County Makes $12,000 from Braves Fundraiser

Douglas County residents were in the stands in force at Turner Field Friday night as the Atlanta Braves opened a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies. 

Alex Ingle, account executive in group sales for the Braves, said 2,130 tickets were purchased specifically for Douglas County Night. The county is among the top ticket sellers in Georgia that participate in a night out with the Braves, he added. 

“It works well for us,” Ingle said. “We’re getting a lot of people to come in and enjoy a game and take advantage of pregame incentives.” 

One such incentive was a parade where nine children had an autograph session with a Braves player. 

General admission tickets were on sale through Douglas County Parks and Recreation and the city of Douglasville for $6. 

“We sold 2,000 tickets this season to Douglas County baseball and softball teams and the public,” Brandon Davis, athletic program coordinator for Douglas County Parks and Recreation, said in an e-mail. “Douglas County Parks and Rec. made $12,000 from the ticket fundraiser, which goes into the general fund.” 

As a result of strong participation, the county was named a 2011 recipient of the Atlanta Braves Foundation Pinch Hitter Grant and will receive $500. The Pinch Hitter Fund awards grants to local youth baseball and softball teams in helping to alleviate unforeseen team expenses, according to the Braves' website. 

Terrell Moss and Daniel Pierce, coaches of 11-and-12-year-old teams in Douglas County Parks and Recreation, were honored before the start of Friday's game.

Parks and Recreation received 15 complimentary tickets and a banner for the sports leagues to display on the field. Davis said the $500 grant also will go back into the county’s general fund. 

Neither the Atlanta Braves nor Douglas County officials knew exactly how long the county has participated in a sponsored night, but both said that the annual event has spanned several years. 

General admission seats allowed Douglas County citizens to comingle with a group from Locust Grove, GA and residents from the unincorporated community of Macedonia in Cherokee County. 

Friday’s weather was in the upper 80s, making for a warm game. The Braves lost to the Phillies 5-4, but they took the series with wins on Saturday and Sunday.

Tracie Ivey, superintendant of Deer Lick Park, said everyone enjoyed themselves on Friday. 

“We know that there’s a pretty high demand from the community to go and take advantage of this,” said Ivey, who was at the game. “It’s really a cool event, and people want to be a part of it.”