Interactive Fan Attraction to Introduce Tennis to Youth and Families across the Nation

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (June 18, 2013) - The United States Tennis Association (USTA) SmashZone Mobile Tour continues its 22-city tour run this weekend when it will be part of the Quad City Air Show in Davenport, Iowa on June 22 and 23.

SmashZone introduces youth tennis to kids and parents across the country and began as the premier fan interactive attraction at the US Open before being showcased across the country. Since its inception in 2011, SmashZone has attracted more than 2 million people to its tennis courts.

In addition to the SmashZone Mobile Tour, the Quad City Air Show is hosting the biggest World War II - theme salute air show ever. The show, which is one of the longest-running air shows in the industry, is moving back to June after being held over Labor Day weekend in 2012 to accommodate the schedule of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.

SmashZone is a way to showcase tennis in a fun and interactive way by making stops at fairs, festivals, air shows, retail environments and city centers. At SmashZone, children have the opportunity to play tennis games in a fun, festive atmosphere that allows participants to get active playing tennis from the start.

"The SmashZone Mobile Tour is a great platform to bring tennis to the masses through an interactive experience," said Kurt Kamperman, USTA Chief Executive, Community Tennis. "It provides an opportunity for kids to try tennis for the first time, allowing them to experience the fun and excitement that comes with playing the game."

SmashZone Mobile includes a 53-foot trailer, which anchors four kid-sized tennis courts for youth play. Courts will feature games such as Xerox Rally Court, racquet drills and activities, as well as a Target Challenge. The trailer itself, which is handicap accessible, will feature activities for visitors that will include a Tennis Magazine Green Screen Cover Shoot, Wii Tennis and Touch Screen Kiosks. SmashZone Mobile is a complement to the USTA's successful youth participation initiative, 10 and Under Tennis.

10 and Under Tennis is an ongoing effort to encourage young people to get active by playing tennis. The initiative uses modified equipment and courts tailored to a child's age and ability. By featuring shorter and lighter racquets, slower-bouncing balls, smaller courts and simplified scoring, children learn to play more quickly and easily while having more fun in the process.

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The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the United States and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level, from local communities to the highest level of the professional game.  A not-for-profit organization with more than 770,000 members, it invests 100 percent of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, the highest-attended annual sporting event in the world, and launched the Emirates Airline US Open Series, linking nine summer tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns approximately 90 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S. and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA's national charitable foundation, USTA Serves, provides grants and scholarships and helps underserved youth and people with disabilities. For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com, "like" the official Facebook page, facebook.com/usta, or follow @usta on Twitter.

Jesse Wierzbicki has fourth straight multi-hit game to go to 9-for-17 with 9 RBIs on home stand

DAVENPORT, Iowa (JUNE 14, 2013) - The Quad Cities River Bandits managed to out-hit the Burlington Bees, 7-5, Friday night, but they left 11 runners on base in a 3-1 loss to the visitors in front of 5,196 at Modern Woodmen Park.

Bees right-hander Patrick Lowery (3-3) allowed a leadoff single by River Bandits center fielder Teoscar Hernandez but only allowed two runners to reach third base in six shutout innings. He gave up five walks and four hits but struck out three batters. River Bandits right-hander Vincent Velasquez (4-3) gave up all three Burlington runs to suffer his first loss in exactly one month.

Burlington (25-37) started quickly against Velasquez, as third baseman Sherman Johnson singled to right-center field leading off the game, and right fielder Kyle Johnson followed with a single to center. Velasquez then walked first baseman Wade Hinkle before striking out designated hitter Andrew Ray. Bees second baseman Chance Ross then bounced a ball back to Velasquez on the mound, but he threw wide of home plate, and catcher Jobduan Morales could not make the catch, as Sherman Johnson scored for a 1-0 lead.

In the fourth inning, Ross drew a leadoff walk, and left fielder Kevin Moesquit was hit by a pitch. Center fielder Chevy Clarke then singled to right field to grow the lead to 2-0. Two batters later, shortstop Wendell Soto added an RBI groundout for a 3-0 advantage. Velasquez completed five innings, allowing three hits, two walks and two earned runs while striking out six batters.

Right-hander Jamaine Cotton started the sixth inning with a 3-0 deficit and retired the first six batters he faced. He also struck out the side in the eighth inning to match a career high with six strikeouts. He allowed a leadoff single in the ninth inning by Clarke, who reached third base but did not score. Cotton tossed four shutout innings and allowed just two hits.

The Bees bullpen opened in the seventh inning with right-hander Joseph Krehbiel, who issued Hernandez a one-out walk before second baseman Austin Elkins hit a single. Designated hitter Miles Hamblin lined out before Wierzbicki hit a two-out RBI single for his second hit of the game. He has four straight multi-hit games and is 9-for-17 with 9 RBIs in the home stand.

With a 3-1 lead, right-hander Kurt Spomer worked around a two-out single in the eighth inning, and right-hander Robert Powell pitched a perfect ninth inning for his second save. The River Bandits left at least one runner on base in each inning except the fourth and ninth - for a total of 11 left on base. Quad Cities (36-30) went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

The River Bandits and Bees continue their series with a doubleheader Saturday. Game 1 begins at 6 p.m. and will feature River Bandits right-hander Daniel Minor (4-1) opposing Bees left-hander Brandon Love (1-3). Quad Cities All-Star right-hander Lance McCullers (3-4) will start Game 2, with left-hander Tyler DeLoach making his Midwest League debut for Burlington. Each game is seven innings.

UP NEXT: "Team Ghost Riders" Cowboy Monkeys will be at Modern Woodmen Park for Saturday's doubleheader. It's also John Deere Night and a Fan Appreciation Saturday presented by CBS4. Gates open at 5 p.m. for the twin bill. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at 563-324-3000 and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

Some of these players may be playing for the Quad Cities River Bandits in the very near future. - Ed.

Club has signed 13 of 40 selections from 2013 MLB Draft

HOUSTON, TX - The Houston Astros announced today the signing of nine selections from the 2013 MLB First Year Player Draft: 2B Tony Kemp (5th round), CF Jason Martin (8th round), SS Thomas Lindauer (23rd round), LHP Albert Minnis (25th round), RHP William Chrismon (26th round), RHP Pat Christensen (27th round), LHP Randall Fant (29th round), RHP Zachary Morton (32nd round) and RHP Tyler Brunnemann (40th round). Contract terms were not disclosed. The announcement was made by Astros Director of Amateur Scouting Mike Elias.

Kemp, 21, becomes the Astros highest selection to sign since last weekend's draft. A second baseman out of Vanderbilt, Kemp was this year's SEC Player of the Year after leading the SEC in batting average, on-base percentage, runs and stolen bases. He was also a first-team All-American and finished his season ranking second in the NCAA in hits and 13th in batting average. Kemp was signed by Astros Area Scout Nick Venuto.

"Tony has been the spark atop the Vanderbilt lineup the past few years and we are thrilled to add him to the Astros organization," said Elias. "He has been a success everywhere he has played and brings energy, game-changing speed and defensive versatility to the field every day. He has excited our scouts all year and we expect Astros fans will feel the same when they see him play."

Martin, 17, is the first high school player to sign with Houston. He played last year at Orange Lutheran HS in California and was named a Rawlings Third Team All-American and to the California All-Region First Team. Martin was signed by Astros Area Scout Brad Budzinski.

"Jason has what we call a 'strong profile' for a center fielder - he's fast, he's a left-handed hitter, he works good at-bats and he can hit - all ingredients to develop into a prototypical leadoff man one day," said Elias. "He impressed our scouting staff this spring with his consistent and energetic play and is only 17 years old, so we are looking forward to watching him grow and advance in our system."

The Astros have signed 13 of their 40 draft picks this season. The players agreeing to terms on contracts are listed below.

Q:        Will wrestling retain its status as one of the core sports for the 2020 Summer Olympics?

A: Thanks in part to wrestling fans across Iowa, the popular sport may retain its status in the Olympic games after all.  Uniting fans from around the world, an international groundswell of support captured the attention of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which in February voted to put wrestling on the chopping block for the 2020 games.  Crossing geo-political boundaries, wrestling enthusiasts from the United States joined forces with those who share a passion for wrestling from 180 other countries, including an unlikely alliance for wrestlers from the United States and those from Russia and Iran.  Considering that 71 countries sent wrestlers to the London games last summer and the sport attracts a global audience averaging 23 million viewers, it seemed incredible that the IOC chose to pull the mat out from underneath this beloved sporting event.  A competition with roots dating back to the games of ancient Greece, wrestling first made its Olympic debut in 708 B.C.  The astonishing proposal to eliminate wrestling by the IOC earlier this year mobilized the wrestling community into high gear.

Q:        Do you support efforts to keep wrestling in the Olympic games?

A:        Absolutely. In February, I introduced a Senate Resolution with Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio to put the disapproval of wrestling fans on public record.  Our bipartisan resolution won Senate passage in March.  And, the global wrestling community captured the attention of decision-makers at the IOC, who in late May voted to keep wrestling on a short list of finalists for a crucial vote this fall.  The meeting in Russia of the IOC executive board will now be followed by a final vote in September of the general assembly in Buenos Aires.  I applaud efforts of the grass roots, from athletes, their families and the fans who raised their collective voice through social media and online petitions to help continue the efforts to clinch wrestling's spot in the 2020 Summer Olympic Games.  Iowa enjoys a dynamic, rich wrestling tradition, from youth programs to high school and intercollegiate competition.  Anyone who has watched a match understands it takes true grit for an athlete to compete one-on-one on the mat.  Win or lose, athletes score life-long lessons during training and competition, including self-discipline, self-confidence and goal-setting.  Many of the best and brightest students who apply for appointment to an elite military service academy through my Senate office are high school wrestlers.  Nationwide, more than 270,000 high school athletes wrestle, including more than 8,000 women.  The IOC has approved 25 core sports for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, including athletics (track and field), rowing, badminton, basketball, boxing, canoeing, cycling, equestrian, fencing, football, gymnastics, weightlifting, handball, hockey, Judo, aquatics, modern pentathlon, Tae Kwon Do, tennis, table tennis, shooting, archery, triathlon, sailing and volleyball.  A few years ago, the IOC added golf and rugby for the XXXI Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.  Its vote in September will decide if wrestling, squash or softball/baseball pins the 28^th spot for the 2020 Olympic Summer Games.

Monday, June 10, 2013