GENBAND CEO Creates Frisco Youth Baseball Club and Invitational Exhibition Game for 13 Under Teams at Dr Pepper Ballpark
Dallas Thunder Invitational gives youth teams chance to experience big league stadium; Event raises funds for Diamond Dreams charitable foundation
FRISCO, Texas, September 19, 2011 – As CEO of the largest company headquartered in Frisco, Texas, GENBAND’s Charlie Vogt today announced the creation of the Dallas Thunder Baseball Club and the first annual “Dallas Thunder Invitational” to be held Sept. 25 at Dr Pepper Ballpark, home of the Frisco RoughRiders, the Class AA affiliate of the Texas Rangers major league baseball club.
“Our goal has been to create a unique and advanced environment for North Texas baseball players where they can sharpen their skills in both sport and life while playing at the highest level of competition,” said Vogt. “Through my baseball and professional experience, we will teach and mentor the skills, desire and passion required to compete at the high school and college levels, as well as the core values that will serve them well in life. Baseball has taught me so many life, educational and business lessons and we look forward to helping the young people of Dallas have some of those same opportunities. We thank the Frisco RoughRiders organization and the Dr Pepper Ballpark for giving Dallas youth the chance of a lifetime to play in a professional league baseball stadium.”
“The RoughRiders are proud to partner with the Dallas Thunder organization to not only showcase these dynamic youth teams, but to also support their efforts to give something back to the game of baseball," said Billy Widner, Senior Vice President of the Frisco RoughRiders. “It is exciting to watch these talented young players who represent the future of our sport.”
The Dallas Thunder Baseball Club was founded Vogt, who also serves as head coach for the club. A former NCAA Division I baseball player for Saint Louis University, Vogt began his youth coaching experience in 2003. He has been part of a winning tradition that has posted an 83% career winning percentage, ten tournament championships and two state championships. As President and CEO of Frisco-based GENBAND, he directs one of the fastest growing market leaders in the communications industry.
The “Dallas Thunder Invitation” will be a double-header that features three top 13U (13 and under) teams in the North Dallas area – The Dallas Thunder, Dallas Patriots and McKinney Marshals. Admission into the ballpark is free and concessions will be open to attendants during the entire event. The gates open at 10:00 a.m. with the first pitch at 11 a.m. as the Dallas Thunder take on the Dallas Patriots. The second game is scheduled to begin at 1:15 p.m., featuring the Dallas Thunder versus the McKinney Marshals. The double-header event will be open to baseball fans of all ages. RoughRiders mascot Deuce will also be in attendance for fan entertainment.
Donations will be taken during the event in support of Diamond Dreams, a charitable organization promoting safety in the game of baseball while supporting those who have lost loved ones in the game. In 2007, Mike Coolbaugh, brother of Texas Rangers Hitting Coach Scott Coolbaugh, was tragically killed when he was struck by a line drive during a Colorado Rockies minor league game. As an organization, Diamond Dreams operates a scholarship fund in his name and also has plans to build a baseball practice facility for Grapevine High School in honor of Coolbaugh and a GHS player who was killed during a batting practice accident.
About Dallas Thunder
The Dallas Thunder vision is to prepare, challenge and mentor young men with the baseball skills to compete at the highest level as players as well as the life skills and values that are foundational for success. Our mission is to develop players in every aspect of the game to prepare them for high school, college, and their professional careers. www.dallasthunderbaseball.com
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