BLASTBALL!®… HOW WILL IT SAVE THE GAME OF BASEBALL? ATEC INTRODUCES AN EXCITING, NEW BASEBALL GAME Reno, NV - With all your might you swing the bat and launch the ball towards the outfield fence. The adrenaline is pounding in your heart and your legs are pumping as fast as they can carry you. You leap that last stride with the crowd going wild, but all you hear as your foot touches the base is…'HONK!' You just scored your first BLASTRUN! BLASTBALL!® is a new and exciting game for the entry level of play for Baseball or Softball, or just great fun for the family in your own back yard. Bryan Bravard, a parent and coach developed BLASTBALL!® about 2 years ago in Des Moines, Iowa. Inspired by the desire to keep young children interested in America's game, Bravard noticed how quickly kids were becoming bored with such entry level sports as T-Ball. "We're asking kids to play chess, when they should be playing checkers", Bravard says. By revising the game to suit the needs and interests of young players and by incorporating the audible, patented BLASTBASE, BLASTBALL!® has captured the hearts of children everywhere. It has also captured the interest of youth leagues, school districts, community rec. programs and even Major League Baseball®. In the past decade, what can best be described as an exodus from the sport has taken place among youth players. Many attribute this decrease to the over-stressing of competition, pure boredom from the T-Ball experience, lack of leadership and even the poor behavior of adults. "Research shows that the kids aren't challenged by the game of T-Ball, therefore they don't go on to play in youth leagues or high school. BLASTBALL!® is our solution to this problem because it puts the FUN back into play while still teaching kids the basic fundamentals of the game," said ATEC President, Gene Grant. A huge success in test markets, BLASTBALL!® generates continuous, fast-paced play that provides exercise and recreation, creates enthusiasm and teaches players the fundamentals of hitting, catching, throwing, fielding and running. "And they just love the sound of the BlastBase," Bravard says. Requiring little in the way equipment, facilities commitment or budget, BLASTBALL!® is ideal for parks and recreation departments, elementary schools PE programs, youth leagues, after-school programs even backyard play. BLASTBALL!® calls for a game set, 3-5 players and a play area such as a backyard, empty lot or park. A BLASTBALL!® game set includes one BlastBase, BlastTee, BlastBat, 2 BlastBalls, a Cone and Line Marker. Mitts, helmets, extra bats, cleats and uniforms are not needed. Both the bat and ball are a soft, molded material, adding a safety aspect to the game and allowing it to be played indoors as well as outdoors. The only base, the BlastBase is audible and emits a loud 'Honk' whenever a player steps on it. "This is the game that will put the FUN back into the game for our youth", said Jim Lefebvre, former Major Leagueä player, coach and manager. "BLASTBALL!® can be played by anyone, anytime and anywhere. Kids love BLASTBALL!® for its simplicity and fast-paced action and, most importantly it's fun" say 2-time Olympic Gold Medallist Sheila Douty, first base for the USA Softball Team. ATEC will be introducing BLASTBALL!® to the market this summer through sporting goods dealers and other retailers nationally. You can learn more about BLASTBALL!® by visiting the website at www.blastball.com, or calling ATEC at 1-800-998-ATEC and asking for Ed Scott, Director of Marketing.