"THE SANDLOT: HEADING HOME," PREMIERES ON ABC FAMILY ON SATURDAY, APRIL 4 AT 8:00PM ET/PT

Luke Perry stars as Tommy 'Santa' Santorelli in the Third Installment of "The Sandlot" Series

Catch All the Fun as ABC Family Airs the Entire "Sandlot" Franchise Back to Back In a Special Marathon Leading Up to "The Sandlot: Heading Home" Premiere

BURBANK, CA (March 18, 2009) � Luke Perry plays arrogant baseball superstar Tommy Santorelli in the "The Sandlot: Heading Home," the next installment of "The Sandlot" movie franchise. "The Sandlot" (3:30 PM ET/PT) and "The Sandlot 2" (6:00 PM ET/PT) will run in back-to-back airings as part of a special marathon leading to the premiere of "The Sandlot: Heading Home," Saturday, April 4th at 8:00PM ET/PT on ABC Family.

It's been 30 years since Tommy 'Santa' Santorelli (Luke Perry) has played in the famed sandlot, the town's beloved playing field. These days he's a hotshot MVP baseball player with a million dollar contract, a beautiful girlfriend and a mansion in Beverly Hills. While his talent is undeniable, the years of fame and fortune have gone to his head and his love for the game now comes second to the size of his paycheck. After a freak accident on the field, Tommy is knocked unconscious and wakes up in 1976 as his 12-year-old self (Keanu Pires). Surrounded by his mom, Sara (Sarah Deakins), his childhood friends and his mentor, Benny (Danny Nucci), he slowly starts to remember why he started playing the game in the first place.

But just as he starts to appreciate the game again, it's all threatened when the town villain, property developer Mr. Needman (Paul Jarrett), tries to convince the town council to turn the old sandlot into condos. Now Tommy will have to get past his own ego and remember his roots if he wants to save the sandlot in the most important game of his life. In the classic "Sandlot" tradition, "The Sandlot: Heading Home" is an action packed film filled with adventure, humor and heart.

"The Sandlot: Heading Home" is produced by Jon Kuyper and directed by William Dear ("Angels in the Outfield"). Produced by Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and distributed by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, the film was written by Keith Mitchell and Allie Dvorin.

Part of the Disney/ABC Television Group, ABC Family, distributed in over 95 million homes, features original movies, series and specials reflecting today's families and entertaining and connecting with adults through relevant stories about today's relationships, all told with diversity, dysfunction, passion, humor and heart. ABC Family's programming is a mix of quality acquired series and theatricals as well as original movies and scripted dramas. ABC Family is also the destination for Holiday events with "13 Nights of Halloween" and "25 Days of Christmas" branded programming events. ABC Family. A New Kind of Family.