By: Frisco Roughriders Media
courtesy of Frisco Roughriders media
FRISCO, TX – BCSG 360 hosted a virtual press conference earlier this week to formally announce the inaugural State Fair Diamond Classic and Lone Star Diamond Classic HBCU baseball events hosted by the Frisco RoughRiders at Dr Pepper Ballpark. The State Fair Diamond Classic will pit the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff vs. Southern University in a three-game matchup, and the Lone Star Diamond Classic will pit Grambling State University vs. Prairie View A&M in a separate three-game series, both taking place
March 26-28 at the ballpark.
RoughRiders President and General Manager
Victor Rojas and BCSG 360 Executive Director
Prentiss Hill hosted University of Arkansas Pine Bluff head coach
Carlos James, Southern University head coach
Chris Crenshaw, Grambling State University head coach
James Cooper and Prairie View A&M head coach
Auntwan Riggins.
Grambling graduate student and right-handed pitcher
JC Bonilla was on deck to represent the Tigers during the virtual press conference.
"
We want to extend a big special thanks to all the parties involved; the Frisco Roughriders, the city of Frisco, to (BCSG 360 Executive Director) Prentiss Hill for reaching out to us, and also all of the people behind the scenes that do not get mentioned up front or faces that are not seen," said Coach Cooper. "We want to thank each and every one of you for allowing us to be a part of this great situation as we help shine some light on HBCU's as a whole, not just athletics but our university. And then also to help replenish
what's been missing from Major League Baseball, and that's the black baseball player."
Each coach discussed their respective participation in the Lone Star Diamond Classic and the State Fair Diamond Classic.
About BCSG 360
The mission of BCSG 360 is to educate students of the value and benefits associated with attending and graduating from Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). They also provide engaging historical content, programming and curriculums to middle and high school systems to teach students about the history and pride associated with HBCUs. BCSG 360 strives to connect students and community to HBCUs using engaging events and programming to create awareness and participation in the admittance and scholarship process. The organization serves as a clearinghouse of qualitative and quantitative information to be used to educate communities on the outcomes associated with HBCU and the HBCU Experience.
About the RoughRiders
The Frisco RoughRiders are the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers and play their games at beautiful Riders Field in the heart of Frisco, Texas. The team was founded in 2003 and has finished first among all Double-A franchises in attendance in each of the last 15 seasons (2005-2019). In August 2014, the RoughRiders were purchased by an ownership group led by Chuck Greenberg. Since then, the new ownership group, together with the City of Frisco, has spearheaded numerous major franchise enhancements, investing over $8 million in a wide array of facility upgrades and improvements, including a state-of-the-art HD video board, sound system, Bull Moose Saloon, InTouch Grille, Riders Outpost Team Store and the world's largest water feature in a sports facility, the massive Lazy River. These enhancements earned the Riders and the City of Frisco Ballpark Digest's prestigious "Best Ballpark Renovation" award for two consecutive years (2015 and 2016). More than 160 former RoughRiders players have gone on to play Major League Baseball, including current Rangers players Elvis Andrus and Joey Gallo. For more information, contact
media@ridersbaseball.com.
