Baseball’s Leonard To Attend Eighth Annual Lowell Spinners Alumni Dinner

LOWELL, Mass. – First-year Elms College head baseball coach Mike Leonard will attend the eighth annual Lowell Spinners Alumni Dinner on Tuesday, Dec. 29 at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium in downtown Lowell beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The dinner debuts this year at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium for the first time after many years at the DoubleTree Hotel, with all proceeds benefiting the Joann Weber Charitable Fund.

Leonard, who signed as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox in 2004, played catcher for the Spinners (Boston’s Class-A Affiliate) alongside current Red Sox players Jed Lowrie, Clay Bucholz and Jacoby Ellsbury in 2005.

Red Sox star Kevin Youkilis highlights the event as the 2009 Dick Berardinio Lowell Spinners Alumni Award winner.

The award, named after the former Red Sox coach, instructor and Spinners manager, is given annually to a Lowell Spinners alumnus who has displayed tremendous coachability, dedication, a passionate work ethic, determination and the heart to make it to the Major League level.

Youkilis has been one of the most successful former Spinners at the Major League level, continuing the success he found in Lowell where he reached base in every game he wore a Spinners uniform. A two-time World Champion, two-time All-Star, Gold Glove winner, member of Team USA in the 2009 World Baseball Classic and 2008 Hank Aaron Award winner, Youkilis has a full resume at the age of 30.

Local baseball legends set to attend include: former Spinners manager and Red Sox third base coach Berardino; former Red Sox pitcher Bill Monboquette; former Red Sox catcher Rich Gedman; former New York Met Mike Glavine; and NESN Red Sox post game host Tom Caron.

There will also be a silent and live auction. The silent auction will run from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. with the program to follow.

For more information, contact Jon Boswell at jboswell@lowellspinners.com or by phone at 978-805-5117.