IRVING, Texas, Oct. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As baseball season comes to a close Hostess® has announced the three grand prize winners of its summer Baseball Sweepstakes which invited fans across the country to enter for a chance to win exciting prizes including $10,000 in cash or a trip to see their favorite major league team play in a city of their choice and $100 Stub Hub gift cards for baseball tickets.

The three lucky grand prize winners are Lance Guffey of Vandalia IL, George Karnavas of Cleveland, OH, and Karen Katsbulas of Pinellas Park, FL.

More than 272,800 Hostess fans took part in the Hostess Baseball Sweepstakes by purchasing specially marked multipacks of Hostess Twinkies®, Hostess Chocolate CupCakes®, and limited-edition packages of Hostess Baseballs - delicious chocolate cup cakes with vanilla icing and red icing "stitching." The special, summer time packaging featured on-pack promotion codes which consumers could use to register online for a chance to win. In addition to the three grand prize winners, 250 consumers won $100 Stub Hub gift cards.

About the Winners

Ho Hos® lover and all-around Hostess fan Lance Guffey from Vandalia, IL has been enjoying Hostess since he was young. As a child, Lance's grandfather would take him to haul grain at his farm and they would always stop at the local coffee shop for a Hostess Honey Bun. "I had it warmed up a little so it was like it was fresh from the oven," Lance said. "Thanks for bringing back that awesome memory." He is planning on spending his $10,000 grand prize on orthodontic treatment for his son, and to help fund a summer vacation next year.

George Karnavas from Cleveland Ohio has fond memories from his childhood of eating Twinkies and watching "The Howdy Doody Show" where the delicious treats were featured. He thinks that his favorite Hostess treats, Raspberry Zingers®, are the perfect comfort food. When he found out he was a grand prize winner of the summer Baseball Sweepstakes, George says, "My wife and I celebrated by breaking out a nice cold bottle of milk and a box of Hostess Chocolate CupCakes."

Karen Katsbulas has an affinity for Hostess Sno Balls® and Ding Dongs®, though she recently discovered 100 Calorie Packs and now considers them her favorite treat. Karen's first contact with Hostess came when she immigrated to the United States from England at the age of eight. "One bite and I was hooked," she remembers. Karen is planning on using her grand prize to help pay for a recent trip to Thailand where she had been working as a volunteer to rescue elephants.

To help fans get better connected with Hostess snack cakes, an official Facebook page has been launched filled with fun exclusives, new recipes, giveaways and contests. Visit us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/Hostess and find out about our latest promotions. You can also follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/hostess_snacks or visit http://www.hostesscakes.com for more information.

Hostess Brands, Inc. is one of the nation's largest providers of fresh-baked bread and sweet goods, sold under various brand names including Wonder®, Merita®, Home Pride®, Nature's Pride®, Hostess®, Drake's®, and Dolly Madison. The Company is headquartered in Irving, Texas.

SOURCE Hostess Brands, Inc.