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St. Patty's Celebration at the Ballpark

Pub Crawl on Old Main Street, blues and Ace's and more...

Is it really already halfway to St. Patrick’s Day? Not really, according to the calendar. But should such a pesky little fact stand in the way of a reason to celebrate being, or pretending to be, Irish? No way! The Bradenton Marauders are celebrating a Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day on Thursday at McKechnie Field, 1611 9th St. W., with a free beer tasting, $1 drafts of green beer and other Thirsty Thursday-related specials on alcohol. There also will be live music from the City of Sarasota Pipe Band and Irish dancing. The Marauders, class A-Advanced affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, take on the Tampa Yankees at 6:30 p.m. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Get tickets at the ballpark’s box office outside the main gate (that’s the easiest route) or …

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When Alligators Get Active, a Summer Solstice Soiree and More: June 20

Here are 5 things to know in Bradenton today.

1. Renovations to Warner's Bayou's boat ramp that were stalled in the spring are back on the discussion table. A public workshop has been announced for 6 p.m., July 11, at the Palma Sola Elementary School cafeteria, 6806 5th Ave NW, Bradenton. Before changes will begin, such as a grassed storm water runoff, new restroom and fish cleaning station, the public can provide some input at the July 11 meeting, so save the date. Manatee County Government has more information. 2. Are you Team Ketchup or Team Mustard? The first 500 fans at the Bradenton Marauders' Thursday night game will get a T-shirt to show their pride at Condiment Duel II during the 6:30 game. It's also Thirsty Thursday at the ballpark, so select draft beers and sodas are $1.  3…

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Hurricanes Honored at McKechnie Field

Members of Manatee High's Class 5A-Region 3 championship baseball team were lauded for their accomplishments prior to Monday's game between the Clearwater Threshers and host Bradenton Marauders.

The Pittsburgh Pirates organization cannot be accused of jumping on the Manatee High baseball bandwagon. The Pirates invited members of the Hurricanes team to shag fly balls during a spring training batting practice session at Pirate City back in February, nearly three months before they claimed their first region championship in 48 years. Monday, just four days before Manatee's state semifinal matchup against Lakeland at Digital Domain Park in Port St. Lucie, Canes head coach Dwayne Strong, his staff and players were recognized at McKechnie Field for their accomplisments. Prior to Monday's Florida State League game against the visiting Clearwater Threshers, Pittsburgh's Class-A Advanced affiliate, the Bradenton Marauders, kicked off the …

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Mike Farnham

6:21 am on Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Congrats and good luck guys! All the way to state! Go Canes!   more ›

Marauders Drop 2011 Opener At Charlotte

Bradenton minor league squad stunned in bottom of ninth for 3-2 loss.

The Bradenton Marauders dropped a heartbreaker in their season opener Friday. The Marauders, high Single-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning before suffering a 3-2, walk-off loss to the host Charlotte Stone Crabs. Reliever Duke Welker walked the bases loaded, then gave up a game-tying single to right field by Charlotte DH Mayo Acosta. The winning run came around to score when the ball got past right fielder Robbie Grossman. Starting pitcher Kyle McPherson wound up with a no-decision after throwing 5 2/3 innings of one-run baseball. Catcher Chris Snyder, on a major league rehab assignment, went 2-3 with an RBI double in his first game action of 2011. The catcher is working his way back …

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Marauders Manager Promoted to Double-A

P.J. Forbes will be replaced by first base coach Carlos Garcia.

The Bradenton Marauders will have a new manager in 2011. P.J. Forbes, who guided the Pittsburgh Pirates' high Single-A minor league team to a 76-62 record in its inaugural season, has been promoted to manage the club's Double-A franchise in Altoona, Pa., the team announced Wednesday. Forbes will be replaced by former major leaguer Carlos Garcia, who served as the Marauders' first-base coach and infield instructor in 2010. Garcia managed Magallanes of the Venezuelan Winter League to a 41-22 record and a spot in the championship series last year. Garcia was a major league infielder for 10 seasons from 1990-1999, playing most of his career with the Pirates. He made the National League All-Star team in 1994. The Marauders, who began play in …

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