PITTSBURGH PIRATES STREET PARTY LAKEWOOD RANCH WELCOMES BASEBALL PLAYERS

Pittsburgh Pirates finalize purchase of Florida State League team and will relocate club to Bradenton

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

December 10, 2009        

LWR Communities will welcome the Pittsburgh Pirates’ new Florida State League team to Manatee County with a street party on Main Street in Lakewood Ranch at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15.  The Pirates organization will publicly announce the name and logo of the new Minor League franchise team on Main Street.  To celebrate the announcement, Lakewood Ranch is throwing a party for the team.  Major and minor league players will be on Main Street to sign autographs and greet the community.

The event will also be a homecoming for Lakewood Ranch High School graduate Lastings Milledge, who now plays for the major league Pirates team!  Milledge is a Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder who graduated from Lakewood Ranch High School in 2003 after leading his team to the state 5A title his senior year.  Baseball players from Lakewood Ranch High and others from the school will welcome the former graduate and his teammates to Manatee County in full fanfare!

Pirates President Frank Coonelly will introduce the players and Schroeder-Manatee Ranch CEO Rex Jensen will make a special announcement about the new Bradenton-based minor league team.  Season tickets for spring training and the FSL season will also be on sale.

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Lakewood Ranch is the 8,500-acre award winning Master-Planned Community in Sarasota and Manatee counties on the West Coast of Florida. Visit www.lakewoodranch.com.

For More Information Contact:

Candice McElyea

Public Relations & Promotions Manager

Lakewood Ranch/SMR

941-757-1546 office

941-232-9046 cell