Tulsa Drillers Kick Off Home Season With Parade, Fanfare Thursday Night

The Tulsa Drillers' third season at ONEOK Field will kick off a lot of fanfare on Thursday – complete with a live band, a parade and a skydiver.

The 2012 home-opener against the San Antonio Missions is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Starting at 5:30 p.m., The "Elgin Street Experience" will be full of live music from the Jambalaya Jass Band, a free Jupiter Jump for the kids, a rock-climbing wall provided by the U.S. Army and discounted food and drinks until the game starts.

A parade, which begins at 6:20 p.m., will usher in the season. It will end at 6:45 p.m. at ONEOK Field, which is located at Second Street and Elgin Avenue.

A skydiver will deliver the opening ball to country music hall-of-famer and Tulsa resident Roy Clark, who will throw the season's ceremonial first pitch. The First Fruits of Praise of New Creation Worship Assembly of Broken Arrow will sing the national anthem.

Fans will be entertained throughout the game by performer Myron Noodleman. As always, Thirsty Thursdays offer 16-ounce Pepsi and Budweiser products for $1.

Edwar Cabrera (1-0) will take the mound for the Drillers (4-2). Cabrera allowed the Missions only three hits in his first outing in San Antonio on April 5, leading Tulsa to a 7-2 win.

Tickets for Thursday's game are still available by purchase on the team's website, or by calling 918-744-5901.

The Tulsa Drillers are the AA-affiliate of the Colorado Rockies.

For game time, News On 6 meterologist Mike Grogan said downtown should be dry with partly-mostly cloudy skies and temperatures in the upper 60s.