Program 6 Issue 5

Program 6 Issue 5

Welcome to Segra Park, home of the Columbia Fireflies!

We want to thank you for choosing to join us for some exciting Columbia Fireflies baseball and lots of fun here at Segra Park! We have the greatest fans in Minor League Baseball, and without each and every one of you we wouldn’t be able to create this amazing atmosphere at every Fireflies game. The 2021 season gave us the opportunity to be one of the first sports venues to bring people back together coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic, and we were ecstatic to welcome fans back to Segra Park after a long break. It also marked our first season with a new Major League affiliate in the Kansas City Royals. Records were broken, memories were made, and we all enjoyed the opportunity to get back together as Fireflies fans. In 2022 we are excited to get back to what we hope will be a much more normal season. We will get back to what we do best with lots of fun on-field promotions, fireworks, great food and drinks and much more at every Fireflies game. As if that weren’t enough, we are even going to fire a man out of a cannon on July 23 and you will NOT want to miss out on that! We hope that you will enjoy your time at the ballpark and please be sure to let us know how we can improve your experience for your next trip to Segra Park. You probably saw on your way into the ballpark that there is a lot of construction and activity going on around us. Segra Park sits at the center of the BullStreet District which is a 181-acre redevelopment project that will help create a vibrant community in the heart of our state capital. In the past two years the district has welcomed Starbucks and REI providing the first of many retail pieces of the development. Merrill Gardens is a senior living facility that provides residents with top notch amenities and easy access to Segra Park as well as the new Page Ellington Park, a 20-acre park that sits in the center of the BullStreet District. In addition, many more projects have just completed or are well underway. Two public parking garages with over 800 parking spaces are now nearly complete. The WestLawn project will provide ample office space on top of 14,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor. Directly across the street from Segra Park work is well underway on the Bennet at BullStreet which will provide the district with a 280,000 sq. ft. community with 269 luxury apartments and 45,000 sq. ft. of retail space. Finally, the historic Babcock building is in the middle of being converted into 208 apartments and the famous red cupola will be restored after being destroyed by a fire in September of 2020. All of this is happening in addition to multiple townhomes, office space, a church and event space already being occupied in the BullStreet District with another huge project set to begin soon as the University of South Carolina will be constructing a new $300 million Health Sciences campus in the BullStreet District. Since 2016 over 1.2 million fans have attended a Fireflies game and an additional 230,000+ have attended other events at Segra Park, and we are just getting started! The best is truly yet to come for the BullStreet District, the Columbia Fireflies and Segra Park and we hope that you will join us for the ride!

Thank you for joining us for a Columbia Fireflies game, and we hope that you will have a world class experience at Segra Park. Please come back and visit us again soon for another Fireflies game or one of the numerous events that are hosted at Segra Park every year. This ballpark was built by the community, for the community, and we can’t wait to welcome you back!

BRAD SHANK President of the Columbia Fireflies

table of contents Fan Code of Conduct & Map.................. 4-5

K9 Klub and Kids Club Info.....................

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Concession Map..........................................

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Kansas City Royals System.....................

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Carolina League...........................................

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Fireflies Coaching Staff............................

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Fireflies Roster.............................................

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Augusta Roster............................................

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Ticket Information.......................................

20-21

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Sizzling Prospect Shells More Than Just Batters.......

Homestand Highlights...............................

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Upcoming Homestand..............................

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Catch the Soda Cap Connector to Segra Park Leave the parking and driving to us Shuttles available every Columbia Fireflies home game The Soda Cap Connector is Columbia’s premier downtown shuttle that takes you to restaurants, attractions and entertainment for only $1.00 to ride. Shuttles begin one hour before the game, continue until one hour after the game and run every 25-30 minutes. Masks are required on all vehicles until further notice.

CATCHTHECOMET.ORG | 803-255-7100 |

Fan code of conduct The Columbia Fireflies are committed to creating a family-friendly and welcoming environment at the ballpark for all guests. As part of that commitment, we have adopted this written policy addressing fan behavior. The policy includes a Fan Code of Conduct, which is fan- facing and describes how fans are expected to behave. Fan Code of Conduct: In order to provide a welcoming experience for all, the Columbia Fireflies have implemented a Fan Code of Conduct. Out of respect for fellow guests, players, coaches, and ballpark staff, all guests are prohibited from: • Trespassing on the playing field at any time; • Interfering with baseballs that are in play; • Throwing or tossing objects; • Using foul, obscene or derogatory language (see below) or gestures; • Misusing or overconsuming alcohol, including, underage consumption; • Behaving in a manner that is disruptive, unruly, or abusive; • Accessing areas of the ballpark without a proper ticket, pass, or credential; • Misusing tickets, passes, or credentials in any way; or • Bringing prohibited items into the ballpark. • Only service dogs are allowed (outside of “Dog Days”) Derogatory language is defined as offensive language concerning a person’s race, ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, or national origin, and anyone using such language is subject to automatic ejection from the ballpark. Violations of the Fan Code of Conduct will not be tolerated and may lead to ejection from the ballpark, a ban on attending future games, or other consequences. Guests who are found to have used derogatory language will be ejected from the ballpark. Guests are encouraged to report violations of the Fan Code of Conduct to the nearest ballpark staff member. This can be done in person, at the nearest Guest Services location, directly with Ballpark Security or by [email protected] .

CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION

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segra park map

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concession map

A: LOW N' SLOW BBQ B: POP! / HEALTHY CART C: FUNNEL VISION D: SCOOPS!

1. CONCESSION STAND 2. CONCESSION STAND 3. CONCESSION STAND 4. CONCESSION STAND 5. SWEETWATER BAR 6. BUDWEISER BOWTIE BAR

E: DIPPIN’ DOTS F: SUPER GYRO G: SWEET CAROLINA’S / OREO CHURROS H: SCOOPS! I: PINEAPPLE CART SQUEEZE & FREEZE J: JUANATHANS K CRAFT CORNER L: SCOOPS! M: BOILED PEANUTS/PRETZELS N: PHILLY CART O: POP! P: DIPPIN’ DOTS Q: EL TORO MEXICAN

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kansas city royals minor league system

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carolina league

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Special Events

Located in the heart of Columbia’s Bull Street District, Segra Park is a year round event venue. Our venue is perfect for corporate meetings, galas, weddings, holiday parties and more. It’s a multi-purpose venue that provides a unique backdrop for your next event. CLUB LOUNGE

CONTACT SPECIAL EVENTS 803.888.3023 [email protected] SEGRAPARK.COM

CONFERENCE ROOM

BROAD RIVER BALCONY

THE MASON JAR COLUMBIA FIREFLIES TEAM STORE

store hours

Mon.-Fri 10:00am-5:00pm Sat. & Sun. Closed

2022 fireflies coaching staff

Jesus Azuaje

Tony Peña Jr.

John Habyan

Hitting Coach

Manager

Pitching Coach

Joe Pedulla

Glenn Hubbard

Chris Nelson

Strength and Conditioning Coach

Bench Coach

Assistant Hitting Coach

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2022 fireflies roster pitchers

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6' 3" 195 R-R 08-21-2001 P - Luinder Avila

P - Luis Barroso

6' 4" 230 R-R 11-03-1999 P - Wander Arias

6' 4" 230 R-R 10-23-2000 P - Daury Cabrera Villa Gonzalez, DR

6' 3" 165 R-R 09-07-1998

Caracas, VZ

David, Panama

Sabana Grande de Palenquie, D.R.

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6' 2" 175 L-L 02-13-1999 P - Shane Connolly

6' 1" 167 R-R 12-06-1998 P - Delvin Capellan

6' 0" 220 R-R 10-02-1999 P - Heribert Garcia

6' 0" 180 L-L 09-30-97 P - Ryan Hennen Cold Springs, MN

Huntersville, NC

Guayubin, DR

Boliver, VZ

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16

51

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6' 2" 205 R-R 07-01-2001 P - Ben Hernandez

6' 3" 175 L-L 06-19-2003 P - Frank Mozzicato

6' 3" 220 R-R 10-30-2001 P - Shane Panzini

P - Ben Kudrna

6' 3" 175 R-R 01-30-2003 Shawnee Mission, KS

Chicago, IL

Hartford, CT

Spring Lake, NJ

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P - Matt Stil

6' 4" 230 R-R 10-08-2001 P - Samuel Valerio Santo Domingo, DR

6' 2" 210 L-L 10-26-1997 P - Ben Wereski

P - Marlin Willis

6' 3" 190 R-R 07-05-2000

6' 4" 190 L-L 06-05-1998

Hartford, CT

Decatur, GA

Decatur, GA

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catchers

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5'11" 170 R-R 12-10-2001 C - Omar Hernandez

C - Kyle Hayes

6' 1" 210 L-R 07-03-2003 C - Carter Jensen

6' 2" 190 R-R 10-08-97

La Habana, CU

Vienna, VA

Kansas City, MO

infielders

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5' 11" 174 S-R 02-13-1999 IF - Rubendy Jaquez

5' 10" 180 R-R 02-14-2001 IF - Edgar Martinez

IF - Omar Florentino

5' 9" 170 S-R 10-26-2001

Salcedo, DR

Navarette, DR

San Juan De La Maguana, DR

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6' 0" 150 R-R 12-15-2003 IF - Daniel Vazquez

IF - Josh Rivera

IF - Enrique Valdez

IF - Guillermo Quintana

5' 11" 185 R-R 01-30-1999

6' 0" 185 L-R 05-15-2001 San Pedro de Macoris, DR

6' 1" 180 R-R 03-16-2001

Villa Mella, DR

San Juan, PR

Cartagena, COL

outfielders

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15

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6' 1" 157 R-R 07-05-2001 OF - Gary Camarillo Santa Barbara de Zulio, VZ

6' 2" 185 L-r 09-16-2001 OF - Darryl Collins

OF - Erick Pena

OF - River Town

6' 3" 205 L-R 02-20-2003 Santo Domingo, D.R.

5' 11" 181

L-R

07-08-1999 Zachary, LA

Spijkenisse, NL

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2022 augusta greenjackets Pitchers: 11 Juan Mateo 14 Jordano Perez 17 Peyton Williams 18 James Acuna 20 Tyler Owens 23 Rolddy Munoz 26 Miguel Pena 27 Landon Leach 30 Ronaldo Alesandro 32 Rob Griswold 33 AJ Smith-Shawver 36 JJ Niekro 40 Estarlin Rodriguez 45 Elison Joseph 48 Darling Florentino Infielders: 5 Cal Conley 7 Brian Klein 8 Geraldo Quintero 12 Mahki Backstrom 15 Braulio Vasquez 50 Caleb Durbin Outfielders: 1 Stephen Paolini 2 Kadon Morton 9 Connor Blair 19 Brandol Mezquita 24 Brandon Parker

49 Kris Anglin 54 Luis Vargas

Catchers: 25 Cesar Rodriquez 28 Adam Zebrowski 51 Rusber Estrada

CLICK FOR ROSTER DETAILS

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fireflies tickets

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KIDS ZONE

BOWTIE BAR

Individual Game Tickets

$5/seat

$10/seat

$8/seat (Quantities of 4 or 6)

$14/seat

$10/seat

$16/seat

$11/seat

$56/box (4 seats)

$12/seat

$60/table (4 seats)

Group Tickets

COLa

Attendees of groups of 20 or more in the Palmetto Picnic Pavilion, Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union All-Star or Reserved seating will take home a souvenir Fireflies group hat.

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Full Season Tickets

$3,300/table

$735/seat*

$2,995/table

$630/seat

$1,050/seat*

$540/seat

$540/seat*

$330/seat

*Multi-year commitment required

Half Season (33 Games) Half Season Tickets

$330/seat

$299/seat

7 th Inning All-Star Seating Stretch Plans 7 Game Plans $77/seat 14 Game Plans $154/seat 21 Game Plans $220/seat

click for more information

Individual Tickets

Groups Tickets

Season Tickets

Interested in Group Outings or Memberships? Call 803-726-4487 ext 2 or email [email protected]

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Upcoming Community Organizations of the Game Please stop by their kiosks during the game and learn more about these important local organizations!

6/7 - Reconciliation Ministries 6/12 - SC Youth Advocate Program

The Fireflies strive to give back to the community in which we all live. If you are interested in being a Community Organization of the Game, please contact Halle Wade at 803-888-3007.

Sizzling Prospect Shells More Than Just Batters By John Kocsis Jr.

There’s a gentle popping and bubbling berthing in front of a lanky teenager. He just placed dough wrapped around a roller into a pot of boiling oil. After about a minute, he’ll lift the shell out and stuff it with a blend of sweet ricotta cheese and heavy cream, along with some sugar and chocolate chips.

That young man is first-round pick Frank Mozzicato. The Kansas City

Royals selected the southpaw seventh overall in the 2021 draft out of East Catholic High School in Manchester, Connecticut. When the Royals selected Mozzicato July 11, 2021, they made him the highest-drafted Connecticut player since Bobby Valentine was picked fifth overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1968. Of course, that was 35 years before our pitcher was born. The lefty was a dark horse in the 2021 draft class. No one would have predicted him climbing to where he did prior to the 2021 campaign, but his work speaks for itself. He spun four consecutive no-hitters to put himself on the map and draw the attention of scouts. Once they saw that, they could see Mozzicato’s low-90s fastball at 17-years-old and his plus curveball out of his left hand and they were intrigued. All-in-all, a year after the world shut down for a year due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, a Connecticut teenager led his team to a State Championship with an unbelievable 9-0 record, including 135 punchouts in 55.2 innings of work and an unfathomable 0.16 ERA. If that weren’t zany enough, he finished out his high school career with 49.2 consecutive scoreless innings, completing the stretch in electric fashion. In a 7-0 victory over the second-seeded Northwestern Highlanders, Mozzicato pitched a one-hitter where he wrung up 17 batters to lead East Catholic to its fifth title in program history. Before Frank took Connecticut by storm in 2021, people knew the Mozzicato name for a much different reason in the Constitution State. They know it for some of the best baked goods available in the northeast. Mozzicato’s Pastry Shop first opened up in Hartford, Connecticut in 1973, five years after Gino Mozzicato immigrated to the US from Italy. Gino is Frank’s grandfather’s cousin. According to the family’s website, mozzicatobakery. com, it didn’t take long for the Mom and Pop shop to expand, as they bought DePasquale Bakery in 1975 to become the brand they are today, The Mozzicato de Pasquale Bakery & Pastry Shop, carrying along Connecticut cooking traditions that began in 1908. Since, the family has expanded to five

locations: the original in Hartford, then additional ones in Plainville, Wallingford, Middletown and Rocky Hill. Frank can recall visiting the stores growing up. “Growing up, my older brother and I would always go over there in the back and be able to make our own cannoli,” Mozzicato remembers. “Our dad would bring us over and show us around where we could meet our cousins.” Having a bakery and pastry shop in the family certainly makes birthday parties and family holiday parties a lot easier.

Frank can remember his father picking picking up a bunch of pastries from the shop early in the morning before any family event to make sure everyone could enjoy some of their favorite treats. For Frank, it goes back to what he makes in the back.

“My favorites are definitely the cannoli and I also really enjoy the Ricotta Squares,” Frank tells.

Like the cannoli sitting in the boiling oil, the lefty still has time to develop before he’s ready to serve up heaters in the Majors.

Still just 18 years old, the Connecticut native has always enjoyed sports. When he was young, he also played basketball, and even participated in AAU during the summers, but many of his memories revolve around baseball. “One of my favorite memories was having a giant wiffle ball tournament for my 11th birthday party,” Mozzicato explains. “All of my friends came over and we played all day. It was really fun.” He’s come a long way from playing wiffle ball at birthday parties. Mozzicato made his professional debut with the Fireflies May 18 vs the top team in the league, The Myrtle Beach Pelicans. In his first start, he fanned three hitters across three innings, while only allowing a single hit. The lefty will make his fifth-career start Friday, June 10, nine days prior to his 19th birthday. In his first four starts, he has struck out 11 batters in 10 innings and limited his opponents to a .200 average. Like a Mozzicato Bakery’s cookie, Frank will soon be good enough to serve to batters beyond the Carolina League across the country. He’ll eventually make his way to the Quad City River Bandits and beyond as he climbs the ladder in hopes to join the Royals roster. The good news about the cookies, even if you aren’t in Connecticut, you can have a taste of home shipped to you! Just visit Mozzicatobakery.com/store to enjoy some award-winning desserts from Connecticut—then in a few years, you can enjoy the curveball and mid-90s heater that the young pitcher has developed since he left home.

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/COLUMBIAFIREFLIES

@COLAFIREFLIES

@COLAFIREFLIES

(803) 726-4487 [email protected]