More PLAY Programs
Youth Baseball & Softball Days
The Padres are proud to annually recognize Little Leaguers, ASA Softball players and PONY leaguers from all over Southern California at PETCO Park on our their designated league days. On their selected dates, each group has the opportunity to participate in a parade along the warning track and participate in ceremonies including the ceremonial first pitch, National Anthem, and starting the game with the traditional "Play Ball!" League days for the 2009 season are as follows:
| LEAGUE |
DESIGNATED DATE |
 |
| ASA (American Softball Association) |
Saturday, April 25, 2009 |
|
| Little League |
Sunday, April 26, 2009 |
|
| PONY Baseball |
Sunday, May 17, 2009 |
A special ticket discount is available to all youth baseball & softball teams that are part of a group of 25 or more for the dates above. For more information please contact the Padres group sales department at (619) 795-5500.
Youth Clinics
The Padres team up with several organizations to encourage youngster's interest and participation in baseball and softball, including supporting STAR/PAL's summer baseball programs and the California State Games. For more information on STAR/PAL, please visit www.starpal.org.
Kids Gear for Baseball
The mission of Kids Gear for Baseball is to collect gently used equipment for distribution among disadvantaged youth in San Diego County and Mexico (e.g. schools, organizations, parks and community recreation centers). The group also works to secure grants to fund special projects and pay for new equipment to supplement the used gear. For more information, please call Kids Gear for Baseball: (619) 985-5437.
The 2009 Kids Gear Equipment Drive is scheduled for
Sunday, April 26, prior to the Padres vs. Pittsburgh game. Please bring gently used or new equipment to the game and Kids Gear for Baseball volunteers will have donation bins at each gate.
Youth Baseball/Softball Competitions
MLB Pitch, Hit & Run
The Pitch, Hit & Run Competition is the official skills competition of Major League Baseball. This grassroots program, initiated in 1996, is designed to provide youth across North America with an integrated competition that recognizes individual excellence in core baseball skills. Major League Baseball's Pitch, Hit & Run features local, sectional and Major League Baseball Team Championship competitions and culminates with the National Finals held annually as part of the All-Star Game festivities in July. The Padres will host the San Diego Team Championship on Sunday, June 21, 2009. For more information, please contact LEJ Sports Group at (770) 641-7519 or
click here.
California State Games
The California State Games is a grass-roots program of the United States Olympic Committee and brings the spirit of the Olympic Games to kids, while promoting health and fitness. The Games is one of California's largest amateur sports festivals, with over 11,000 participants competing in 24 different Olympic-style sporting events between the Summer and Winter Games. The California State Games encourages youth sports and fitness and is one of the most diverse sports events in the state with athletes from many ethnicities and communities competing in the various sports. The Padres support the Community Outreach Program that includes Recreational Baseball, Softball, and Basketball programs with local YMCAs, Boys & Girls Clubs, and Parks & Recreation Centers. For more information, please visit www.calstategames.org.
High School Baseball & Softball
CIF
The Padres annually host five official California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) baseball games at PETCO Park, featuring ten teams from five of the seven conferences in the CIF San Diego Section. Teams are selected by their respective conferences. The club also sponsors the CIF softball championships each year in support of high school softball.
The CIF games for 2009 will be played on Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9 (home team listed first):
| Friday, May 8 |
| 4:00 p.m. |
St. Augustine vs. Cathedral Catholic |
|
| 7:00 p.m. |
Carlsbad vs. Vista |
| Saturday, May 9 |
| 10:00 a.m. |
Francis Parker vs. Canyon Crest |
|
| 1:00 p.m. |
Bonita Vista vs. Chula Vista |
|
| 4:00 p.m. |
Central Union vs. Southwest - El Centro |
Lions Club Mike Morrow Baseball Invitational
The Padres sponsor The Lions Clubs of San Diego and Imperial Counties Annual (Mike Morrow) Invitational High School Baseball Tournament, the oldest and biggest high school tournament in the nation. The 2008 tournament hosted 108 schools from around Southern California, as well as from as far away as Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Alaska. The 2009 tournament will be held April 6-9, 2009. Please visit www.lionsbaseball.org for more information about the Lions Invitational Tourney and specific information for the 2009 tournament.
Kids Run the Bases
The club annually designates multiple Sunday home games for thousands of youngsters to have the opportunity to come down to the field after the game where their heroes play and "Run the Bases" at PETCO Park. The dates for 2009 will be Sunday, May 24 and Sunday, August 23.
Madres
The San Diego Madres, devoted adult fans who raise funds through monthly luncheons and auctions, continue to support youth baseball and softball teams. The Madres organization was formed in 1972 and established their commitment to supporting youth baseball by sponsoring two youth teams their first year. Now, nearly 23,000 kids played organized ball this last year because of the Madres' financial support. These kids play on teams in more than 84 leagues including teams in 10 Challenger Divisions throughout San Diego County. For more information, please call the Madres Hotline (619) 286-3216.
Community