Country music superstar Paul Brandt, Calgary Roughnecks leading scorer Kaleb Toth, and Calgary Stampeders linebacker Jason Clemett and other notables will be hitting home runs for a good cause.

Brandt, the Calgary-born, six-time Juno winner, is looking forward to participating in the first annual CBL mid-season event. "I'm excited to be a part of the CBL's All-Star Game and celebrity home run derby,” said Brandt. “Their commitment to family fun, Canadian Sports, and local charities is admirable...and they are going to move the fence in for me for the home run derby to give me half a chance."

Jason Clemett, from Spruce Grove, Alberta, has spent six seasons in a Stamps uniform. He is a veteran of 73 regular season CFL games, plus six playoff contests, including the 1998 and 1999 Grey Cup Championships. More participants will be announced in the coming days.

For every celebrity home run hit, the CBL will donate $100 to the Calgary Inter Faith Food Bank. The winner of the derby will have $250 donated in their name to the Alberta Children’s Hospital.

All-Star Blast-Off is on July 22, 2003 at Burns Stadium in Calgary. Fan Events start at 4:00 pm and include the celebrity home run derby, autograph sessions with players and celebrity participants, special guests, face painting, radar gun contests, with the CBL home run derby beginning at 7:00 pm.

Admission to the All-Star Blast-Off is free by donation of a non-perishable food item for the Calgary Inter Faith Food Bank. Without the donation admission is $2.00, which goes directly to the Food Bank.

The CBL’s first All-Star Game will pit the best of the CBL’s Western Division versus the best of the Eastern Division. The game will take place July 23, 2003 at Burns Stadium in Calgary. Game Time is 5:05 pm local time. The game will be televised live on the Score Television Network. Tickets for the All-Star Game are $20 for VIP, $15 for Club and $10 for General Admission and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets and online at www.ticketmaster.ca.

The CBL is pleased to announce an amateur baseball promotion for the event, the Future Stars Zone. For $8 youth baseball playersreceive a General Admission ticket in Section 23 - “The Future Stars Zone”, 1 hot dog and 1 pop.

The Canadian Baseball League is a new international professional baseball league offering high caliber baseball to cities across Canada beginning in May 2003. For more information please visit the official website of the Canadian Baseball League at www.canadianbaseballleague.com.

Contact: Alex Klenman, CBL Director of Communications, 604-689-1566

AlexK@canadianbaseballleague.com

Special to Canadian Baseball News – 18 Feburary 2003