Cicadas, Expansion Talk and Holidays in June: Ten Things to Know in the American Assoc. This Week

MOORHEAD, Minn. - June 20, 2024 - PRLog -- The American Association of Professional Baseball (@AA_Baseball) season continues with a full slate of series this weekend, all available for free live viewing at aabaseball.tv (https://www.aabaseball.tv/).

Here are 10 Things to Know about the AAPB this week:

• The colorful cicadas (https://naturalhistory.si.edu/education/teaching-resources/life-science/periodical-cicadas) may be an annoyance to some, but the Kane County Cougars aren't one to brood. Instead, with the 13-year and 17-year cycles converging (we're not entomologists, but we play them on AABaseball.tv), tonight is Kane County Cicadas Night at Northwestern Medicine Field vs. the Kansas City Monarchs. The team will wear special Cicada-themed jerseys which will be auctioned off for charity, and the first thousand fans receive a custom insect swatter.
• Juneteenth, Father's Day, Flag Day, Pride Month and National Cucumber Day (ok, that one might be a stretch) are all celebrated across the country in June. But two AAPB teams have a couple of other ideas... Halloween (Chicago Dogs, Saturday) and Halfway to Christmas (Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, Tuesday).
• On Tuesday, the AAPB announced another in a series of key corporate partnerships, this one with MOBILEMONEY, now the official cashless payment solutions provider (https://aabaseball.com/mobilemoney-named-official-cashles...) to the league and its member clubs.
• Sometimes a change of position can make all the difference. The Kansas City Star and Yahoo! Sports have the story (https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/kansas-city-monarchs-get...) of Monarchs outfielder-turned-pitcher Nate Tellier.
• Big things are happening around the AAPB, and the time might just be right to grow the footprint, which now currently extends to 12 team across 10 states. Commissioner Joshua Schaub recently discussed the prospects for expansion at Fargo's Valley News Live (https://www.valleynewslive.com/2024/06/17/american-association-eyeing-league-expansion/).
• Another 10Things, Another Homecoming as Winnipeg native Ben Onyshko signed with the hometown Goldeyes (https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/made-in-manitoba-ben-onyshko-signs-with-goldeyes/n-6109256) last week. T
• The Gary SouthShore RailCats along with other businesses sponsored a luncheon for local businesses and leaders for clean air initiatives for Northern Indiana last week. The luncheon awarded three college scholarships to local students in the area (https://wimsradio.com/2024/06/14/local-leaders-businesses-honored-during-partners-for-clean-air-awards-luncheon/).
• In a few alumni moves:
  • Kane County outfielder Je'Von Ward had his contract purchased by Toronto and homered in his first game with Single-A Vancouver on Saturday (https://www.milb.com/player/je-von-ward-669219?stats=gamelogs-r-hitting-mlb&year=2024).
  • Now former Kansas City Monarch Blake Rutherford is heading to Mexico to play for Toros de Tijuana.
  • After hitting .331 in the Low-A Florida State League, infielder Payton Eeles (Chicago '23) was promoted to Cedar Rapids, the Twins' High-A affiliate.
• The Record Watch department has its eyes on Fargo's Izzy Alcantara, who has 30 stolen bases through his team's first 33 games. The AAPB record is 71, set by the Milkmen's Bryan Torres last season.

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