RICHMOND, Ky. - The annual Eastern Kentucky University Diamond Dinner will be held Saturday, Feb. 6, at 7:00 p.m. at the Keen Johnson Building on campus. A reception at 6:00 p.m. in Walnut Hall of the Keen Johnson Building will precede the dinner.

This year's Diamond Dinner will honor two former EKU student athletic trainers who have distinguished themselves in major league baseball. Honorees include Richie Bancells, the head trainer for the American League's Baltimore Orioles, and Brian Ebel, assistant trainer for the Orioles.

Bancells received his undergraduate degree from Biscayne College and his graduate degree from EKU. Ebel received both undergraduate and graduate degrees at Eastern.

"We're pleased that we're going to honor two of our former student trainers who have gone on to success in big league baseball," said EKU head baseball coach Jim Ward. "This is always a fun night for our fans and lets them know that baseball is just around the corner."

Other program notes that evening will include presentation of senior awards to outfielder Jeff Wellman and pitcher Joe Witten and a special award to a former Colonel, Brandon Berger, now playing with the Kansas City Royals' farm team in Spokane. Other highlights include introduction of the 1999 Colonel team, recognition of the 1998 All-Ohio Valley Conference selections and the presentation of academic awards by Joan Hopkins, EKU's Athletics Academic Advisor.

Reservations for the dinner may be made by visiting the EKU Athletics Ticket Office in Room 126 of Alumni Coliseum or by calling (606) 622-2122 or 1-800-262-7493, inside Kentucky.

Dinner tickets sell for $25.00 per person.

EKU begins its 1999 baseball season the weekend of Feb. 13-14 with a three-game series at Furman University in Greenville, SC.

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