Mexican Baseball Fiesta's Tucson series to open Thursday

The seventh annual Mexican Baseball Fiesta will conclude with eight games in four nights at Tucson's Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium, beginning with a Thursday night doubleheader.  The first game will feature the defending Mexican Pacific League champion Mexicali Aguilas and the Obregon Yaquis at 5:30PM PDT, followed by a nightcap between the Hermosillo Naranjeros and a team of Cincinnati Reds prospects.  There will also be 5:30 twinbills on Friday and Saturday nights leading to the final day of MBF action Sunday afternoon at 3:00.

The Mexican Baseball Fiesta is the brainchild of Mike Feder, a two-time Pacific Coast League Executive of the Year while serving as general manager of Tucson teams, and former MexPac player Francisco Gamez, who spent ten years playing in the LMP.  The initial MBF was held in 2011 in Tucson and has since grown to include games in other towns and cities in Arizona, Texas, California and Nevada over the years, as well as a few stops south of the border. This year's Fiesta opened in Las Vegas with two games late last month at Cashman Field (home of the 51s of the PCL) before coming home to Arizona for contests in San Luis (near Yuma), Mesa, Nogales and Douglas. The centerpiece remains in Tucson, however, where the MBF puts on its biggest show.  The four-day event in the Old Pueblo will include more than baseball, with live music, dancers, mascots and many other elements augmenting the games that are not always seen in ballparks in the States.

Hermosillo Naranjeros manager Lorenzo Bundy

The games in Kino Stadium also represent a homecoming for Tucson resident Lorenzo Bundy, who will manage Hermosillo this winter after spending the spring and summer as a coach for the Miami Marlins under manager Don Mattingly.  The 2017-18 season marks the 24th winter Bundy has spent managing in the MexPac, where he tells Tucson's Arizona Daily Star newspaper that he's managed seven of the circuit's eight teams after batting .318 over six winters as a player.  Now 57, the Philadelphia-born Bundy told reporter PJ Brown the MaxPac is "a big part of my life.  It's been good to me, an import, although some guys consider me a 'Mexican' now."

Bundy elaborated on what makes the Mexican Pacific League unique: "Winter ball is extra special.  The music, the skits, the mascots, the spectacular for the fan, plus good baseball.  The mix makes it fun to watch.  As a player, it keeps you going."   All four games involving Bundy's Naranjeros will be broadcast live via the Telemax Sonora page on Facebook.

2017 MEXICAN BASEBALL FIESTA in TUCSON
Thursday, October 5 (1st game at 5:30PM PDT)
Thirsty Thursday: $1 domestic beer sold through Game 1
Game 1: Obregon vs. Mexicali.  Game 2: Hermosillo vs. Cincinnati
Bands: La Picosa and Grupo Conducta

Friday, October 6 (1st game at 5:30PM PDT)
Kids Night (Free tickets for kids 6-16 at all eegee's locations)
Game 1: Mexicali vs Cincinnati.  Game 2: Hermosillo vs. Obregon
Bands: La Membrillera (Magdalena) and La Banda Llegamaz de Guamuchil Sin

Saturday, October 7 (1st game at 5:30PM PDT)
Game 1: Mexicali vs. Los Mochis.  Game 2: Hermosillo vs. Obregon
Band: Freddy Vega

Sunday, October 8 (1st game at 3:00PM PDT)
Vantage West Family Day ($10 family vouchers for up to 8 people at all Vantage West locations)
Game 1: Obregon vs. Mexicali.  Game 2: Hermosillo vs. Los Mochis
Band:  Le Llegadoro Banda Sinaloense

Ticket Prices:  $15 box seats, $10 general admission, $6 kids 6-16, seniors 55+, military w/ID