Grady Sizemore stars in ‘Backyard Challenge’

All
backyard ballplayers have dreamed of facing a big leaguer on their own turf.
Direct Energy is making that happen for one lucky fan this summer with its
“Backyard Challenge with

Grady
Sizemore” contest.

Fans can
register online for the opportunity to have the Indians center fielder come to
their home or nearby park for an afternoon of Wiffle ball with the kids. This
once-in-a-lifetime chance is the centerpiece of a partnership agreement between
Sizemore and Direct Energy, the natural gas provider to the Indians and Jacobs
Field.

“Grady
Sizemore is one of the rising young stars in baseball today, and we’re
fortunate to have him on board with Direct Energy,” said Mike Beck, Vice
President of Sales and Marketing.

“The
fact that he would agree to such a fun contest, and give the winning kids such
a wonderful memory, is really a testament to the way he approaches the game.
He’s out to have fun, and to share that enthusiasm with the fans.”

Sizemore,
who is represented by Octagon, is one of more than 200,000 Direct Energy
natural gas customers in the state of

Ohio.
He will appear in a series of television and radio commercials to air during
the Indians broadcasts on SportsTime

Ohio
and WKYC, as well as the Indians Radio Network.

Sizemore,
who was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated last week, earned his first
All-Star selection in 2006. Last season, he became only the second player in
Major League history to record 50 doubles, 10 triples, 20 home runs and 20
steals in the same season and only the fourth player in history with 50
doubles, 10 triples and 25 home runs in a single season. A 2000 graduate of
Cascade High in

Everett,

WA, Sizemore was selected in the third round
of the 2000 MLB Draft by the Montreal Expos.

Beginning
today and running through July 9, 2007,

Ohio
residents can visit http://www.directenergy.com/grady to enter the contest,
find out more information and see the Official Rules.