VIN'S PEOPLE: Bradenton Marauders salute 1 millionth fan with lifetime season ticket

Vin Mannix
·2 min read
Connor Longò, aka “Mr. One Million,” hugs it out with Mr. Marauder after he became the 1,000,000th fan through the ballpark gates since the Bradenton Marauders began playing in 2010.
Connor Longò, aka “Mr. One Million,” hugs it out with Mr. Marauder after he became the 1,000,000th fan through the ballpark gates since the Bradenton Marauders began playing in 2010.

Meet Connor Longò, aka “Mr. One Million.”

That’s the sixth grader’s new nickname around St. Joseph Catholic School after what happened to the 12-year-old last Sunday at LECOM Park.

Connor was the 1,000,000th fan through the ballpark gates since the Bradenton Marauders began playing in 2010.

Vin Mannix
Vin Mannix

Luck played a part, too.

It so happens he and mom Valerie were running late after dropping off dad Lenny for work at the family printing company, but the delay turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

“The game was a Mother-Son event with St. Joe’s and we were supposed to meet some friends there,” shesaid. “So Connor is walking in front of me and – WHOA!!!”

They were greeted with a celebratory shower of confetti, streamers and party poppers, hugs from Marty the Marauder, and applause by cheering Marauder staffers.

“It was pretty crazy!” Connor said. “Took me awhile to realize what was actually happening.”

He received season tickets for life, a Marauders jersey, threw out the first pitch and he and Mom were fussed over by Marauder staff all afternoon.

“They treated us like royalty,” Valerie said. “Connor kept saying, ‘This is the best day ever!’”

· That wily ol’ stork is en route for Lian and Kevin Haddon. Daughters Lily and Emme will become big sisters in October.

· Good luck to the Manatee School District’s new principals: Kate Barlaug, Dr. Mona Jain Middle School; Dr. Melinda Lundy, Bayshore Elementary; Dr. Melissa McCullough, Daughtrey Elementary; Irene Nikitopoulos, Haile Middle; Melissa Porco, Kinnan Elementary; Lorie Starkweather, Sugg Middle; and Adrienne Vos, Blackburn Elementary.

The changes take effect next school year.

Barlaug was Haile’s principal since 2017.

Lundy served in the district’s human resources department since 2022.

McCullough was Daughtrey’s assistant principal since 2020.

Nikitopoulos received the county’s 2022 Outstanding Assistant Principal Achievement Award while at Lincoln Memorial Middle.

Porco was Palmetto Elementary’s assistant principal since 2018.

Starkweather had been Sugg’s interim principal since Ann McDonald’s retirement earlier this year.

And Vos was the district’s Assistant Principal of the Year at Johnson K-8 School.

· And Jane Bacher is 39. Again.

· Uh, oh! Jodie Kerns is one year shy of the Big 4-0!

· A bow to Katherine Oswald, Volunteer of the Year at Blake Medical Center, and to Dianne Evans, who surpassed an astounding 6,000 hours as a Blake volunteer.

· And Tom Donegan is 53. Sheesh, a kid!

Vin’s People runs Sundays. Email Vin Mannix at vinspeople@gmail.com. Or call 941-962-5944. Twitter: @vinmannix.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: VIN MANNIX: For 1 millionth Marauders baseball fan, 'best day ever!'