The goal is to expose third-graders to Valley, to show them how cool it is and make them want to work to get here. We started working on this event in October and it went really well.

We wrapped 467 age-appropriate paperback books for the kids.

These kids are very impressionable. Knowing that, we have to be very conscientious of how we act.

We do want to win a championship. Coming into the American Association as the lowest revenue team with the smallest ballpark, you have to make up for it in intangibles. We wanted a manager who was very competitive and could recruit players.

We won way more than we lost, we just didn't have enough bodies.

He was real excited. When you were that close (to making states before) you really want to get there.