Think Pink

Cherry Blossoms: It's too bad those cherry blossoms in left field can't bloom all summer. Luckily, they do arrive just in time for Opening Day. This year, the Nationals will partner with the National Cherry Blossom Festival to celebrate the annual two-week DC festival and commemorate 98th anniversary of the 1912 gift of cherry blossom trees from Japan. "The blooming of the cherry blossoms and the crack of the bat have come to signify the start of Spring in Washington," said Nationals President Stan Kasten in a press release about the event. This spring, the exhibition game against the Red Sox on April 3rd and the regular season games against the Phillies on April 7th and 8th will be official Cherry Blossom Festival events. Festival celebrations and themed activities will occur in the Center Field Plaza and special "Starting 9" and Play Ball presenters will represent the Festival at those games. Most importantly, Screech and the Racing Presidents will walk in the National Cherry Blossom Parade on Saturday, April 10th. The Festival kicks off on March 27 and lasts through April 11th. For more, visit nationalcherryblossomfestival.org. Breast Cancer Awareness: Each year, MLB teams up with Susan G. Komen for the Cure to raise money for breast cancer research with Mother's Day promotions and campaigns. The search for an honorary bat girl is on. The contest honors women who are "going to bat against breast cancer in their daily lives." For the next six weeks, survivors, advocates and supporters can log onto www.mlb.com/honorarybatgirl and submit personal stories of hope that describe how they've led the fight against breast cancer. The Honorary Bat Girl for the Nationals will receive two tickets to the team's game on Sunday, May 9 vs. the Florida Marlins, have an opportunity to take part in pre-game activities, be honored during an on-field ceremony and receive pink MLB merchandise. For the occasion, hundreds of MLB players will use pink Louisville Slugger bats and wear symbolic pink ribbons on their uniforms along with pink wrist bands. Commemorative dugout lineup cards also will be pink.