Like many baseball fans, I am thrilled when spring training begins. It is the first signal that baseball is almost back.

After a few weeks of “best shape of his life” stories and exhibition games that can end in ties, though, I’m ready for the real season to get going. These final 15 days before the season opener at Carolina, and these 22 days leading up to Opening Day at BB&T Ballpark, will be gone eventually, but they will take a little while.

One great event that helps kick off the real season is the Dash’s annual Coaches’ Luncheon. This year’s event takes place Wednesday, April 2, and tickets are only $10 each. You will get a delicious lunch, hear from new Dash skipper Tommy Thompson and learn about the 2012 roster. For more information or to learn about how you can secure your tickets, please click this link.

Here are a few notes this Thursday.

DASH DOTS:

• Once again, thanks to those who voted for Bolt in the Mascot Madness tournament. Bolt will face off with Webster University’s Gorlok next Tuesday in the “Elite Eight.” We will have a tale of the tape at some point this weekend for the matchup.

The White Sox pace the AL Central--in franchise value.

• Forbes Magazine published a list ranking each MLB franchise’s current value, and the White Sox placed tenth. The Sox are worth $600 million, which is a 14 percent increase from last year. For what it’s worth, the White Sox rank ahead of all other American League Central organizations. The Twins are second in the A.L. Central in 14th, followed by Detroit (17th), Cleveland (26th) and Kansas City (27th).

• If you only read one thing today (other than the Dash Board, of course), check out this Q&A with White Sox southpaw Will Ohman from Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com. The final question is the best, as Ohman had to go on a treasure hunt of sorts–for his car’s tires!

• Today marks the beginning of the NCAA Tournament’s fourth round. MLB.com did a bracket challenge with one representative from each team. Chicago’s Matt Thornton is 23rd, and while he still has his champion alive (Kentucky), Florida State’s loss to Cincinnati last weekend hurt him. He had FSU playing for the title in New Orleans.

Justin Upton is confident on the field and in a bracket pool (Phoenix New Times).

• Arizona’s Justin Upton leads the way with 50 points, and he correctly predicted 13 of the 16 teams left standing, missing only Cincinnati, Ohio and Xavier. That’s very impressive.

• I’m excited to head out to the St. John’s Lutheran School Annual Red and White event, honoring athletes from 4th to 8th grade. Former UNC basketball player Michael Copeland and I will be speaking to the group of around 50 athletes this evening.

• Speaking of amateur sports, WXII did a nice feature on yesterday’s high school game at BB&T Ballpark. Wilkes Central High School played the game in honor of Larry Bauguess, a Wilkes Central alum who was killed while in the military in 2007.

• Smack talk has officially begun around the office in advance of UNC’s battle with Ohio in the Sweet 16. Box office czar Zack Matthews and I are proud Green and White supporters, but we are outnumbered by more than a handful of Tar Heel fans. Tip time is in 29 hours. I can’t wait.

Enjoy the rest of your day. We’ll talk again tomorrow.

- Brian