A mascot inhabiting the Baseball Cryptozoo, with an identity from cryptozoology and hominology, gets a new name.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals announced earlier this month that the name of their furry, baseball-loving Sasquatch will hereby be known as “Strike.”

Several hundred entries were submitted in the team’s “Name the Mascot” contest in January 2008. After the contest was completed, Naturals’ staff members selected from the top-five most frequent names submitted along with five other “wild-card” entries.

Tanner Winn, from Happy Hollow Elementary School in Fayetteville, Arkansas, was the lone child who submitted the name Strike. Seven-year old Tanner will receive one game’s worth of “VIP” treatment from the Naturals, including joining the team on the field for batting practice, sitting in super premium seating for the game with three of his friends, and also will have the opportunity to throw a ceremonial first pitch before the game.

Strike was created and produced by Street Characters Inc. of Calgary, Alberta, a creative ideas company specializing in mascot and costume conceptualization and design. Street Characters has designed mascots for numerous Major League Baseball teams such as the Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers, as well as NFL teams such as the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots.

Merchandise and souvenirs depicting Strike will be available in the team’s store, Red Dirt Outfitters, which opened on March 22nd.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and will begin play at Arvest Ballpark, located in Springdale, Arkansas, on Thursday, April 10th against the San Antonio Missions. You can purchase season tickets and group outings with the Naturals by calling (479) 927-4900.