Utica Community Schools teams up with United Shore Professional Baseball League to celebrate Back to School

Utica Community Schools and the United Shore Professional Baseball League (USPBL) will team up to celebrate Back to School for a special night of baseball on August 26th.

The UCS Back to School night will allow district residents and supporters to receive a special food and ticket package and watch the hometown Utica Unicorns take on the Eastside Diamond Hoppers at a 7:05 p.m. matchup at the new field, on Auburn Road in downtown Utica.
“We look forward to bringing together the excitement of both Back to School and great baseball for a night of celebration,” superintendent Dr. Christine Johns said. “Our partnership with USPBL allows this unique opportunity for our families and residents to come together to mark the beginning of another great school year.”

The community celebration reflects the continuing partnership between the district and the recently-established league, which began in March 2016 with the league’s team announcement and logo unveiling held at Eppler Junior High School.

In March, the pair introduced an incentive program – called “Lancelot’s Learners League” after the local Utica Unicorns team mascot – to encourage students and families to set aside time for reading. When the field opened in May, the dugouts featured bat and helmet racks designed and built by UCS students.
“The United Shore Professional Baseball League is proud to be part of this community and to help celebrate the traditions and success of Utica Community Schools,” said Andy Appleby, league founder and president and chief executive officer of Rochester, Michigan-based General Sports and Entertainment.
In addition to an exciting baseball game, the event will feature free craft activities through the Utica Community Education Early Childhood Program, a race of school mascots and video interviews and announcements about the new school year. The game will also include an opportunity for kids to run the bases and a postgame fireworks show.

Special family packages are available that include a hot dog and soft drink for platinum club, infield or backstop tickets.

To order tickets, visit http://uspbl.com/events/list, click on the August 26 “UCS Back to School Night” link and enter the promo code UTICASCHOOLS (all capital letters).

Utica Community Schools – Michigan’s second largest school district – will begin the school year on Tuesday, September 6.