any Minor League team since 1964. International League franchises played 154 games that season while the Pacific Coast League clubs played 156.

Tickets packages for the 2022 season are available now. For more information, please visit swbrailriders.com or contact a ticket sales representative at (570) 969-BALL.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Joins New MiLB Initiative ‘The Nine”

Minor League Baseball® (MiLB™) has announced the launch of “The Nine,” a new, Black-community focused outreach platform specifically designed to honor and celebrate the historic impact numerous Black baseball pioneers made on the sport, provide new opportunities for youth baseball and softball participation, further diversify the business of baseball, and embrace millions of passionate fans throughout MiLB’s 120 communities nationwide. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, are pleased to announce that the franchise will participate in “The Nine” starting this season.

Named for the number Jackie Robinson wore during his only season playing in MiLB with the Triple-A Montreal Royals in 1946, The Nine will connect MiLB teams’ existing, Black-community focused development efforts with new national programming and future special events in a coordinated and centralized campaign. The new inclusion initiative follows MiLB’s Copa de la Diversión Latino fan engagement platform introduced in 2017 that included 76 MiLB teams in 2021.

“This is a truly important initiative from Minor League Baseball and we are excited to join so many other teams in participating,” stated John Adams, Team President of the RailRiders. “There are so many great players to honor and stories to be told with Northeastern Pennsylvania ties. This will become both educational and engaging for everyone involved, and we look forward to watching the program grow.’”

Details on “The Nine” as well as other associated events will be available as the season approaches. For more information on the 2022 season, please contact the RailRiders front office at (570) 969-2255 or visit swbrailriders.com.  

RailRiders add 13 Employees to Front Office for 2022 Season

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, are pleased to announce key additions to their front office staff as the start of the 2022 season approaches. With the first pitch of the new campaign less than 100 days away, the RailRiders have added 13 new employees to the front office roster.

“We are excited to grow our staff in several key areas and in ways that positively impact our operation,” stated John Adams, Team President of the RailRiders. “We have had a strong core in place and are excited to add new energy to the front office. These new hires are spread across several departments like ticket sales, corporate partnerships and marketing, and should allow everyone on staff to reach their fullest potential.”

Matt Hamilton is the RailRiders new Vice President of Corporate Partnerships. He graduated from West Texas A&M University in 2010 and spent seven years as a news reporter and anchor before a transition to media sales. He joined the Amarillo Sod Poodles in 2018. In three seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks Double-A affiliate, Hamilton advanced from serving as a corporate partnerships executive to heading up the department. Under his leadership, the Sod Poodles corporate partnerships grew revenue by over 25% while also retaining 99% of their partners despite the global pandemic.

Chris Hutson joined the RailRiders front office in October as the VP of Ticket Sales, Service and Operations. A native New Yorker, he has a wealth of sales and marketing experience at the team, league office, event and venue levels. He was the principal and co-founder of Turnstyles USA, the first-of-its-kind, multi-dimensional sales support agency that served clients across all major sports. Hutson has also worked for the NFL in a variety of roles as well as Spectacor Management Group, the Philadelphia 76ers and Madison Square Garden, where he directed sales for the New York Knicks and New York Rangers.

Holly Gumble is the new senior staff accountant. She is a graduate of Dallas High School and a 2010 graduate of West Chester University, where she earned her degree in Accounting.

Jordan Calvey is the RailRiders new Director of Marketing. She attended Abington Heights High School and is a 2014 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. She built her marketing and sports industry experience through working several Olympic Games with NBC Sports, and at marketing agencies, Inspira and Match Marketing. Calvey most recently spent two years with the U.S. Figure Skating Association in Colorado Springs as the Marketing Manager, where she led ticket sales growth and marketing for their tent pole events, managed organizational campaigns and drove brand awareness locally and nationally.

Katherine Arata has joined the staff as the Marketing Manager. She graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2019 and interned with the Fayetteville Woodpeckers and at the Astros/Nationals Spring Training Complex in West Palm Beach, Florida, after graduation. Arata spent the 2021 season with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies as the Director of Marketing and Promotions for the New York Mets Double-A affiliate.

Taylor Moy is the new Video Production Manager. A Queens, NYC native, she graduated from the University at Buffalo in 2019 with degrees in media and psychology. Before the start of her career in minor league baseball, she studied abroad in Spain and completed the Disney College Program. Moy spent 2021 with the Rumble Ponies as their video production assistant before becoming a production intern for the New York Giants.

Kirsten Peters is the RailRiders Social Media and Special Events Manager. She is a 2021 graduate of Wilkes University with degrees in communication studies, sports management and creative writing. While at Wilkes, Peters was the editor-in-chief of the student-run newspaper, The Beacon. She was also the program director of Wilkes’ student-run television show, Wilkes Now! She served as the baseball team’s intern for four seasons, keeping the scorebook, recording stats and acting as the team photographer. She added baseball social media director to her list of responsibilities in 2018.

Joshua Klein is a new Corporate Partnerships Manager for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. A native of Montville, NJ, he attended Susquehanna University, where he majored in broadcasting and was a member of the River Hawks Crew Club. After graduating in 2019, Klein worked for the Reading Fightin Phils as their Media Relations Intern/Social Media Coordinator. Following his time with Reading, he moved to Nevada and was the Communications Coordinator for the Reno Aces before the cancelation of the 2020 season.

Kate Mummert joins the front office as a Corporate Services Manager. She is a native of Dover, PA, and attended York College of Pennsylvania, graduating in 2021 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sport Management. Mummert spent the last three years in the Atlantic League working for the York Revolution in retail, ticketing and client services.

Anthony D’Andrea and Chris Kunzmann have joined the front office as group sales executives.

D’Andrea is a 2021 graduate of the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing. The Norwalk, CT native completed social media and marketing internships with Adapting Social and Crowdpac, and served as an Athletics Marketing and Promotions intern for Monmouth University in 2021.

Kunzmann is a New Jersey native and a 2021 graduate of  Penn State. He has previously worked for the Penn State basketball team, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs as a Game Day Intern and the Philadelphia Eagles as a Ticket and Fan Services Intern.  

Brandon Brzenski is the club’s new Stadium Operations Manager after spending three seasons with the club as an intern. Brzenski attended Kutztown University and obtained a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management in 2020. He also attended East Stroudsburg University and graduated in 2021 with a master’s degree in Sport Management.

In addition to the recent hires, Kyle Davis joined the RailRiders last summer as Account Executive Season Ticket Sales. A NEPA native, Davis was previously a Marketing/Services Intern with the team in 2018. He also interned with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins as the Game Day operations Intern and the Washington Wild Things as the Event/Operations Intern. Davis attended Temple University and graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor’s degree in Sport and Recreation Management.

For more information on these personnel moves or the upcoming season, please contact the RailRiders front office at (570) 969-2255 or visit swbrailriders.com.