10-19-2021, 08:25 PM
The following RBI Club Fall Update was sent out this afternoon to all past and present (and, hopefully, future) club members. Key dates are as follows...
- Friday, October 29th @ 5:30pm-- come join us for "Friday Night Lights" for the first of the 5-game Fall Ball World Series at Reckling, with a pre-game reception at The Roost during which Coach Cruz will share some thoughts on progress.
- Wednesday, November 10th @ Wild Cat Golf Club-- annual RBI Club charity golf outing.
- January date TBD-- annual RBI Club dinner with coaching staff and team for all dues paying members.
Here's the letter, and note the link to make your RBI Club annual gift toward the bottom, along with the RSVP for the October 29th reception...
Dear RBI Members – Current, past and hopefully all future,
I feel like the excitement surrounding our baseball team has provided a renewed energy in our program. A lot has happened since early June when it was announced that José Cruz, Jr. would be returning to the Rice campus as the 22nd head baseball coach of the Owls. A return to his alma mater, to Houston, and to home. I want to thank you for your continued support of the Rice Baseball team.
Like many of you, I found my some of my dearest friends at Rice. Mike Wilson is one of them – I want to thank Mike for his previous leadership of the RBI board. These past two years, with Mike at the helm, the RBI board has worked with Joe Karlgaard and Rick Mello to enthusiastically build a foundation of sustainability, longevity and the ability to grow exponentially for generations to come.
Another dear friend of mine, and slightly more talented ball player than Mike, is José Cruz, Jr. It didn’t take long to get the hang of hearing such a recognizable name transition to “Coach Cruz”. The excitement of Coach Cruz taking over the reins of our historic program is palpable on campus, and truly across the City of Houston. In just 4 months, there has been great progress with the development of student-athletes, additions to the staff, and enhanced resources for the program. You need to hear it for yourself though.
Please join us Friday evening of Homecoming weekend, and hear from Coach Cruz shortly before a Fall Ball ‘Friday Night Lights’ at Reckling Park practice on October 29th at 5:30 pm, outside of The Roost . Come enjoy some cold beverages and catch a preview of your 2022 Rice Owls Baseball Team. Please bring others who may be interested in being a part of RBI this year as well – RSVP information in included on the following page.
We are also excited for the return of the RBI Golf Tournament! It will be a really fun scramble format held on November 10th at 11:30 am at Wildcat Golf Club. Don’t miss this opportunity to get together with your favorite Owls and meet the new ones too! This event is being sponsored by RBI but it is open to the entire Rice Baseball Community. Please see registration information on the following page.
In closing, RBI’s core purpose is to support Coach Cruz and his staff by providing them the necessary tools to give our Rice student-athletes the finest experience in all of Division I collegiate baseball. We want to encourage you to support, participate and to get to know our program on a personal level and encourage your family and friends to want be a part of Rice Baseball, too. You’ve been with the team every step of the way – and as I know Coach Cruz would say, you’ve been family.
GO OWLS!
Bo Johnson
President of RBI
Class of ‘95
SUPPORT RICE BASEBALL:
RBI Fall Ball Reception: Free event for RBI members and those considering making an RBI gift to support the team. Please join us 5:30 pm, Friday, October 29, outside of The Roost. Intersquad game to follow. RSVP to Laura Hanger at lah13@rice.edu or 713-348-2864.
Golf Tournament: To support, participate or for more information on the Rice Baseball Golf Tournament, please see the website below. Registration is $275 per golfer or $1,000 for a foursome. There is also a $100 dinner/drinks option for those who want to join the fun but don’t intend to golf.
http://www.riceowls.com/rbigolf
RBI Contribution: To make your annual gift to Rice Baseball, please call Mike Melendez at 713-348-6970 or make your gift online at the website below. RBI members receive benefits with gifts of $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000.
https://riceconnect.rice.edu/rbiclub
RBI Annual Dinner: Details are underway for an evening with the Rice Baseball program in January. Please stay tuned!
KNOW YOUR RBI BOARD:
Bo Johnson, President
Kenny Baldwin
Kenny Baugh
Ann Bixby
Austin Davis
Paul Doyle
Walt Greenberg
Sten Gustafson
Blake Hutchinson
Kim Koehn
R.J. Nitsche
Jack Pendergrast
Matthew Reckling
Joe Savery
Michael Wilson
- Friday, October 29th @ 5:30pm-- come join us for "Friday Night Lights" for the first of the 5-game Fall Ball World Series at Reckling, with a pre-game reception at The Roost during which Coach Cruz will share some thoughts on progress.
- Wednesday, November 10th @ Wild Cat Golf Club-- annual RBI Club charity golf outing.
- January date TBD-- annual RBI Club dinner with coaching staff and team for all dues paying members.
Here's the letter, and note the link to make your RBI Club annual gift toward the bottom, along with the RSVP for the October 29th reception...
Dear RBI Members – Current, past and hopefully all future,
I feel like the excitement surrounding our baseball team has provided a renewed energy in our program. A lot has happened since early June when it was announced that José Cruz, Jr. would be returning to the Rice campus as the 22nd head baseball coach of the Owls. A return to his alma mater, to Houston, and to home. I want to thank you for your continued support of the Rice Baseball team.
Like many of you, I found my some of my dearest friends at Rice. Mike Wilson is one of them – I want to thank Mike for his previous leadership of the RBI board. These past two years, with Mike at the helm, the RBI board has worked with Joe Karlgaard and Rick Mello to enthusiastically build a foundation of sustainability, longevity and the ability to grow exponentially for generations to come.
Another dear friend of mine, and slightly more talented ball player than Mike, is José Cruz, Jr. It didn’t take long to get the hang of hearing such a recognizable name transition to “Coach Cruz”. The excitement of Coach Cruz taking over the reins of our historic program is palpable on campus, and truly across the City of Houston. In just 4 months, there has been great progress with the development of student-athletes, additions to the staff, and enhanced resources for the program. You need to hear it for yourself though.
Please join us Friday evening of Homecoming weekend, and hear from Coach Cruz shortly before a Fall Ball ‘Friday Night Lights’ at Reckling Park practice on October 29th at 5:30 pm, outside of The Roost . Come enjoy some cold beverages and catch a preview of your 2022 Rice Owls Baseball Team. Please bring others who may be interested in being a part of RBI this year as well – RSVP information in included on the following page.
We are also excited for the return of the RBI Golf Tournament! It will be a really fun scramble format held on November 10th at 11:30 am at Wildcat Golf Club. Don’t miss this opportunity to get together with your favorite Owls and meet the new ones too! This event is being sponsored by RBI but it is open to the entire Rice Baseball Community. Please see registration information on the following page.
In closing, RBI’s core purpose is to support Coach Cruz and his staff by providing them the necessary tools to give our Rice student-athletes the finest experience in all of Division I collegiate baseball. We want to encourage you to support, participate and to get to know our program on a personal level and encourage your family and friends to want be a part of Rice Baseball, too. You’ve been with the team every step of the way – and as I know Coach Cruz would say, you’ve been family.
GO OWLS!
Bo Johnson
President of RBI
Class of ‘95
SUPPORT RICE BASEBALL:
RBI Fall Ball Reception: Free event for RBI members and those considering making an RBI gift to support the team. Please join us 5:30 pm, Friday, October 29, outside of The Roost. Intersquad game to follow. RSVP to Laura Hanger at lah13@rice.edu or 713-348-2864.
Golf Tournament: To support, participate or for more information on the Rice Baseball Golf Tournament, please see the website below. Registration is $275 per golfer or $1,000 for a foursome. There is also a $100 dinner/drinks option for those who want to join the fun but don’t intend to golf.
http://www.riceowls.com/rbigolf
RBI Contribution: To make your annual gift to Rice Baseball, please call Mike Melendez at 713-348-6970 or make your gift online at the website below. RBI members receive benefits with gifts of $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000.
https://riceconnect.rice.edu/rbiclub
RBI Annual Dinner: Details are underway for an evening with the Rice Baseball program in January. Please stay tuned!
KNOW YOUR RBI BOARD:
Bo Johnson, President
Kenny Baldwin
Kenny Baugh
Ann Bixby
Austin Davis
Paul Doyle
Walt Greenberg
Sten Gustafson
Blake Hutchinson
Kim Koehn
R.J. Nitsche
Jack Pendergrast
Matthew Reckling
Joe Savery
Michael Wilson