Fighting Squirrel 1st Pitch Dinner-Auction-Dance set for Nov. 21

CHARLESTON, Mo. - The stage is set for the first annual Fighting Squirrel 1st Pitch Dinner-Auction-Dance.

The extravaganza is slated to take place Nov. 21 at Charleston Knights of Columbus Hall.

"We are always trying to find creative ways to help offset some of the costs in the summer so we've planned a fun night in November," Charleston Fighting Squirrels coach Michael Minner said. "We've got to a point where we are in a really good situation right now with lots of kids wanting to be part of our organization, and we are blessed for that. We want to provide a quality opportunity for a young man to get a good experience playing baseball. We hope we get a good turnout for this event, people enjoy the evening and we can continue to have this in years to come."

2011 Charleston graduate James Naile is slated to be the keynote speaker at the event. Naile was the ace pitcher on the 2011 Charleston high school baseball squad that advanced to the final four. He also pitched for the Fighting Squirrels in 2009 and 2010. Naile played college baseball at Parkland and UAB before being drafted earlier this year in the 20th round by the Oakland Athletics.

"He's one of our former players and kind of a crowd favorite around here," Minner said of Naile. "He has really shown what can happen when you put your heart into something. He's been rewarded with a solid baseball career and we continue to believe he is going to pitch in the major leagues."

Minner said one of the elite restaurants in the Midwest will provide dinner at the event.

"We are going to have dinner that night from The Glenn, which is one of the nicest restaurants in the 12-state region," Minner said. "It will be a great meal, and drinks and sodas will also be provided."

A silent auction is also scheduled.

"We will have 25 to 30 silent auction items people can bid on," Minner said. "We have such things as Cardinals-Cubs weekend tickets with a gas card to get you to St. Louis, Blues tickets with a gas card to get you to St. Louis and some Fighting Squirrels memorabilia."

Minner said the evening will conclude with a dance and music from the band The Intention.

"We've got a live band out of Cape Girardeau coming," Minner said. "It will be a fun night."

Tickets to attend the extravaganza are $25 each. You must be at least 21-years-old to purchase a ticket.

Tickets may be purchased while supplies last by contacting Minner at (573) 382-2740.

"You can text me," Minner said of buying tickets. "We have to turn in a count of how many people are eating by Nov. 16 so we are hoping people will contact us by Nov. 13 for tickets. We have a limited number available and as of today we have quite a few left, but people are starting to call and buy tickets, and once they are gone they are gone. We think it will be an enjoyable night for everyone that attends."

Notes: The Charleston Fighting Squirrels are a Senior Babe Ruth baseball team formed in 2005 that plays its home games at Hillhouse Park in Charleston, Missouri. The Fighting Squirrels have won multiple state titles, three regional titles and advanced to the Senior Babe Ruth World Series three times.