2014 Step Up to the Plate Event Slated for Jan. 31
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Nov. 8, 2013
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia Baseball program will hold its 12th annual Step Up to the Plate fundraiser on Friday, Jan. 31, at 6:30 p.m. at John Paul Jones Arena.
Virginia will host an evening with Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell and special guest Sean Doolittle of the Oakland Athletics. Farrell recently led the Red Sox to the world championship, and Doolittle is a Virginia alum (2005-07) and two-time All-American who currently pitches for the Athletics.
Tickets for Step Up to the Plate go on sale at 9 a.m. Monday (Nov. 11), the same day as UVa baseball season tickets go on sale, and can be ordered in person at the UVa Athletics Ticket Office in Bryant Hall, by phone at 1-800-542-8821 or online at VirginiaSports.com. Sponsored tables may be reserved by calling the Virginia Athletics Foundation at 800-626-8723. Proceeds from the event will support the Virginia Baseball program.
Ticket prices are $70 for adults, $35 for Virginia Baseball alumni, $30 for children 12 and under and $20 for current UVa students. A Family Four Pack is available, which includes two adult and two youth tickets for $175. Sponsored tables for the event are $2,500 and include a reserved table for a party of eight, admission to the pre-event reception and eight General Admission baseball season tickets (no trade opportunity for Reserved seats). The pre-event reception for table sponsors will begin at 4:45 p.m.
Parking for the event is free in the John Paul Jones Arena and University Hall lots.
The evening commences with an autograph session with the 2014 Virginia baseball team and silent auction at 5:45 p.m. The program begins at 6:30 p.m. with comments from UVa head coach Brian O’Connor as well as the introduction of the 2014 team. A live auction will take place prior to a buffet dinner at 7:35 p.m. The silent and live auctions will include autographed memorabilia from Virginia and the professional ranks, as well as game tickets, exclusive Virginia Baseball experiences and more. After dinner, Farrell and Doolittle will speak to the audience and hold a Q&A session.
Farrell guided the Boston Red Sox to the 2013 World Championship in his first year as the Red Sox manager, just a year after the team finished in last place in the American League East Division. The Red Sox went 97-65 in 2013 en route to the AL East championship.
After serving as the Red Sox pitching coach from 2007-10 and winning a world championship with Boston in 2007, Farrell earned his first managerial job with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011 and 2012 before coming back to the Red Sox. The Oklahoma State graduate spent eight years as a pitcher in Major League Baseball with the Indians, Angels and Tigers. He and his wife Sue have three sons, all of whom are involved in baseball, including Jeremy, who played for Virginia from 2005-08 and currently is in the Chicago White Sox organization.
Doolittle played at Virginia from 2005-07 and made his Major League debut on June 5, 2012 with the Athletics. In two seasons, the left-hander has struck out 120 batters over 116 1/3 innings while serving as a key reliever out of the A’s bullpen. The Athletics reached the playoffs in both of his seasons as a major leaguer.
He was drafted in the supplemental first round in 2007 by Oakland after excelling as a two-way standout at UVa. A two-time All-American, Doolittle was named the 2006 ACC Player of the Year and was a three-time All-ACC honoree. He still ranks fourth in Virginia history in wins (22) and ERA (2.23) and seventh in strikeouts (243). Doolittle was 22-7 and held opponents to a .213 batting average while at Virginia. A career .312 hitter, Doolittle also ranks second at UVa in RBI (167) and walks (125).
2014 Virginia Baseball Step Up to the Plate
An Evening with John Farrell and Special Guest Sean Doolittle
Date: Friday, Jan. 31, 2013, 6:30 p.m.
Location: John Paul Jones Arena
Parking: John Paul Jones Arena and University Hall
Adult Tickets: $70
Virginia Baseball Alumni: $35
Youth Tickets (12 & under): $30 (includes a Virginia Baseball team autographed ball)
Current UVa students: $20
Family Four Pack (2 adult, 2 youth tickets): $175
Sponsored Tables*: $2,500 (call VAF to reserve)
*Includes: eight tickets to pre-event reception with John Farrell, Sean Doolittle and other Cavalier greats, eight reserved table tickets to Step Up to the Plate and eight General Admission 2014 Virginia baseball season tickets (no trade opportunity for Reserved seats)
Event Timeline:
4:45 p.m.
Pre-event reception for table sponsors
5:45 p.m.
Doors open, silent auction begins and autograph session with 2014 Virginia Baseball Team
6:30 p.m.
Program begins; Coach O’Connor will introduce 2014 team
7:05 p.m.
Live Auction
7:35 p.m.
Buffet dinner begins; John Farrell and Sean Doolittle will speak to the audience following dinner; the night concludes with silent auction results
For Tickets – call the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-542-UVA1; for tables call the Virginia Athletics Foundation at 1-800-626-8723
Virginia Baseball poster, schedule card, magnet and t-shirt for all in attendance