How the Rawlings Pro Advisory Staff break in their gloves

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SHOCK DOCTOR RE-INVENTING SPORTS MEDICINE WITH INTRODUCTION OF PERFORMANCE SPORTS THERAPY

MINNEAPOLIS – (June 22, 2011) – Sports injuries have increased as people have been encouraged to exercise for fitness. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, sports injuries are on the rise with baby boomers suffering more than 1 million sports injuries annually. Youth athletes, age 14 and under, experience 3.5 million sports injuries each year, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Orthopaedics. About 40 percent of all injuries sustained by middle and high school students are classified as overuse injuries, and data supports the theory that youth sports injuries are on the rise in the US.

Minneapolis-based Shock Doctor is helping athletes of all abilities get back in the game by transforming sports medicine with the introduction of the Shock Doctor Performance Sports Therapy line of products which provide substantial innovative improvements. Shock Doctor – the authentic market leader and creators of innovative, unique performance-driven sports protection and the undisputed worldwide leader in mouthguard technology – is changing sports medicine with unique technology, design and fit to create an unparalleled line of Performance Sports Therapy products.

“We were able to successfully transform the mouthguard category with research and technological innovation,” said Jay Turkbas, Senior Vice President of Product Development and Marketing for Shock Doctor. “Our leadership in sports protection along with our commitment to providing best-in-class sports protection for recreational and professional athletes is enabling us to revolutionize the sports medicine category by developing the new Performance Sports Therapy products which are the first and only products of their kind. Our goal is to help athletes and non-athletes stay active.”

The new Performance Sports Therapy products address the traditional sports medicine category issues such as sizing inconsistencies and packaging and product all looking the same which makes it difficult to determine the right product to fit the injury. By using premium materials and enhanced design in products and packaging, better product classification to make it easier to select and identify products for specific injuries, and greatly improved sizing and fit, Shock Doctor is using innovative improvements to bring performance enhancing support to athletes of all abilities. The Performance Sports Therapy line features fresh, aesthetically appealing designs with anatomical/biomedical features. The products are lightweight and made with unique and exclusive materials such as the N-Tex™ vented airflow neoprene which promotes moisture wicking. All of the Performance Sports Therapy products have microbial treatment to help eliminate bacteria and related odors.

The unique packaging system guides consumers to find the correct Performance Therapy Solution for their specific injury. The product labeling is easy to recognize and use with a product identity and coded number system. For example, performance levels are identified as Level 1 for light support, Level 2 for customizable compression sleeves and wraps with support and adjustments, and Level 3 with more stabilizing and significant support. Color coded product categories include red for knees, green for elbows, yellow for shoulder and back, blue for legs and purple for wrist injuries. Shock Doctor is the first in the category with this system.

DeMarini 2012 CF5 BBCOR In Stock

The new DeMarini 2012 CF5 BBCOR DXCFC baseball bats are now in stock and shipping from The Sportstation. The BBCOR certified bats will be required for high school and collegiate play in 2012.

Coca Cola to sponsor U-13 football league and Schoolchildren`s Cup in Azerbaijan

Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) and Coca-Cola Bottlers Ltd. have signed an agreement under which Coca Cola will sponsor the Under-13 league and Schoolchildren`s Cup in the country. The 5-year contract will see Coca Cola invest $1,075,000 in AFFA`s projects. “It is encouraging that influential companies have been paying attention to football development recently,” AFFA`s Secretary General Elkhan Mammadov said. “I believe that the deal signed will yield fruits."

Introducing the Rawlings 5150 BBCOR Baseball Bat

Members of the Rawlings Collegiate Advisory Staff review the new BBCOR bat from Rawlings.

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA AND UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA – OMAHA BOUND

Every year college teams take the field with one goal in mind — to make the trip to Omaha. Two of our sponsored teams, the University of Virginia and the University of South Carolina will play in Omaha at the College World Series this Sunday. This has been an exceptional year for Rawlings sponsored teams and it is about to get even better with the National Coverage we are slated to get on ESPN.

The University of Virginia went 2-1 in Super Regionals against UC Irvine to maintain the #1 seed at the College World Series. The games were incredible, and made for one of the best stories in baseball. Virginia was down one run in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and one pitch away from the end of their season when David Coleman hit a line drive single to center. Then, Jared King hit a line drive back up the middle off UC Irvine’s ace, Matt Summers’ leg. Rattled by the play, Summers threw four straight balls to walk pinch hitter Reed Gragnani, which loaded the bases. That’s when the magic happened. Chris Taylor hit a line drive up the middle and two runners scored, allowing Virginia to make their second appearance in Omaha in 3 years.

The University of South Carolina (defending National Champions) went 2-0 in Super Regionals closing out Connecticut’s season. In the first game, Connecticut was out early with a 1-0 lead in the first, but then was shut out the rest of the way. With the hitting abilities of South Carolina and the power of the Rawlings 5150 in their hands, South Carolina put up five unmatched runs to win the first game 5-1. The second game was similar with Connecticut taking an early lead 2-0 in the second only to get trumped by 8 unmatched runs. In the end, South Carolina will have the chance to defend their National title and show everyone why they choose Rawlings.

The College World Series games start on Saturday @ 1 p.m. (Central) for some teams, but kicks off Sunday for Virginia and South Carolina.

MUST WATCH TV - So cut your grass early, walk your dog, or do whatever else you have to do before the games start on Sunday. You’ll want to re-arrange your schedule to make sure you have a front row seat to see your brand all over the TV screen.

Rawlings-sponsored school Virginia takes on California @ 1 p.m. (Central) Sunday. At 6 p.m. Rawlings-sponsored school South Carolina hits the field against Texas A&M @ 6 p.m. (central) Sunday

Rawlings Teams Up with the Cardinals and Royals to Help Joplin

Autographed commemorative on-field baseballs and equipment trade-in to drive donations

ST. LOUIS, Mo., June 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc., in partnership with the St. Louis Cardinals and the team's non-profit foundation, Cardinals Care, will launch two initiatives beginning this weekend to support the continued relief efforts to help Joplin, Missouri recover from the devastating tornado that tore through the city in May.)

When the Cardinals host the Kansas City Royals for the 3-game series this weekend, both teams will be wearing commemorative "Teams Unite for Joplin" jersey patches on their uniforms.  Rawlings also produced authentic baseballs for the games featuring the commemorative logo.

St. Louis-based Rawlings, a subsidiary of Jarden Corporation, donated a number of player-autographed commemorative baseballs to both the Cardinals and Royals for the teams to include in their online auctions, with proceeds going towards the Joplin relief effort.

"Rawlings has called Missouri home for almost 125 years, with the Joplin area serving as a vital component to our business operations," said Mike Thompson, senior vice president of marketing for Rawlings.  "We are proud to work with our partners at the Cardinals and Royals to create new avenues to help the Joplin community rebuild itself in the coming weeks and months."

In addition to the online auction donation, Rawlings and the Cardinals Care will donate all gently-used equipment collected during the next Rawlings Replay trade-in event prior to the Thursday, June 23rd game versus the Philadelphia Phillies.  Rawlings will also match the public's donation with new equipment across all product lines.

"Considering what Joplin has gone through, we hope that providing baseball equipment and restoring even a small aspect of their routines will help bring some level of normalcy for these families' and children's lives," said Kurt Hunzeker, Rawlings' senior director of brand marketing.  "Whether it's a simple game of catch or a neighborhood sandlot game, we want to provide an escape for Joplin's residents to enjoy amid the rebuilding effort."

The Cardinals will set up Rawlings Replay bins at every gate entrance for next Thursday's game.  All fans who donate an item to Rawlings Replay will receive a 10-percent discount on select Rawlings products at its official online store, ShopRawlings.com.  Cardinals Crew Kids Club presented by Rawlings members will receive a 20-percent discount if they participate in Rawlings Replay.

About Rawlings

Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and marketer of sporting goods in the United States.  Since the company's inception in 1887, Rawlings' mission has always centered on enabling participation by developing and producing innovative, high-performance equipment and protective apparel for the professional, amateur and entry-level player.  With an assortment of baseball, basketball, football and softball game-related product lines, Rawlings is present everywhere team sports are played.   Leagues and conferences of all skill levels integrate Rawlings' unparalleled product portfolio into their sports: as the Official Baseball Supplier and Official Helmet of Major League Baseball®, the official baseball for the NCAA®, the official football for the NAIA®, the official basketball for the NAIA, NJCAA® and AAU®, and the approved baseball, basketball, football and softball of the National High School Federation®.