AZ Championship warms up teams with Opening Ceremonies

More than 500 youth baseball coaches, players and fans helped Triple Crown Sports launch Session 1 of the AZ Spring Training Experience on Thursday, with entertainment and energy filling up the left-field pavilion at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

Event directors carved out some extra space and time to welcome Session 1 teams, with players getting special packages that included Chinook Seeds and baseball cards featuring MLB athletes who are playing in Cactus League games in Arizona this spring.

At the autograph tables, Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black was on hand, along with former MLB players Kurt Bevacqua, Aaron Rowand, Junior Spivey and Hall of Fame reliever Rollie Fingers. TCS customers were also able to watch the team from Long Beach State practice on the field.

Noted YouTube baseball comedian Domingo Ayala did a 30-minute show for the athletes on hand and also roamed the pavilion signing autographs and posing for photos.

The action moves to the fields today for the start pf pool play; those games will continue through Saturday, with bracket play firing up Sunday morning.
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Session 2 of the AZ Spring Experience will run March 16-19; the Opening Ceremonies for that week will include the prize package, autograph sessions, an appearance from Domingo Ayala and free admission to an Arizona State baseball game at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.