WILMINGTON, N.C. – Major League outfielder and native Wilmingtonian Trot Nixon will serve as the keynote speaker at UNC Wilmington’s Spring Training Baseball Banquet in January.

The Banquet will be held on Jan. 25, 2008 at 7 p.m. at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside in downtown Wilmington. Individual tickets are priced at $60 and corporate tables can be purchased at $600. To purchase tickets or for more information call the Seahawk baseball office at (910) 962-3570 or contact Head Coach Mark Scalf at scalfm@uncw.edu. You can also visit UNCWsports.com to download a ticket application for the event.

“We’re honored to have Trot as our first major league player to be the keynote speaker,” said Scalf. “Trot has always been a talented competitor with the ability to make those around him better. He’s battled through injuries and continued to contribute on six postseason teams.”

Nixon recently completed his 11th season in the Major Leagues and his first with the Cleveland Indians after spending 10 seasons with the Boston Red Sox. With Cleveland, Nixon hit .251 and drove in 31 runs as the Indians captured the American League Central and advanced to the American League Championship series.

A former first round selection by the Boston out of New Hanover High School in the 1993 draft, Nixon owns a .275 career batting average, including 136 home runs. In 2004, he helped Boston to its first World Series title since 1918.

Nixon joins a list of major league coaches and managers that includes Cleveland pitching coach and UNCW alum Carl Willis, Boston manager Terry Francona and former major league managers Jack McKeon, Grady Little and Jerry Narron, that have served as keynote speakers at the annual banquet.