KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The ninth annual Western Michigan Baseball Leadoff Dinner is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 10 at the Cityscape Event Center in downtown Kalamazoo with keynote speaker Rich Donnelly.

Hear the emotional and inspiring story of longtime MLB third base coach Rich Donnelly, whose daughter passed away at 17 years old but delivered a powerful message that shaped the rest of his career.

Donnelly spent 34 seasons as a third base coach in the MLB for seven different teams and earned a World Series ring with the Florida Marlins in 1997. Most notably Donnelly was the right-hand man to hall of fame manager Jim Leyland who he spent 14 seasons with on three different organizations.

Donnelly's story premiered on SC Feature's "The Chicken Runs at Midnight" narrated by Jim Leyland in 2016. He also released a book in October of 2018. To view his story, CLICK HERE.

Doors for the ninth annual Leadoff Dinner will open at approximately 4:30 p.m. with a social meet and greet and silent auction bidding running until 5:15 p.m. The event kicks off with a welcome from ninth year head coach Billy Gernon, followed by player introductions.

Dinner services will begin at 5:45 p.m., followed by head coach Billy Gernon previewing the upcoming season. Donnelly will then tell his story before the night is capped off with the silent auction results along with the tradition of seniors Jesse Forestell, Nate Grys, Connner Henderson, Cooper Marshall, Matt McConnell, Chris Modrzynski, Jimmy Roche and Andrew Stone leading the Western Michigan fight song.

Individual tickets are $55 while tickets for kids 12 and under are $20. Fans can purchase a corporate table which includes 10 seats and a commemorative gift. Attendees are encouraged to dress business casual. Information regarding the silent auction items will become available closer to the date of the Leadoff Dinner.

To register for the ninth annual WMU Baseball Leadoff Dinner, CLICK HERE.