Liberty Classic: What You Need To Know
2/11/2023 9:00:00 AM | Baseball
The first-ever Liberty Classic will showcase the cadets of Air Force as well as Army the weekend of February 17-19, as the two service academies will square off at The Depot in Cleburne, Texas to open the 2023 college baseball season. The event, created solely to shine a spotlight on the service of the men and women of the United States, would not be at all possible without the help of one dedicated alum.
Rick Wright, a 1974 graduate of the Air Force Academy and the current president of the North Texas chapter of the Association of Graduates, has devoted much of his time towards making the Liberty Classic the event it has become. For Wright, it's simple. He adores his former institution as much as he loves baseball.
"I'm a huge fan of Coach Kaz and Academy baseball," said Wright. "I've followed them forever. It's been a long haul, but we're getting close."
The Liberty Classic was originally scheduled to debut years ago, though after the COVID-19 pandemic and other unforeseen obstacles, the event was put on pause. However, Wright secured the commitment of the Cleburne Railroaders, an American Association organization and partner of Major League Baseball, to host the two service academies.
"We're super excited," said Keaton Cordell, the Director of Media for the Railroaders. "It's been a really big deal for us and for our community. Since I've been with the Railroaders, this is the biggest event we've ever hosted. The pageantry surrounding everything planned for next weekend is really special for us."
The aforementioned pageantry includes a myriad of events aimed at honoring those who have dedicated their lives to service.
On Thursday, the day before the 2023 season opener, both teams will practice in the evening, but before both teams take the field, graduates of both Air Force and Army have been invited to play an alumni game of their own…of sorts.
"It's not going to be a down-and-out, get dirty kind of a game," said Wright. "It's just going to be a fun workout and chance for grads to play ball."
The Alumni Game is scheduled for 2:00 pm CT.
Meanwhile, the Wings of Blue will make its first appearance of the weekend when the group takes to the skies for its first practice jump at 7:30 pm CT at The Depot on Thursday. The Wings of Blue is scheduled to jump all three days prior to first pitch.
The players for both Air Force and Army will surely have their bats but be prepared to bring your golf clubs if you plan on traveling to Cleburne next weekend.
From 8:30-2:30, the Liberty Classic will be hosting a golf tournament at Cleburne Links Golf Club to allow interested fans a chance to have some fun prior to the start of the 2023 college baseball season. As well, special guests are expected to be in attendance.
"We're bringing two falcons and three handlers with us," said Wright. "We'll have one of the birds with us at the golf tournament when people check-in and have them out there for a little while during the tournament."
The falcons won't be the only items to attract attention, surely. A college baseball legend and former Air Force head coach will be making the rounds in Cleburne the entirety of the weekend.
"Paul Manieri will play in the golf tournament on Friday and he'll make some remarks at the banquet on Saturday," said Wright.
A scavenger hunt with items located in and around downtown Cleburne will take place adjacent to the golf tournament, allowing for fans interested in exploring the town an opportunity to see the sights.
"Cleburne is a really neat place," said Wright. "It was a former railroad town and maintenance depot, so we're inviting anyone in the area to go see downtown Cleburne and we'll have a little scavenger hunt for them."
On the 17th, Air Force and Army will open the new baseball season, but before the first game is played, the Liberty Classic will use the time to honor our first responders and healthcare workers, as well as a fallen teammate.
"Part of the idea of honoring those who serve came from Nick Duran," said Wright.
Duran, a native of Cleburne and former baseball player for the Falcons, died in a training accident on June 24, 2021, near the Cleburne Regional Airport. According to Wright, it was never a secret what Duran wanted to do.
"Nick bought an airplane before he bought a car," said Wright. "Nick's dad is a former police officer, so he'll throw out the ceremonial first pitch. We'll have a Fort Worth Police Department helicopter hovering over the stadium during part of the pregame and a CareFlite helicopter that will fly over at the end of the national anthem. It will be a real tribute and a very emotional night."
Saturday morning will be for the kids and the parents, as the Liberty Classic will be holding a baseball clinic for children ages 6-12 at The Depot.
"In my clinics, it's very fundamental," said Wright. "We're just trying to teach basic baseball mechanics and muscle memory, so the parents are actually on the field with the player. We put the parents through the drill first so they can see what it's like, and then they teach their kids."
Saturday's ballgame will be themed as military and veteran appreciation.
"We're anticipating a lot of active-duty soldiers from Fort Hood and reservists and guardsmen from the Joint Reserve Base and veterans who live in the area."
Saturday's ballgame will also offer the chance to honor the late Army pitcher and helicopter pilot Steve Reich.
"Reich was in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment," said Wright. "He was the aircraft commander on the mission to attempt to rescue Marcus Luttrell of the Lone Survivor story. The helicopter was shot down and all 16 men were killed. Two of his former teammates will throw out the first pitch on Saturday."
Following Saturday's ballgame, a banquet for players, coaches, parents, graduates, sponsors, and guests will be held at the Cleburne Conference Center starting at 5:30 pm CT.
"The banquet will be all about reinforcing the fact that the young men playing baseball next weekend will be serving the country and sacrificing," said Wright
.
The final day of the series will see a first pitch of 11:05 am CT, and is a morning meant dedicated to the teachers and coaches who serve their communities.
"It's been a tremendous amount of work," said Wright describing the culmination of the Liberty Classic.
"I'm happier when I'm staying busy and happiest when I'm helping others, so to me this a fulfillment of supporting service academy baseball. My whole purpose as chapter president is to connect grads with grads, grads with cadets, grads with parents, grads with candidates and grads with community.
"Next weekend allows me to do all five."
Liberty Classic Schedule of Events
Thursday, February 16
Friday, February 17
Saturday, February 18
Sunday, February 19
Rick Wright, a 1974 graduate of the Air Force Academy and the current president of the North Texas chapter of the Association of Graduates, has devoted much of his time towards making the Liberty Classic the event it has become. For Wright, it's simple. He adores his former institution as much as he loves baseball.
"I'm a huge fan of Coach Kaz and Academy baseball," said Wright. "I've followed them forever. It's been a long haul, but we're getting close."
The Liberty Classic was originally scheduled to debut years ago, though after the COVID-19 pandemic and other unforeseen obstacles, the event was put on pause. However, Wright secured the commitment of the Cleburne Railroaders, an American Association organization and partner of Major League Baseball, to host the two service academies.
"We're super excited," said Keaton Cordell, the Director of Media for the Railroaders. "It's been a really big deal for us and for our community. Since I've been with the Railroaders, this is the biggest event we've ever hosted. The pageantry surrounding everything planned for next weekend is really special for us."
The aforementioned pageantry includes a myriad of events aimed at honoring those who have dedicated their lives to service.
On Thursday, the day before the 2023 season opener, both teams will practice in the evening, but before both teams take the field, graduates of both Air Force and Army have been invited to play an alumni game of their own…of sorts.
"It's not going to be a down-and-out, get dirty kind of a game," said Wright. "It's just going to be a fun workout and chance for grads to play ball."
The Alumni Game is scheduled for 2:00 pm CT.
Meanwhile, the Wings of Blue will make its first appearance of the weekend when the group takes to the skies for its first practice jump at 7:30 pm CT at The Depot on Thursday. The Wings of Blue is scheduled to jump all three days prior to first pitch.
The players for both Air Force and Army will surely have their bats but be prepared to bring your golf clubs if you plan on traveling to Cleburne next weekend.
From 8:30-2:30, the Liberty Classic will be hosting a golf tournament at Cleburne Links Golf Club to allow interested fans a chance to have some fun prior to the start of the 2023 college baseball season. As well, special guests are expected to be in attendance.
"We're bringing two falcons and three handlers with us," said Wright. "We'll have one of the birds with us at the golf tournament when people check-in and have them out there for a little while during the tournament."
The falcons won't be the only items to attract attention, surely. A college baseball legend and former Air Force head coach will be making the rounds in Cleburne the entirety of the weekend.
"Paul Manieri will play in the golf tournament on Friday and he'll make some remarks at the banquet on Saturday," said Wright.
A scavenger hunt with items located in and around downtown Cleburne will take place adjacent to the golf tournament, allowing for fans interested in exploring the town an opportunity to see the sights.
"Cleburne is a really neat place," said Wright. "It was a former railroad town and maintenance depot, so we're inviting anyone in the area to go see downtown Cleburne and we'll have a little scavenger hunt for them."
On the 17th, Air Force and Army will open the new baseball season, but before the first game is played, the Liberty Classic will use the time to honor our first responders and healthcare workers, as well as a fallen teammate.
"Part of the idea of honoring those who serve came from Nick Duran," said Wright.
Duran, a native of Cleburne and former baseball player for the Falcons, died in a training accident on June 24, 2021, near the Cleburne Regional Airport. According to Wright, it was never a secret what Duran wanted to do.
"Nick bought an airplane before he bought a car," said Wright. "Nick's dad is a former police officer, so he'll throw out the ceremonial first pitch. We'll have a Fort Worth Police Department helicopter hovering over the stadium during part of the pregame and a CareFlite helicopter that will fly over at the end of the national anthem. It will be a real tribute and a very emotional night."
Saturday morning will be for the kids and the parents, as the Liberty Classic will be holding a baseball clinic for children ages 6-12 at The Depot.
"In my clinics, it's very fundamental," said Wright. "We're just trying to teach basic baseball mechanics and muscle memory, so the parents are actually on the field with the player. We put the parents through the drill first so they can see what it's like, and then they teach their kids."
Saturday's ballgame will be themed as military and veteran appreciation.
"We're anticipating a lot of active-duty soldiers from Fort Hood and reservists and guardsmen from the Joint Reserve Base and veterans who live in the area."
Saturday's ballgame will also offer the chance to honor the late Army pitcher and helicopter pilot Steve Reich.
"Reich was in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment," said Wright. "He was the aircraft commander on the mission to attempt to rescue Marcus Luttrell of the Lone Survivor story. The helicopter was shot down and all 16 men were killed. Two of his former teammates will throw out the first pitch on Saturday."
Following Saturday's ballgame, a banquet for players, coaches, parents, graduates, sponsors, and guests will be held at the Cleburne Conference Center starting at 5:30 pm CT.
"The banquet will be all about reinforcing the fact that the young men playing baseball next weekend will be serving the country and sacrificing," said Wright
.
The final day of the series will see a first pitch of 11:05 am CT, and is a morning meant dedicated to the teachers and coaches who serve their communities.
"It's been a tremendous amount of work," said Wright describing the culmination of the Liberty Classic.
"I'm happier when I'm staying busy and happiest when I'm helping others, so to me this a fulfillment of supporting service academy baseball. My whole purpose as chapter president is to connect grads with grads, grads with cadets, grads with parents, grads with candidates and grads with community.
"Next weekend allows me to do all five."
Liberty Classic Schedule of Events
Thursday, February 16
- 2:00-4:00: Alumni Game / Workout (AF Grads vs Army Grads)
- 7:30-7:45: Wings of Blue Practice Jump
Friday, February 17
- 8:30–2:30: Golf Tournament (Cleburne Links Golf Club)
- 10:00 – 1:00: Scavenger Hunt in Downtown Cleburne
- 7:05: Army vs. Air Force: Honoring First Responders & HealthCare Workers
- Fireworks 10 minutes after conclusion of the game
Saturday, February 18
- 9:00–10:30: Baseball Clinic (ages 6–12, w/Parent)
- 1:05: Army vs. Air Force: Honoring Military & Veterans
- 5:30–8:00: Banquet (Players, Coaches, Parents, Grads, Sponsors & Guests)
Sunday, February 19
- 11:05: Army vs. Air Force: Honoring Teachers & Coaches
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