FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 6, 2017

CONTACT: Steve DeLay – SRO Partners 702-493-2661 ([email protected]) Chris Floore – Macon-Bibb County – 478-335-3722 ([email protected])

BRAVES MINOR LEAGUE EXECUTIVE NAMED PRESIDENT OF MACON-BIBB’S COASTAL PLAIN LEAGUE TEAM

Todd Pund has been named President of the new Coastal Plain League team set to begin play in Macon-Bibb County, GA in June 2018. The hire was announced by SRO Partners, owners of the team, on Thursday, July 6 as he was introduced to Commissioners and local community organizations.

Pund has more than 15 years of experience in various roles in minor league baseball including spending the last three years as Director of Ticket Sales for the AAA affiliate in Gwinnett, GA. Pund also spend 3 ½ years as Vice President of Sales for the Reno Aces in the Pacific Coast League, and has worked for the Tampa Bay Rays, Detroit Tigers, and St. Louis Cardinals in various roles at the major and minor league levels.

“Having the chance to build a brand new team from scratch in such a historic facility is a tremendous opportunity,” says Pund. “I’m excited to work with the community to make a fun, family friendly venue for summertime entertainment.”

“We’re thrilled to have someone with Todd’s experience be as excited as we are to bring baseball back to Macon,” said Steve DeLay, Managing Partner of SRO Partners. “He’s going to be a tremendous leader for the new team and very active in the community. Bringing Todd on board is the first step for us, and people can expect announcements in the near future about suggesting names and how to get on the priority list for ticket packages.”

“Though games start next summer, we’re already feeling the excitement about the renewed interest in baseball in Macon-Bibb,” says Mayor Robert Reichert. “The public, private, and community investment into America’s pastime is allowing us to improve facilities and attract more players, and we are delighted to have Todd coming on board to lead our new team.”

Macon-Bibb’s Coastal Plain League team is scheduled to begin play in June 2018 at historic Luther Williams Field, which will undergo a $2.5M renovation to add new concessions, improved locker rooms and additional seating options. For more information on the team and the stadium renovations, go to www.maconbaseball2018.com.

About the CPL The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 21st season in 2017, the CPL features 15 teams playing in , , and . The new Macon team will be the 16th team in 2018. The CPL has had over 1,400 alumni drafted and 99 of those – including 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander – make their Major League debut; while another notable alum – Russell Wilson – won Super Bowl XLVIII. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com and follow us via Twitter @CPLBaseball.

ADVANCE MEDIA NOTICE (Required for media since it involves Commissioners.)

New President of baseball team to meet with Commission and leaders, tour Luther Williams Field

Steve DeLay, Managing Partner of SRO Partners, will introduce Todd Pund, the recently hired President of the new baseball team, to the Macon-Bibb County Commission at a lunch on Thursday, July 6, at 11:30 a.m. at Dovetail (543 Cherry Street). Following the lunch, Delay and Pund will tour Luther Williams Field before meeting with community leaders and planning for ticket packages and how to solicit team name suggestions from the public.

DeLay and Pund will be available for media interviews at Luther Williams Field on Thursday, July 6, at 1:30 p.m.