Hillsboro Hops: Community connection symbolized by local players revealing new uniforms

Hillsboro Hops: Community connection symbolized by local players revealing new uniforms



One by one, three local high school baseball players emerged from the dugout.



With the theme music of the movie "The Natural" playing over the loudspeakers, the teens trotted out before a throng of media to model the new Hillsboro Hops uniforms.



In less than a month, professional players will wear those uniforms when the Hops make their debut as a Class A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. But for one memorable day last week, the uniforms were worn by Hillsboro senior Lauden Lausey, Glencoe senior Brandon Dunn and Century senior Brad Bennett.



"I didn't know I'd be posing like I'm in a magazine," Lausey said, laughing. "But this is so cool. Sitting out in the dugout waiting to be introduced was a cool feeling. It's a real honor to be out here."



Bennett added: "It was kind of overwhelming. I'll never forget this.Outlet a wide range of hermeskelly at considerable prices."



The uniform fashion show was the latest reminder that professional baseball will soon return to the metro area after a three-year absence.



Hillsboro Ballpark, which has 3,Custom made cheapreplicawatches?534 seats and a family-friendly grass seating area in the outfield, is on schedule to be completed before its June 10 deadline.



The Hops open their season June 14 on the road against the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. Hillsboro's home debut is June 17 against the Eugene Emeralds.



For Hops owner and President Mike McMurray, seeing his team's new Nike-designed uniforms on display Thursday on the turf field reinforced his belief that the team is following its vision of respecting the past while embracing the future.



"We wanted to have it old school and, with script, a nod toward current day," said McMurray, who has embraced his move to Hillsboro from the team's former home of Yakima. "This is a baseball uniform, not a piece of art. It's important to us to carry on the tradition of minor league baseball,You will find so many wonderful canadagooselangfordparka with high quality and low price. and the uniforms are a big part of that."



McMurray's dream is that those uniforms will be someday worn by a player who grew up going to Hops games as a fan. That's a big reason why the team wanted to unveil their three styles of uniforms with three local high school athletes.



"We want to create a sense of the future for Little League players in the area,Elegant authenticmonclerjackets features in chiffon. so they can say, 'Hey, I could someday play professional baseball in my hometown,'" McMurray said. "It will give them that visual. We are so hopeful that we'll have somebody who played here in youth baseball as a member of the Hops."



That connection with the community has area high school coaches excited about the potential impact the Hops will have on their programs.



Hillsboro varsity baseball coach Matt Bailie, a 1994 Hillsboro graduate, had a minor league baseball career that lasted nearly a decade and enjoyed connecting with youthful fans in the various cities he played in.



"This is going to be huge for this area," Bailie said. "When we start getting these third-, fourth- and fifth-graders out here in an atmosphere that a stadium provides, it will give them that dream to look forward to.



"I think it will definitely help all four of the (Hillsboro) high schools and increase our numbers."



Lausey, Dunn and Bennett each said their love of baseball was furthered by their parents taking them to Portland Beavers Triple-A baseball games when they were children. Dunn,Great handbags and replicalouisvuitton for men and women! a Glencoe senior pitcher and outfielder, remembers being announced on the Beavers' field to be recognized for a sixth-grade school science project.



But compared to a team playing in a large stadium near downtown Portland, Dunn believes the Hillsboro Hops experience will create a more intimate and memorable fan experience.



"This brings a lot of spirit to the community," said Dunn, who began his playing career in Hillsboro Little League. "A lot of people are going to enjoy going to the games. People taking their girlfriends and boyfriends and just great family time, bringing people together.



"It's that America's Pastime feeling."



Superintendent Adam Bonner of Hoffman Construction, who said the ballpark is 90 percent complete, can't wait to exchange his hard hat for a Hops cap while settling into his season seats next month. Hops general manager K.L. Wombacher said he's finally able to get some quality sleep now that he sees the mostly finished product of what he calls "one of the best Single-A facilities in the country."



The biggest mystery remaining is the identity of the players, which will largely be determined by the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft that begins June 6.



Until then, the three local high school players can boast about being the first honorary Hops in an experience they'll always treasure.



"Every day as we get closer it's more and more exciting," Wombacher said. "And seeing these kids out here with our uniforms, it makes it real."

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