Racinians shine bright, pack in under Miller Park lights

By SUSAN SHEMANSKE
Journal Times Sports Editor

Saturday, August 23, 2008 11:44 PM CDT

MILWAUKEE — As a player for the Burlington High School baseball team and the Burlington Diablos summer team, Mike Porcaro has made dozens of throws on a baseball diamond this year.

But this one was different.

As part of the Porcaro Mitsubishi presents Racine County Night at Miller Park pre-game festivities Saturday night, the 16-year-old Porcaro threw out the first of four ceremonial first pitches prior to the Milwaukee Brewers 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“It’s different throwing in front of 40,000 people,” Porcaro said after throwing a perfect strike to Brewers catcher Mike Rivera.

Was he nervous?

“More nervous than I would be in a game,” said Porcaro, a second baseman and pitcher.

Originally, Porcaro’s father, Anthony, owner of Porcaro Mitsubishi & Ford in Racine, was to throw out the ceremonial first pitch for Racine County Night. But the elder Porcaro thought it might be a better idea for one of his two sons to do the honor.

“We wanted to make sure that it got to the plate,” Anthony Porcaro said.

His oldest son, Anthony, just left Friday for Marian College in Fond du Lac, so it was up to Mike to do the family proud while his father and mother, Barb, looked on.

Also taking part in pre-game ceremonies was the Vietnam Veterans Racine Chapter 767, which presented the colors prior to the national anthem.

BIG DRAW: Unlike years past, selling tickets to this year’s Racine County Night at Miller Park wasn’t a tough assignment.

Considering the committee sold 1,240 tickets — an increase of nearly 900 over last year — the event would have to be considered an astounding success.

Mark Eickhorst, the Racine County Mobility Manager for RAMAC who served as chairman of the Racine County Night at Miller Park committee this year, said there were several factors at work — not the least of which is the Brewers’ success on the field.

“It’s priceless, really, that they’re in the pennant race,” Eickhorst said of the Brewers, who are 75-55 and lead the National League wild-card race by 3½ games.

But, Eickhorst said, there were other equally important factors.

“Overall, the committee did a great job in deciding how to market it this year,” Eickhorst said. “And this is the first time that we’ve had a presenting sponsor (Porcaro Mitsubishi), so that’s made a big difference.”

Other sponsors for the event were Bank of Elmwood, CJW Inc., Johnson Bank, Racine Amusements and WRJN/Light Rock 92.1.

Last year, only about 340 tickets were sold for Racine County Night for a June 25 game against the Houston Astros.

Eickhorst said the committee specifically sought a later date for this year’s event “to give us more time to market the event, plus we were sure the Brewers would still be in the pennant race.”

Considering Saturday’s crowd of 43,293 marked the 20th straight sellout at Miller Park this season (and the 36th overall), tickets for Racine County Night were a hot commodity.

“Exciting Brewers baseball is just part of the package tonight,” Eickhorst said. “The other part is being able to show pride in your community and in being able to help out two worthy charities.”

The Brewers return four dollars from each ticket sold for Racine County Night to the committee to be donated to Racine Youth Sports and Koos for Kids, a charity founded by Racine native and longtime Brewers bullpen catcher Marcus Hanel.

Eickhorst said that once expenses are covered, the committee should be able to donate $3,000 each to RYS and Koos for Kids.

REBEL ROUSERS: Among the Racine County Night crowd of nearly 1,300 that filled most of sections 201-205 in the right field area were Horlick High School baseball players Jon Capasso, Chad Langley and Drew Pearson.

The three were joined by friends Sarah Sterbin and Corey Pearson, Drew’s sister.

The 17-year-old Langley, who is beginning his senior year, said the tickets were a gift and that it was just coincidental they were there for Racine County Night.

Not that any of the five were complaining.

“It’s more exciting to come and watch a better team,” said Langley, who said he’s been a Brewers’ fan for more than 10 years.

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