Shaq, Sandler, "King of Queens" To Be Coke Zero 400 Grand Marshals

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida - Adam Sandler, Kevin James and Shaquille O’Neal, the stars of the upcoming comedy “Grown Ups 2,” in theaters July 12, will serve as Grand Marshals for the 55th annual Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Saturday, July 6 at Daytona International Speedway.

Sandler, James and O’Neal will give the starting command – “Drivers, start your engines” – in the Independence Day holiday classic. They will also be introduced at the driver’s meeting, participate in pre-race ceremonies, and ride in the Grand Marshal cars during the pace laps prior to the green flag of the 160-lap, 400-mile race.

“We’re pleased to welcome three of the stars of ‘Grown Ups 2’ and have them take part in the pre-race ceremonies for one of NASCAR’s most exciting nighttime races,” Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said. “Combining Adam Sandler, Kevin James and Shaquille O’Neal, we’re expecting a boisterous and powerful starting command in front of thousands of race fans and millions more watching on TNT.”

This marks the fourth time that Sandler has served as Grand Marshal for a NASCAR event, having previously served at Talladega once and Michigan twice.  This will also mark Kevin James’ return to Daytona and his third time as NASCAR Grand Marshal; James also previously paced the Toyota All Star showdown and did a few test laps at Texas Motor Speedway.  In addition, the film’s producer, Jack Giarraputo, is chairman of the board of Fuel, a NASCAR management

O’Neal,  retired from NBA in 2011 after having captured four NBA championships during his 19-year professional career. He was also named NBA Finals MVP three times, was a 15-time NBA All-Star and earned an Olympic Gold Medal.  O’Neal began his career with the Orlando Magic.

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Huge Fireworks Show to Follow Coke Zero 400 on July 6

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida – While NASCAR’s Coke Zero 400 will be held on Saturday July 6 at 7:30 pm, there will be even more fireworks at the completion of the race.  What officials are calling “the largest fireworks show in the Southeast” will be shot off following the race.

Fireworks By Santore will illuminate the sky of Daytona International Speedway with a 15-minute show from 15 different locations located along the backstretch.

It will take seven days and a crew of 10 to set up the show, which is electronically fired using state-of-the-art digital firing equipment. The show will use:

n  Shells ranging in size from 1” to 8”

n  10,000+ lbs of explosive powder

n  11,000 individual explosions

The show will begin with red and white fireworks for 30 seconds and the finale will last for approximately one minute, 30 seconds and will have over 2,000 individual pieces. The show uses enough control wire to wrap a lap and a half around the legendary 2.5-mile tri-oval.

Tickets to the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race and the Subway Firecracker 250 Powered By Coca-Cola NASCAR Nationwide Series race on July 5 are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP or online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com.

You can also catch the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola live from Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, July 6 at 6:30 p.m. ET on TNT, Motor Racing Network Radio and Sirius XM Radio with additional coverage on NASCAR.COM.

Fans can follow NASCAR on Twitter (@NASCAR) and stay up to speed on the latest news by using hashtags #NASCAR and #COKEZERO400. Fans can also stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter,Facebook and Pinterest for the latest news all season long.

 

 

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Manatees Start Second Half with Winning Streak

VIERA, Florida - The Brevard County Manatees completed a three-game sweep of the Lakeland Flying Tigers this week – finishing the first half of the season with a five game winning streak and a 37-30 record.

The second half of the Manatees season begins with three games on the road against the Tampa Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

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Manatees Beat the Hammerheads 2-1; Take All-Star Break Until Monday

VIERA, Florida – The Brevard County Manatees (34-30) played one good inning of small ball to beat the Jupiter Hammerheads 2-1 at Space Coast Stadium Thursday night.  In the bottom of the sixth, the Manatees scored twice to secure the win.

Brandon Macias reached first on an error and Chadwin Stang followed with a walk.  Then T.J. Mittelstaedt bunted them to second and third.  Macias scored on fielder’s choice by Gregory Hopkins.  Stang was driven home by a single to center by Mitch Haniger.

The Hammerheads (33-32) had taken a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth after the lead-off batter Austin Barnes was hit by a pitch from Manatee starter Chad Pierce.  Then Alex Burg hit a double to the wall to drive in Barnes

Jupiter threatened in the top of the eighth with a runner on third with no outs.  However, two ground outs and a fly to center ended the inning.

They also got the tying run on second in the ninth after consecutive base hits.  But a running catch by right fielder Stang ended the game.

Right-handed reliever Mark Williams (2-0) was credited with the win.  Righty Tommy Toledo came in during the ninth inning and struck out two to get the save.

The Manatees will be on the All-Star Break until next Monday when they host Lakeland at 6:35 pm.

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Manatees Shutout Hammerheads 2-0

VIERA, Florida – The Brevard County Manatees (33-30) shutout the Jupiter Hammerheads 2-0 on Wednesday night at Space Coast Stadium.

In the fourth inning, Chadwin Stang laid down a sacrifice bunt with the bases loaded to make the game 1-0.  Then, in the eighth inning, Mitch Haniger hit a solo home run to complete the Manatees scoring.

Brevard County starting pitcher David Goforth (6-5) pitched the first 6.1 innings and recorded the win.  Reliever Tommy Toledo got the save.

The Manatees and the Hammerheads play tonight at 6:35 pm.

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Manatees Fall 3-1 to Hammerheads

VIERA, Florida - The Brevard County Manatees (32-30) fell 3-1 on Tuesday night to the Jupiter Hammerheads (33-30) at Space Coast Stadium.

In the top of the first, the Hammerheads opened up a 2-0 lead after three consecutive base hits to centerfield and two stolen bases.  They extended their lead to 3-0 in the top of the second after a triple and sacrifice fly.

The Manatees’ Chadwin Stang scored their only run in the bottom of the third on a two-out single by Mitch Haniger to make the score 3-1.  Stang had walked, advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt, and gotten to third on a sacrifice fly to right field.

Brevard County had a near rally in the ninth inning with a single by Ben McMahan and a double by Yadiel Rivera, but they were stranded on base after three consecutive outs.

Manatee starter Jacob Barnes (4-2) – who pitched five innings and gave up all three runs – was charged with the loss.

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Manatees Win On Walk-Off Homer in the 10th Inning

VIERA, Florida - Brevard County Manatees’ third baseman T.J. Mittelstaedt (.234) went one-for-five in last nights’ game against the Jupiter Hammerheads.  However, that one hit was a two-out, one-man-on, walk-off homer in the bottom of the 10^th inning to give the Manatees (32-29) a 4-2 victory.

Right-hand reliever Tommy Toledo got the win (2-1), even though he gave up the tying run in the top of the 9^th inning.

The Manatees and Hammerheads play the second game of a four-game series tonight at Space Coast Stadium, beginning at 6:35 pm.

Jupiter scored in the top of the 1^st inning, but Manatees first baseman Nick Ramirez (.246) answered in the bottom of the 4^th inning with a solo home run.  The Manatees took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 8^th inning on a Lance Roenicke (.214) solo blast.

In the 9^thinning, Jupiter tied the game on a two-out hit-and-run single to left field.

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Manatees Drop Two; Begin Four-Game Homestand

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida – The Brevard Country Manatees dropped both games of a doubleheader against the Daytona Cubs on Sunday.  Their record for the season is 31-29.

With seven games left in the first half of the season, the Manatees are two and a half games out of first place in the North Division of the Florida State League.

The team begins a four-game homestand at Space Coast Stadium against the Jupiter Hammerheads.  Monday night’s game begins at 6:30 pm.  Left-hander Jed Bradley (4-2, 4.68) will be on the mound for the Manatees.

On Sunday, the Manatees lost the first game 8-2.  This game was a make-up for the game that was rained out Saturday night in Brevard.

In the second game, despite scoring two runs in the top of the first, the Manatees fell 3-2.  Merritt Island High School graduate Dustin Geiger singled in the go-ahead run for the Cubs in the sixth inning.

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FIT Baseball Player Selected in MLB Draft

MELBOURNE, Florida - Florida Tech junior first baseman Scott Carcaise heard his name called by the Miami Marlins in the 14^thround of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Saturday. The Marlins chose the Maple Shade, N.J. native with the 412^th pick of the draft.

“When I received the phone call (from the Marlins), it was a dream come true,” he said. “Words can’t really explain it. I’m glad the Marlins have welcomed me to the organization.”

In his second year with the Panthers after playing his freshman season at Elon, Carcaise led the team in nearly every offensive category, while starting 49 of 51 games. He batted .316 with a team-high 55 hits, 10 home runs, 37 RBIs and 39 runs scored. He also slugged .563, had an on-base percentage of .441, drew 33 walks and touched 98 total bases. Defensively, he recorded 373 putouts and a .983 fielding percentage at first base.

His 10 home runs were the most in the Sunshine State Conference.

“We congratulate Scott on being selected by the Miami Marlins,” head coach Greg Berkemeier said. “It is a tremendous accomplishment and well-deserved. Scott worked to achieve this goal and we wish him all the best in chasing his dream.”

“I can’t even begin to thank everyone at FIT for these past two years,” Carcaise said. “None of this would have happened for me if it wasn’t for FIT. Coach B and Coach Merc gave me a great opportunity here. I can’t thank them enough for everything they taught me about being a better person and player.”

The junior first baseman is the ninth player from FIT to be drafted or signed by a Major League team in the last five years.

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Brevard County Manatees Chosen For League All-Star Game

VIERA, Florida - The Florida State League announced this week the team members for this year’s 52^nd All-Star Game. Three members of the Brevard County Manatees will play for the North team.

They are:

Cameron Garfield – Catcher
Nick Ramirez – Designated Hitter
Davis Goforth – Right Handed Pitcher

Pitchers Seth Harvey and Brooks Hall were also chosen for the team, but are unavailable to play.

The game will be played on June 15 at 7:05 pm at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin.

According to Frank Longobardo of the Manatees organization, the selection of five players is the most for the Manatees since 11 were selected in 2009.

Garfield hit .275 in April with five home runs and 15 runs batted in. He recorded a .510 slugging percentage that month and had a ten-game hitting streak from April 12-21. He was named the FSL Player of the Week for the period of April 15-21.

Ramirez entered play on last Tuesday with 12 home runs, which ranks second in the Florida State League, with eight of his homers coming in the month of May. The slugger is seventh in the league in total bases (103), tied for eighth in RBI (36) and 14th in slugging percentage (.486).

Goforth, who will take Hall's spot on the North Division roster, is currently 13th in the league with a 3.05 ERA. He ranks sixth in the FSL with 62 innings pitched and has gone at least six innings in six of his last seven starts.

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