03.24.08 
Southeastern's baseball team to Play Lakeland Flying Tigers and award free tuition to master's program

By Southeastern University

The Southeastern University baseball team will play a historic exhibition game versus the Lakeland Flying Tigers on April 2 at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida.

It will be the first game in Southeastern baseball history where the Fire will play a professional baseball team.

To mark this historic occasion, Southeastern University will award a Polk County public school teacher free tuition to complete his or her master's degree in elementary education, educational leadership, or school counseling at Southeastern. The announcement will be given in the middle of the sixth inning. Five finalists will be notified that they may be selected.

The teacher finalists must be in attendance at the game to be eligible to win, and all finalists will receive a voucher for one three-credit hour course in one of three education-related master's programs.

Southeastern University and the Lakeland Flying Tigers already have a partnership in promotions and marketing.

"The opportunity to play the Lakeland Flying Tigers is another incredible step forward for our baseball program and Southeastern University," said Southeastern Athletic Director Duane Aagaard.

The Lakeland Flying Tigers is the Class A Major League Baseball affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, and the Flying Tigers has produced incredible Major League talent over the past few years.

"Just last year Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller played games in Lakeland before being called up to Detroit," added Aagaard.

Maybin and Miller were both traded in the off-season to the Florida Marlins, and CNN/Sports Illustrated has listed Maybin as baseball's 10th best prospect in America. Miller, a 6'6" left-handed pitcher, is also considered a top prospect by the Marlins.

"It's going to be an amazing experience for not only the players and myself, but for the students and administration as well," said Fire baseball Head Coach Jason Beck.

The first pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Tickets cost $2 for the general public.

"Southeastern University and the Lakeland Flying Tigers, two great Lakeland institutions, combining to play some hot baseball and help a deserving teacher toward a bright, new future," said Southeastern President Dr. Mark Rutland. "Now, that's a game to love."