"Rays on the Road" Program to Start Feb. 8

"Rays on the Road" program to visit Sarasota/Manatee, Charlotte County, Brooksville and Lakeland

02/04/2008, ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays will kick off their "Rays on the Road" program this month traveling to Sarasota/Manatee County, Charlotte County, Lakeland and Brooksville.

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Rays players, front office executives, broadcasters and Raymond will reach out to fans across the region as the team celebrates the imminence of spring training and the 2008 baseball season.

Friday, February 8, Charlotte County
• 9:00 a.m. Raymond and the Rays Street Team will welcome students to school at Murdock Middle School, 17325 Mariner Way, Port Charlotte, (941) 255-7525.

• 11:30 a.m. - Luncheon at Benedetto's Steakhouse, 300 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda, (941) 639-9695. Rays President Matt Silverman; Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations Gerry Hunsicker; Senior Director of Development Melanie Lenz; Rays pitchers James Shields, Edwin Jackson and James Houser; and broadcasters Dave Wills and Andy Freed. Call (727) 825-3154 for tickets and more information.

• Photo opportunity (media only) - Rays will visit the Charlotte Sports Park site, 2300 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte, (941) 743-2425.

• 6:00 p.m. - Autograph session at Charlotte County Fair, 2333 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte, (941) 629-4252.

Tuesday, February 12, Lakeland
• 2:00 p.m. - Rays first baseman Carlos Peña, pitcher Gary Glover and outfielder Justin Ruggiano will visit the Lakeland Regional Medical Center's Pediatric Unit, 1324 Lakeland Hills Blvd., Lakeland, (863) 687-1100.

• 4:00 p.m. - Peña, Glover and Ruggiano will conduct a baseball clinic at Peterson Park, 3700 Cleveland Heights Blvd., Lakeland. The clinic will be free, open to the public and hot dogs will be served free of charge.

• 6:30 p.m. - The Rays will greet fans and sign autographs at GrillSmith Restaurant at the Lakeland Town Center, 1569 Town Center Drive, Lakeland, (863) 688-8844.

Saturday, February 16, Sarasota & Manatee County
• 9:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. - Rays infielder Akinori Iwamura will serve as Grand Marshall at the Opening Day parades for the Central Sarasota Little League (9:30 a.m.) and the Venice Little League (11:00 a.m.).

• Al Reyes and Jason Hammel will greet fans and sign autographs at Champs in the Sarasota Square Mall from 2 to 3:30 p.m., (941) 924-1991.

• Reyes and Hammel will participate in the Manatee District 26 Little Leagues Opening Day Celebration at G.T. Bray Park, 3701 59th Street W., Bradenton. The festivities begin at 4:30 p.m. and feature family-friendly activities, including a face painter, clowns, balloon artist, juggler and DJ.

Thursday, February 21, Brooksville
• Rays outfielders Jonny Gomes and Justin Ruggiano and pitcher Andy Sonnanstine, Raymond and radio broadcasters Dave Wills and Rich Herrera will be visiting Brooksville as part of its 2008 Community Days. Details of the day's activities will be released shortly.

Source: MLB