Former Citadel Standout Asher Wojciechowski to Participate in Hot Stove Banquet

Houston Astros pitcher to join Ryne Sandberg at the 12^th annual event on Jan. 22

CHARLESTON, SC – Former Citadel standout Asher Wojciechowski of Beaufort who now pitches for the Houston Astros, will join headliner Ryne Sandberg at the Charleston RiverDogs’ 12^th Annual Hot Stove Banquet on January 22 at the Marriott Hotel on Lockwood Blvd.

Named the Southern Conference’s pitcher of the year in 2010, “Wojo” helped lead Bulldogs to the league regular-season and tournament championships as The Citadel advanced to the Columbia Regionals hosted by the University of South Carolina.

That year, Wojciechowski struck out 155 batters over 125.2 innings and averaged 11.1 punchouts per 9 innings.  For his three-year career, he won 20 games and struck out 308 batters.

The reception begins at 6 pm with the dinner starting at 7. Tickets are $70 per person and include dinner, a table gift and autograph or photo opportunity. Tables of 10 with preferred seating are available for $680.

For tickets and additional information, please contact the RiverDogs at (843) 577-DOGS (3647).

Tickets may also be purchased online at riverdogs.com or rileyparkevents.com.

This past season, Wojciechowski pitched in five regular-season games and started three.  He threw 16.1 innings and fanned 16, and remains in the Astros plans for 2016.

The Toronto Blue Jays selected Wojciechowski in the first round, with the 41st overall selection, of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft.  He made his professional debut with the Auburn Doubledays of the New York-Penn League and in 2011, Wojciechowski played for the Dunedin Blue Jays of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League.

The Blue Jays later traded him to the Houston Astros on July 20, 2012, and then played for the Corpus Christi Hooks of the Class AA Texas League. He started the 2013 season in Corpus Christi, but received a midseason promotion to the Oklahoma City RedHawks of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. He was added to the Astros’ 40-man roster on November 20, 2013.

The Hot Stove Banquet, which coincides with the RiverDogs new slogan of “Take Me Out With the Crowd,” is an annual event hosted by the RiverDogs that brings baseball fans together to celebrate the magic of America’s favorite pastime in a setting that usually sells out. The former Chicago Cubs infielder and Philadelphia Phillies manager will share behind-the-scenes stories, answer questions and pose for pictures all of which will create memories that could last a lifetime.

Tom McQueeney State Farm Insurance is the presenting sponsor for the ninth consecutive year. Proceeds from the Hot Stove Banquet benefit The Citadel, College of Charleston and Charleston Southern baseball programs in addition to the Singleton Memorial Fund.

The Singleton Memorial Fund is in memory of Chris Singleton’s mother, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, who was one of the nine individuals killed on June 17, 2015 at the Mother Emanuel AME Church. Chris is a member of the Charleston Southern baseball team, and funds will be used to meet Chris’s educational expenses. It is Chris’s wish that any remaining funds be applied to the planned CSU Baseball enrichment center in memory of his mother, Ms. Singleton

The RiverDogs will also offer the opportunity to rub elbows with Sandberg during a special Meet & Greet opportunity presented by Kickin’ Chicken earlier in the afternoon to secure autographs, photos and a visit with the Hall of Famer.  There will be weekly opportunities in which to bid on the Meet & Greet and for more information, please visit www.riverdogs.com.  

--RIVERDOGS--