Boise State Night at the Hawks’ just in time for pivotal game

What do Garret Anderson, Rickey Henderson, John Lackey and Troy Percival have in common? These major league baseball players all made their way through Boise on their way up to Major League Baseball.

Professional baseball has been a part of Boise since 1975 and the City of Trees has seen its ball club, The Boise Hawks, affiliated with three different major league teams since then.

The Hawks, a Class-A Short Season affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, have been lighting up the scoreboard this season thanks to a young team that’s second in home runs and RBI’s in the Northwest League. The Hawks have faced some tough competition from the rest of their division coming out of the first 27 games with a 15-12 record as of Tuesday.

This is not to say the Hawks’ season is a lost one, in fact it’s far from it. Only four games out of first place, and more than 50 games to be played, the Hawks have enough firepower and time to overtake the rival Spokane Indians and claim first place in the Northwest League East Division.

Leading the charge for the Hawks was Rebel Ridling. As of July 7 the 22-year-old Oklahoma State University product led the Hawks in seven offensive statistics including batting average, home runs, on base percentage and slugging percentage.

However, July 8, Ridling was promoted to the Class-A Peoria Chiefs as part of a blockbuster six-player trade by the Chicago Cubs.

This promotion makes the road to the playoffs a little more interesting as the Hawks try to fill the void left by Ridling and look to overcome a four game deficit in the Northwest League East division.

So will the Hawks be able to reach the playoffs and keep their hopes of winning the Northwest League crown alive?

Boise State students can find out Aug. 7 when the Boise Hawks and the Boise State Alumni Association present “Boise State Night at the Hawks.”

The Boise Hawks will be taking on the two time defending Northwest League Champion Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, in a game that will put the Hawks to the test.

According to the BSU Alumni Association Website $10 will get students a third base or home plate seat, and a Hawks souvenir baseball cap, as well as half-price beer and soda.

Students wishing to take advantage of this deal need to visit the Alumni Association Website by July 25.

CAMERON WIEMERSLAGE
Sports Journalist

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