It’s A Whole New Ballgame!

Since the Forest City Owls made their debut in 2008, there have been two General Managers. The team has also won two championships and been voted the number one collegiate summer team in the country. We all are indebted to Robert C. McNair, owner of the NFL Houston Texans and native of Forest City, whose generosity made the new baseball stadium, and return of baseball, a possibility. Who of us can ever forget the first game on Thursday, May 29, 2008. The first pitch in the new field was thrown by Mr. McNair and before 2,657 fans the Owls won the inaugural baseball game. It was not only special but what made it super special and a most memorable day was when, in the top of the sixth inning, the Forest City Owls executed a rare triple play! It truly was a storybook opening. 

The hometown team now moves forward and upward with the introduction of their new General Manager, Cory Dirksen. Cory comes to us with a background filled with a tremendous amount of baseball experience. He is determined and insistent that the Forest City Owls shall become more than just a baseball team. He intends to anchor the Owls within the community and give the community a new day about the team, their players, and have them play a major role within the community. Yes, it will be a whole new ballgame when players are available not just for autographs, but will be in schools, churches, youth programs everywhere and anywhere in Rutherford County. The selected team members will be available to all and will become a major part of the community. 

At McNair Field, this season you will notice a lot of new and wonderful changes. All the betterment and enjoyment of the fans! Cory is creating two new areas at the ballpark. They will be down the right field and left field lines. You might call them the catering or picnic areas. These will be for groups throughout the county that would like to book these areas for special occasions. The one in right field will include a 40’x40’ tented area (room enough for 150 people), while the one down the 3rd base line will include a 20’x40’ tented area (room for 75+ people). Groups will be able to have catered food from a local restaurant. Additionally, the Owls will be working with local food vendors to provide Mexican, BBQ and other food for all fans to eat in a new food area.

 In addition to new food options, Cory is implementing new youth and community focused programs. There will also be a special Kids Club offered. The bargain $5 Kids Club will include five of the biggest games of the season. Further, a special “Earn Your Wings” program will be inaugurated. It will emphasis attitude, nutrition and reading. Those are the qualifiers for everyone to earn their wings. E.A.R.N. stands for Exercise, Attitude, Reading and Nutrition! The player involvement will be before and after the games for all the kids. After each game all the kids will be able to go on the field and run the bases and join the players and do jumping jacks, sit ups, and push up. Prizes will be awarded. The Forest City Owls will not only play baseball but offer a “big show” and fun time for all. It will be the best family entertainment, something for everyone.

These are exciting times for the Forest City Owls. Under the leadership of new General Manager, it will truly be a “whole new ballgame”. Under his new programs, the Owls should become the envy of all teams in the Coastal Plain League and others too. Who is Cory? He is a farm boy from Rock Valley, Iowa, a town of 2,500 with 17 churches. His dad was a farmer and his mom a teacher. He is the eldest of three. After graduation from Rock Valley High School, he went to Eureka College in Illinois. It’s alumni includes the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan (1932). He became a radio/marketing manager and then he went back to school to get his Masters Degree from Western Illinois in Sports Management. He was with the Rockford RiverHawks Baseball team for three years and then became General Manager of the Windy City Thunderbolts (2005). From there he went to Harlingen, Texas with the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings baseball team for five years. In 2011 he was in Austin, Texas with Spurs Sports and Entertainment with the Austin Toros. On March 1, 2008, Cory married his wife Christina. This very talented lady is now part of the Owls package. She is Director of Group Sales. 

The forthcoming season is set to become one of the most exciting in the Forest City Owls young history. In addition to winning the championship again, the new General Manager, Cory, intends to have the Forest City Owls win the loyalty and affection of everyone in the community. Without a doubt, with his goals, energetic leadership and experience, we believe he will! These are exciting times for our Forest City Owls!  See you at the ball park!