Massachusetts-based plumbing and heating supplies distributor F.W. Webb made dreams come true for two Boston Red Sox fans over the summer. As part of its Red Sox sponsorship, F.W. Webb hosted a ”First Pitch Sweepstakes,” in which two fans were randomly chosen from thousands of entrants to throw out the first pitch at Fenway Park on July 31st.

More than 18,000 people participated in the promotion. Two winners were chosen—Joseph Oullette, Jr., of Leominster, Mass., and Nicole Bernabe of Cambridge, Mass. Twenty first-place winners received two tickets to a Red Sox game, and 20 second-place winners were awarded official Red Sox jackets.

“F.W. Webb is proud to be an official sponsor of the Red Sox and we are thrilled, through our partnership, to be able to provide this once-in-a-lifetime prize to Nicole and Joe,” said F.W. Webb president Jeff Pope, who caught the ball thrown by Nicole. Joe’s son, Joseph Oullette, III, caught his pitch.

And speaking of baseball, former Major League pitcher and manufacturing executive Elden Auker died over the summer at the age of 95. Auker was a leading pitcher in the 1930’s and early 40’s whose submarine-style delivery helped the Detroit Tigers capture two American-League pennants and a World Series championship. He was traded to the Red Sox in 1939, pitched one season for them, and then pitched for the Browns before retiring from the game.

After leaving baseball, Auker joined Bay State Abrasives, retiring in the 1970s as the company’s president.

Slip-resistant footwear manufacturer Shoes for Crews launched its mobile division for on-site shoe fitting. Using a fleet of “shoemobiles,” the company is offering on-site shoe fitting services to Las Vegas and Orlando, Fla.-based customers…Industrial wholesaler ORS Nasco joined Activant Trading Partner Connect, an Internet trading network…Orr Safety Corp. and Hagerty Industrial Supply joined distributor alliance supplyFORCE. Orr distributes industrial safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene, and fire-related equipment and supplies. Hagerty sells fasteners, tools, abrasives, PVF products and related items…

Airgas, Inc. acquired Aeriform Corp., an independent distributor with 29 locations in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Kansas…IBM announced plans to purchase MRO Software. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter…Distribution software provider Infor completed three acquisitions: SSA Global, Extensity, and Systems Union Group…White Cap Construction Supply acquired Texas Contractors Supply…Barnes Group, Inc. acquired the Kent Division of Premier Farnell, which will become part of Barnes Distribution…Lone Star Fasteners acquired United Kingdom-based manufacturer Grange Gaskets and its sister company, Grange Precision Engineering…Akron, Ohio-based distributor B.W. Rogers Co. acquired Fluid Power Products, Inc., with five locations in Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia…Wolseley plc announced six acquisitions. In North America, the company’s Stock Building Supply division acquired Martin Architectural Products, based in North Carolina, and its Ferguson Enterprises division acquired Water Works Supplies, Inc., Palermo Supply Inc., Palermo Plumbing Center, and Palermo Wholesale Supply. The European acquisitions added to its presence in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and England.