KOKOMO BASEBALL - TEAM NAME REVEAL PRESS RELEASE.docx

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, October 20 th , 2014 2:30p ET / 1:30p CT
FOR MORE INFORMATION or TO BOOK INTERVIEW: vanm@mkesports.com
MKE Sports & Entertainment, Public Relations, Van McNeil. 262.221.9911
City of Kokomo Director of Operations, Randy McKay 765.456.7444
MKE SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT UNVEILS KOKOMO BASEBALL TEAM
NAME AND LOGO; INTRODUCES FIELD MANAGER.
MKE Sports & Entertainment revealed Monday afternoon the name, logo and
field manager of their new Prospect League Baseball team playing at Kokomo
Municipal Stadium: the Kokomo Jackrabbits.
Just under one thousand entries were submitted for the Name The Team contest
at KokomoBaseball.com. Of those entries, 15 people chose the Jackrabbits
name and one winner was randomly drawn for the $2,500 grand prize.
"The Kokomo Jackrabbits playing Prospect League baseball enhances Kokomo's
identity throughout the state and Midwest," said Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight.
"The name Jackrabbits is a tribute to our automotive heritage, and the team and
stadium are part of Kokomo's aim to attract people to fuel the future of our city."
Other fans who submitted the winning entry at KokomoBaseball.com will receive
a Kokomo Jackrabbits prize package, which includes tickets to the home opener
and closer at Kokomo Municipal Stadium, an exclusive stadium tour,
merchandise and more!
MKE Sports & Entertainment Owner Mike Zimmerman also introduced Greg Van
Horn as field manager of the Kokomo Jackrabbits.
Van Horn is currently Assistant Baseball Coach at Princeton University. Last
summer, he served as Assistant Coach of the Prospect Leagueʼs Chillicothe
Paints and was the shortstop on the Paints 2010 squad that won the Prospect
League Championship for the first time and was ranked second in the nation
among college summer league teams.
"I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and am excited to be a part of
bringing high level baseball back to the Kokomo community,” said Van Horn. “We
are committed to putting the best possible product on the field so that our fans
can enjoy a winning experience from the very beginning. I can't wait to get going.”

"This is another big day for the City of Kokomo and its new baseball club - the
Kokomo Jackrabbits,” said Zimmerman. “The new brand is strong and will
certainly be a big success for merchandise sales. Our new field manager, Greg
Van Horn is an up and comer and we are excited to have him lead our team.”
Ticket information and updates for the inaugural Kokomo Jackrabbits season can
be found on the teamʼs website at KokomoJackrabbits.com. Find the Kokomo
Jackrabbits socially on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for further
developments, conversation and more!
MKE Sports & Entertainment:
MKE Sports & Entertainment owns and operates professional sports team, sports complexes,
and other entertainment entities in the Midwest including The Rock Sports Complex in Milwaukee,
the Milwaukee Wave Professional Soccer Team playing in the Major Arena Soccer League and
the Rockford Aviators Baseball team playing in the Frontier League. For even more information
about MKE Sports & Entertainment and everything we do visit MKESports.com
Prospect League:
The Prospect League was founded in 1963 – known as The Central Illinois Collegiate League
until merging in 2009 – and is one of the longest continuously operating, independent, summer
collegiate baseball leagues in the country. With the addition of Kokomo, IN the Prospect League
will have 12 teams competing in a six state region: Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
and West Virginia. Visit ProspectLeague.com for more information
City of Kokomo, Indiana:
Kokomo, Indiana is located fifty miles north of Indianapolis, easily reached by U.S. 31. Kokomo is
known as the City of Firsts thanks to its world-renowned automotive heritage and history of
technological inventions, which includes Americaʼs First Car produced by Elwood Haynes in
1894. Kokomoʼs historic downtown offers a wide variety of interesting attractions, which include
family friendly parks, the Wildcat Creek Walk of Excellence walking and biking trail, intercity
bikeways, farmersʼ market, summertime open-air concerts and more. Visit CityOfKokomo.org for
more information.
Apperson Jackrabbit:
Judges chose the Jackrabbits name because of its historical importance to the city. The
Apperson was a brand of automobile manufactured from 1901 to 1926 in Kokomo, Indiana. The
Apperson Jack Rabbit was introduced in 1907. It was a 2-passenger roadster, equipped with a
four cylinder 60 or 96 horsepower engine. Features included a four-speed transmission, 34-inch
wheels and tires, Hess-Bright ignition systems and a 20-gallon round gas tank. It had a
guaranteed top speed of 75 miles per hour.
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