Cedar Rapids Kernels

Kernels could be strong up the middle

(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the third in a series of preseason position-by-position articles about the 2013 Cedar Rapids Kernels. Next: Outfielders.)

In preparation for the first season of the new affiliation between the Minnesota Twins and the Cedar Rapids Kernels, we’ve embarked on a series of “get to know them” articles.

The intention is to give Kernels fans information about the Twins prospects you may see in a Kernels uniform over the summer, understanding that it’s impossible to know exactly who will fill the Kernels’ roster until just before Opening Day.

In Part 1 of the series, we looked at catchers and in Part 2 we covered corner infielders. In this article, we’ll look at middle infielders who could spend all or part of their summer in Cedar Rapids.

There's no shortage of possible middle infielders at this level of the Twins organization.

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Jeremy Camp, Big Daddy Weave in C.R. on July 6

Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids will be the site of the Praise In The Park Iowa 2013 Christian Music Festival on Saturday night, July 6.

The festival lineup includes Jeremy Camp, Big Daddy Weave, White Ribbon Day, Bob Colquhoun and Zach Svoboda.

General admission tickets for the concert are $25 in advance and $30 at the gate. Food donations will be collected outside the stadium on the day of the concert for local food banks. A portion of ticket proceeds will benefit wounded military personnel.

Tickets will be available starting Monday at the Cedar Rapids Kernels ticket office and online at www.kernels.com.

Kernels unveil new $500,000 scoreboard

The Cedar Rapids Kernels have installed a major league scoreboard in their minor league ballpark on the southwest side of town.

The Daktronics HD 15 scoreboard is similar to the scoreboards at major league parks in Detroit and Milwaukee, according to the Kernels, and it's bigger than the University of Iowa scoreboards at Carver-Hawkeye Arena and Kinnick Stadium.

The Kernels unveiled their new scoreboard during a Chamber of Commerce event at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Thursday evening.

"We were looking for a 'wow' factor and we got it," Kernels radio broadcaster Morgan Hawk said during the ceremony.

The new scoreboard measures 30 feet high by 48 feet wide and cost $500,000. It is being paid for through the stadium capital repair fund, which is financed by the city of Cedar Rapids, the Veterans Commission and the Kernels.

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Kernels set concerts at the stadium

The Cedar Rapids Kernels will host a series of concerts this season at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The concert season kicks off on Saturday, May 18, as the country band 8 Seconds performs after the Kernels take on Kane County at 5:05 p.m.

Two bands making their first appearance at the stadium are 1980s cover band Slap N' Tickle on Saturday, June 15, when the Kernels take on Peoria, and JIF and the Choosey Mothers on Saturday, July 13, when the Kernels take on Bowling Green. Both games start at 5:05 p.m.

The popular Midwest Dueling Pianos return on Thursday, July 4, when the Kernels take on Wisconsin, performing during and after the game. And the Cedar Island Band returns as part of Jimmy Buffett Night on Saturday, Aug. 3, when the Kernels take on Quad Cities at 5:05 p.m.

The Kernels also will host the second Praise in the Park Iowa concert on Saturday, July 6, featuring Jeremy Camp, Big Daddy Weave, White Ribbon Day, Zach Svoboda and Bob Colquhoun.

A portion of ticket proceeds from this concert will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project. Tickets for this concert go on sale Monday at the Kernels Ticket Office.

You can learn more about the Kernels at www.kernels.com.