TICKETS ON SALE FOR SOUTHEAST DAY AT BUSCH

Families wanting to celebrate Father's Day by taking in a baseball game will have the opportunity to do so June 16, as Southeast Missouri State University and the Southeast Missourian are sponsoring "Southeast Day" at Busch Stadium.

The region's Cardinals fans and their families can enjoy a day at the ballpark as the Cardinals take on the Chicago White Sox at 12:15 p.m.

"We think it's a great opportunity for that family atmosphere," said Kim Groves, director of Alumni Services at Southeast.

Southeast has been sponsoring the event for about 16 years now, and last year began co-sponsoring the event with the Southeast Missourian.

"The event is something that the Alumni Association does as a service for Southeast alumni -- getting them together in a social environment and giving them the opportunity to show Southeast and Cardinals spirit," Groves said. "Then we partnered with the Missourian and extended that to people who live in the southeast Missouri region."

Groves said there will also be specially-designed T-shirts available for those who purchase tickets. "It's a really great camaraderie when you look out and there's 1,000 people all dressed alike," she said. "There's a kind of spirit there."

Popular event

Tom Chase, the St. Louis Cardinals account representative for Southeast Missouri, said the event has always been successful in the past and drew 1,700 people last year.

"Southeast Missouri in general has a very strong base of Cardinals fans stretching all the way down to Memphis," Chase said. "Groups come in busloads, programs like Southeast Day or just family units."

Chase said that several special things are planned to honor the group, including on-field visits. Eight individuals will get to be on the field to watch batting practice, and will get their pictures taken to represent the group on the videoboard and scoreboard, Chase said.

The day will again include a pre-game party on Sverdrup Terraces near the stadium.

Keith Whitworth of Cape Girardeau has already purchased his tickets. "I'm a big Cardinals fan," he said. "I really enjoy going to games. It's also a really good opportunity for me to see other alumni that I haven't seen in a long time and some professors, too."

Groves said workers from local businesses often get together and go as a group for the game. "It's not uncommon for groups of 20 or more to come together like that, and it's really fun to see," she said.

So far, Groves said 200 of the approximately 2,000 reserved tickets along the first base and right field sections have been sold.

Tickets are $17 for adults and $9 for children ages 4-15. Children 3 years old and under will be admitted free if they will be seated on their parents' laps. Participants can also take a chartered bus to the game for a cost of $18 per rider.

Tickets can be purchased from the university's Alumni Services office by calling 651-5159.

Or you can e-mail Groves: kgroves@semovm.semo.edu.

The deadline for ordering tickets is May 25.

WANT TO GOI?

WHAT: Southeast Day at Busch Stadium Cardinals vs. White Sox.

WHEN: Father's Day, June 16.

COST: $17 for adults and $9 for children 4-15. Children under 3 are free. Charter bus rides are avialable for $18 per person.

CONTACT: southeast Alumni Services, 651-5159

DEADLINE: Last day to purchase tickets is May 25.