Jamestown, NY – The Jamestown Tarp Skunks are inviting the public to enjoy a free night of baseball on Thursday, July 17th, as part of Community Buyout Night, presented by the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) and the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG).

The event, held at Russell E. Diethrick Park, is made possible through support from CCIDA and CCPEG. Admission is free for everyone, and the night’s theme will honor first responders and healthcare professionals across the region.

“We are very excited and happy to be teaming up with the Tarp Skunks again, now for our third year - to put on a Community Buyout Night, " stated Mark Geise, CEO of CCIDA. "It has really tied in well with our Live CHQ initiative, which is getting the word out to everyone what a great place Chautauqua County is to live, work, and visit. I really cannot think of a better way to get the word out about Live CHQ than to sponsor a baseball game that invites the whole community to come out and have fun."

The night’s festivities begin at 5:00PM and include a Touch-a-Truck event, where children and families can interact with first responder vehicles. The Tarp Skunks’ mascot, Whiffy, will also be on hand for meet-and-greets. Several local healthcare organizations and volunteer fire departments will host informational booths, and the first 500 fans through the gates will receive free Live CHQ frisbees.

“This event is about community, fun, and showing people why Chautauqua County is such a great place to live and work,” said Jason Sample, CCIDA’s Marketing and Communications Coordinator. "This is also a wonderful opportunity for us to thank and showcase our first responders and healthcare workers, who work so hard for our community day after day."

The evening will also feature a special first pitch ceremony honoring all first responders in attendance, just before the Tarp Skunks take on the visiting Niagara Ironbacks at 6:30PM.

First responders can pick up tickets in advance at their stations, and a limited number of free tickets are also available at CCIDA offices in Jamestown and Dunkirk. Groups interested in attending can also call the Tarp Skunks front office at (716) 705-5600.

“As a community baseball team, being involved with our local agencies and community in general, is critical to our success,” said Christian Dolce, the team’s General Manager. “We are very happy to be a part of this event, to be able to give back to the community and to all the heroes in our community, the first responders and healthcare workers - it is awesome. They work really hard and deserve this recognition and having them out here for a game is going to be a lot of fun." 

For more information or to view the full 2025 season schedule, visit JamestownTarpSkunks.com.