Welcome to Marion, Ky.! We are glad to have you and wish you a successful season here with one of the five teams in the historic Kitty League, once a Class D professional league dating back to 1903.

Marion's first venture into any kind of organized baseball was in 2008 when the Bobcats joined the league. We are optimistic in our efforts to provide you, the player, with a quality opportunity to improve your baseball skills and provide our community with good entertainment in a comfortable, new stadium at a reasonable price. It is our sense that sports fans and the people of Crittenden County are thirsty for collegiate baseball and should respond accordingly.

Marketing efforts such as commercial promotions, church nights, old-timers night, merchant nights and Field of Dreams program are important for our attendance. The grandstands hold 250 and there is room for 100 lawn chairs and 90 temporary bleacher seats. And, a new concession stand was put into service las year to adequately serve the hungry public.

We expect to play a 50-game schedule. All away games are planned to be on a daily, round-trip basis with no over-nights away from Marion. We travel in two 15-passenger vans, with Farmington, Mo., being the longest travel point. Pitchers on their rest cycle are not expected to go on the road trips, but may, if desired. Meals on road trips are paid for by the Bobcats. After home games food is usually available in the concession stand free of charge.

Game times throughout the league are typically 7:05 p.m., right after the national anthem. There are exceptions for double headers and Farmington games, so consult your schedule for those differences. Each single game is scheduled for nine innings, and double headers are two seven-inning games, typically beginning at 5:05 p.m. The designated hitter will be used and there is a "no slide rule" similar to the NCAA rules. It will be the umpire's sole discretion whether player contact is malicious.

Most restaurants close at 9:30 p.m., and the groceries at 10 p.m. Liberty Fuels closes at 10 p.m., and Dairy Queen at 10:30 p.m. Five Star Food Mart convenience store is, however, open 24-7.

Banks open as early as 8:30 a.m., and stay open as late as 5 p.m. Noon is closing time on Saturday. Both local banks have Internet banking and are full service. CVS Pharmacy and Glenn's Apothecary near the hospital have convenient hours, closing at 9 p.m., and 5:30 p.m., respectively. CVS is also open on Sunday until 6 p.m.

Tabor's Towing and Repair is open until 5 p.m., weekdays and Saturday until noon for vehicle service. Gas is available 24-7 at Five-Star (Marathon) and Liberty Fuels with credit and debit cards. Liberty Fuels' ATM is the most reliable in town. Food Giant and Conrad's Food Store also have an ATM. Pamida is like a miniature Wal-Mart. M&Mac Auto Parts and Tabor's across the street are good for minor auto adjustments and repairs. R&R Automotive on U.S. 60 West (6 miles) is recommended for more complex problems.

Accommodations for friends and family are available at the Royal Inn Motel on Sturgis Road next door to Marion True Value. There is also a bed and breakfast, Marion Inn, on U.S. 641 about two miles south of the courthouse in Marion. Reservations are desired. Additional Accommodations can be found at the Country Hearth Inn (Eddyville) and Hampton Inn (Kuttawa) and Regency Inn (Eddyville) are only 17 miles south of Marion on U.S. 641.

Upon your arrival in Marion, prior to 4 p.m., please check in at the Marion Welcome Center next door to city hall in Marion Commons (one block south of the courthouse). There should be a representative of the Bobcats there to meet you and get you squared away, introduce you to your host and get you to your quarters. Any other time, call General Manager Gordon Guess at 270-704-0953 or 270-965-2750.

Most host families will provide bed clothes and washer and dryer facilities; however, it is recommended that players, just in case, bring sheets and pillow/cases and blanket as desired just to be on the safe side. The bed size is single Hollywood-style. For obvious reasons, some homes out in the country are serviced by sister water without a washer and dryer, hence, the the need for commercial services in Marion.

Laundry facilities (washer and dryer) are generally provided by the host families. However, in the event that washer and dryer service is not available in your quarters, the commercial laundry is available one block west of Tabor's on U.S. 60 at the traffic light. Washer and dryer services is also available 24-7 at the Carousel Laundry on South Main Street across from Marion Pit BBQ.

You may wish to bring a television, although most units are so equipped. Utilities are provided.

Part-time employment is extremely limited.

Players are responsible for their meals when not on the road.

Reporting date is Thursday, May 27 at the Marion Tourism Bureau. Practice begins Friday, May 28 at 5 p.m. Open try-outs for non-contract players are scheduled for Saturday, May 29 at 2 p.m.

Housing assignments will be finalized upon your arrival on May 27.

Finally, and importantly, whenever you are quartered within the hostÕs home, keep your sleeping and living area orderly and, especially, your clothes picked up off the floor. Remember, Everyone in Marion, Ky. is watching you and you will be held up on a pedestal and will even be idolized by the youth here. Good conduct and good baseball make for a good role model and earn respect that you cannot buy. And as this is the South, "please" and "thank you" work very well here.

I'm sure there will be many questions as this is only a starter. WeÕre looking forward to your arrive in Marion.

Gordon B. Guess, Bobcats GM