BASEBALL Looking for family fun? Check out the Express

The team is expanding promotions and publicity to become more popular in the community.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- This could be the year that the Youngstown Express of the Great Lakes Summer League begins to take off in popularity.
"Without a doubt, we expect attendance this year to be three to five times as many fans as last year," said Ken Hazen of Poland, in his second year as vice president of Baseball Operations for the team that enters its fourth year of competition.
Hazen said the Express, founded in 1998 by Chuck Whitman of Canfield, began to build a core of followers through the first three seasons and is broadening its base through advertisement, promotions and publicity.
The team, consisting of collegiate players, held media day today at its home field, Pemberton-Donnell Park, and will open its 42-game season at 6 p.m. Wednesday against visiting Southern Ohio.
Wholesome entertainment
Hazen believes the community is looking for wholesome entertainment for the family, and that the Express provides that, just like the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.
"The two teams can complement each other," said Hazen.
The Express and Scrappers will play an exhibition game Sunday at Cafaro Field.
"Playing the Scrappers [demonstrates that] our level of competition is very good, and makes us good competitors," said Hazen.
New promotions this year include fund-raising projects with area organizations, cable TV advertisements, and radio coverage of all 20 home games.
"By getting the local charities involved, we are going to get a fan base from that," said Hazen. "We let [local non-profit organizations] sell our game tickets at $2 a ticket, and then donate half the proceeds of all ticket sales back to that organization."
Hazen said 11 of the 15 home dates, five of which are doubleheaders, are filled. "We really want to get kids there."
He said any other interested organizations should contact him to participate.
TV and radio publicity
TV and radio also are playing big roles in making the public more aware of the Express.
"No. 1, we have a commercial playing on a lot of the cable channels that we have been playing since March," said Hazen, also noting that all 20 home games will be broadcast on radio for the first time by WBBW-1240.
Veteran broadcaster John Caparanis will be doing the play-by-play.
Hazen also said the Express "have helped the city make a lot of improvements to the [Pemberton-Donnell] field."
"We have a lot of volunteer help from people we know, like our wives and friends [who] are taking tickets and working in the stands," said Hazen. "We have two college student interns."
Hazen has several roles.
"I have a marketing role is promote the team, to create a positive image for the team and the community," said Hazen, who also announces the games and coordinates the team's schedule and operations.
Area players on roster
The Express has two area players on the roster, both from Canfield High -- Brad Schutz, a member of the University of Cincinnati baseball team; and Brad Whitman with the Elon (N.C.) College squad, and the son of Chuck Whitman.
Schutz, a junior shortstop, led Cincinnati in six offensive categories, including batting (.362), hits (88), runs scored (59) and doubles (17). He was selected to the All-Conference USA team.
Schutz's Cincinnati teammate, catcher Chris Hamblen of Fort Thomas, Ky., had signed to play for the Express, but then withdrew after being selected by the Texas Rangers in the 13th round of the Major League Baseball amateur draft, the 382nd pick overall.