Captains celebrate 12th annual Cleveland Sports History Night Friday

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Captains celebrate 12th annual Cleveland Sports History Night Friday

BY TIM SHIRER

CAPTAINS BEAT WRITER

(EASTLAKE, OH) – On Friday (July 23) Night the Lake County Captains will celebrate their 12th Annual Cleveland Sports History Night. The tradition began back on August 2nd, 2009 and won the coveted “Veckie” Award when the night was named Minor League Promotion of the Year by ESPN.

Every year since 2009 the team has celebrated famous moments in Cleveland Sports history such as heartbreaking moments like “Red Right 88”, “The Drive”, “The Shot” The Indians losing the 1997 World Series after being one strike away from winning it. But also, in 2016 Cleveland Sports History Night included celebrating the Cleveland Cavaliers 2016 NBA Championship with the Larry O’Brien available on the concourse for Captains fans to take a picture with it.

This year will include more celebration. Celebrating the Browns 2020 season ending their 13-year absences from the NFL playoffs and win in the first round over the rival Pittsburgh Steelers as current Browns Cornerback Denzel Ward and Browns legend Bernie Kosar will be in attendance.

Another part of the celebration will include the Cleveland State Women’s and Men’s basketball teams. Both squads as well as their coaches will be in attendance. The CSU Women’s basketball team will be honored for winning the first post season championship in the program’s history when they defeated Portland 67-64 to win the 2021 Women’s NIT. The women are coached by Chris Kielsmeier.

The CSU Men’s basketball team will be celebrating their first Horizon League Title since and first NCAA Tournament bid since 2009. The men are coached by Dennis Gates. Both the Horizon League Championship Trophy and the Women’s NIT Trophy will be in attendance with the team.

And finally, another returning guest will be two-time Olympic Medalist Butch Reynolds. Reynolds is an Akron native and has been honored at Cleveland Sports history night in the past. Reynolds won Gold as part of the 4x400 meter relay team at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. He also won an individual Silver medal in the 400 meter at those same Olympics. Reynolds is also a four-time World Champion for the USA in various events.

All the Cleveland sports legends in attendance will be available for autographs on the concourse at various times. They will also be throwing out ceremonial first pitches before the game which starts at 7:00 p.m. The Cleveland Indians number one pick (24th overall) Daniel Espino will be starting the game for the Captains.