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Canaries Acquire Triple-A Outfielder

Sioux Falls, SD - The Sioux Falls Canaries have acquired former Triple-A outfielder James Shanks in a trade with the Reno Silver Sox of the Golden Baseball League. Shanks joined the Silver Sox last July and hit .279 with six homers and 29 RBI in the final 46 games of the season. Shanks continued to hit well in the playoffs, going 5-for-14 (.357) as the Silver Sox defeated the Fullerton Flyers in four games to capture the Golden Baseball League Championship.

"Not only can James can play any position in the outfield, but he is someone who can fit into several spots in the line-up," noted Canaries manager Steve Shirley. "His experience and success in the Florida Marlins organization make him an excellent addition to our team."

Shanks started the 2006 season with the Albuquerque Isotopes, the Triple-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins. In 66 games with the Isotopes, Shanks hit .299 with five home runs and 29 RBI. Originally selected in the 21st round of the 1998 draft by the Kansas City Royals, Shanks has hit 42 home runs and stolen 160 bases in his nine year career.

In exchange for Shanks, the Canaries have traded left-handed pitcher Jason Cierlik and utility infielder Rob Wirth to the Silver Sox. Cierlik compiled a record 3-4 with two saves and a 2.68 ERA in 30 appearances for the Canaries last season. Wirth spent the 2006 season with the Gateway Grizzlies in the Frontier League.

Bird Seeds: The Canaries will host their annual Holiday Party on Tuesday Night in the team's clubhouse. The party, which begins at 6:30 p.m., will feature the music of the Cartwright Brothers and Doktor Barkey. ... The Canaries have signed third baseman Matt Imwalle. Last season, Imwalle hit .264 in 35 games with the Atlantic City Surf of the Atlantic League.

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ORLANDO, FL - The Sioux City Explorers announced today that at the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings in Orlando, FL, the World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals purchased the contract of Explorers catcher Chris Grossman. Grossman will report to spring training with the Cardinals in Jupiter, FL and is expected to land with either the Cardinals Double A affiliate in Springfield, MO or their High A affiliate in Palm Beach, FL.

Explorers President John Roost comments, "Chris has been a first class individual on and off the field in his two seasons with the organization and is very deserving of this opportunity. We wish him great success with the Cardinals Organization."

The 25-year-old California native finished his second season with the X's in 2006. Over the past two seasons, Chris has posted a combined .309 batting average over 181 games with 46 doubles, 2 triples, 17 homeruns and 104 RBI's. Defensively, Grossman caught 26 games in 2005 as the team's backup and 82 games in 2006 as the team's primary catcher while serving as the designated hitter in the remainder of the games.

"Chris has put up some great numbers for the X's the past two seasons and it is great to see he is being rewarded by the Cardinals for his accomplishments" stated Explorers Manager Ed Nottle.

Chris played collegiate baseball for the University of California where after his junior season was one of 10 semifinalists for the Johnny Bench Award as one of the nation's top collegiate catchers. During his junior year, Grossman led the Bears in hits (72), multiple hit games (15), doubles (16), and total bases (112). He also had a career best 11 game-hitting streak.

"We are extremely excited to have Chris join our organization," comments Cardinals Director of Minor League Operations John Vuch. "Chris has done an excellent job with Sioux City the past two seasons and we look for him to have a great future with the Cardinals."

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LINCOLN, NEB. - As the professional baseball Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla come to a close the Lincoln Saltdogs have acquired the rights to a pair of former San Diego Surf Dawgs for cash.

The Saltdogs added to their bullpen in the deal by acquiring RHP E.J. Shanks, who was named to the Golden League's post-season All-Star team following the 2006 season. A Las Vegas native, Shanks put together the best season of his three-year career with a 6-1 record and a 1.78 ERA and 30 relief appearances. He also recorded three saves. The 23-year-old Shanks, who stands 6-5, 240-pounds, played collegiately at Oklahoma City University and was a 29th-round draft pick of the San Diego Padres in 2004. After three stops from Rookie to A-ball in his first season, he spent 2005 with Schaumburg of the Northern League and Richmond of the Frontier League before moving to San Diego last year.

After spending much of the 2006 season in search of an everyday shortstop, the Saltdogs have addressed the issue in this off-season by adding Tony Garcia (5-10, 175) to the roster. A native of Temecula, Calif., Garcia has spent the past two seasons with the Surf Dawgs hitting .284 in 2005 and .258 last year. The Chicago Cubs' 13th-round draft pick in 2001, Garcia spent the 2003 season in the St. Louis farm system before signing with Colorado. He was released by the Rockies prior to the start of the 2004 campaign and sat out the season. The Pepperdine University product joined San Diego of the Golden League in 2005.

The Saltdogs begin the 2007 season on May 10 at Pensacola with the home opener set for May 22 against St. Joe. For team and ticket information, go to Lincoln Saltdogs.

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ST. PAUL, MN (December 8, 2006) - St. Paul Saints today announced that play-by-play broadcaster Kris Atteberry was hired Friday by the Minnesota Twins to serve as pre-game and post-game host on the team's new radio network. He will be heard before and after all Twins games and provide in-game updates from the Twins' new studio in downtown Minneapolis.

"My dream has always been to get to the Major Leagues and without the support of the Saints organization and the Goldklang Group, which gave me my first job in baseball, I'd never be able to move on in this manner," Atteberry said. "I'm honored to be the next in a long line of Saints to go from St. Paul to the Major Leagues."

Atteberry was the voice of the Saints for five seasons, handling both television and radio duties during his tenure. A graduate of Stanford University, Atteberry, 34, began his broadcasting career as sports director of a small radio station in Cody, WY where he spent two years. He was hired by the Sioux Falls Canaries as their lead play-by-play announcer in 1999 before joining the Saints prior to the 2002 season.

In Atteberry, the Saints will lose a broadcaster whose talents go well beyond the baseball diamond. For the past four years during the off-season, Atteberry has served as the voice of Montana State University football and men's basketball. In 2003, he was named broadcaster of the year in Montana.

"We're going to miss Kris and what he brings not just to our television and radio broadcasts, but to our entire operation," said Derek Sharrer, Saints executive vice president and general manager. "We pride ourselves as a place that gives ballplayers the opportunity to reach their full potential and fulfill their dreams. We're just as thrilled when a staff member like Kris is able to fulfill his dream."

As for moving from the Midway to Minneapolis, Atteberry is looking forward to his new opportunity.

"It's an exciting time to be a part of the Twins," he said. "They have a great team on the field, a new ballpark on the way, and tremendous history and tradition on the radio. As a broadcaster, you can't ask for a better situation."

Sharrer isn't too concerned with finding someone to fill the void left by Atteberry. "We have a strong relationship with the Twins and we're happy to send them Kris," said Sharrer. "Perhaps they'll send us back Johan Santana or Justin Morneau as compensation."

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Sioux Falls, SD - Former Canaries radio broadcaster Kris Atteberry has been hired by the Minnesota Twins as the team's new pre- and post-game host. Atteberry's career broadcasting baseball games began in Sioux Falls when he was hired by the Canaries in 1999.

"Without the Canaries, I wouldn't have a career in baseball," said Atteberry. "The team gave me my first baseball job despite a brutal cassette tape, and I drove through a tornado to arrive in Sioux Falls in time to put a fresh coat of paint on the dugout tops for opening day. Sioux Falls was the beginning of the road on my way to working in the Major Leagues, and I'll never forget that."

A graduate of Stanford University, Atteberry, 34, began his broadcasting career as sports director of a small radio station in Cody, WY, where he spent two years before being hired as the play-by-play voice of the Sioux Falls Canaries. Atteberry spent three seasons as the Voice of the Canaries before leaving to become the play-by-play voice of the St. Paul Saints for the last five seasons. For the past four years Atteberry has also served as the voice of Montana State University football and men's basketball. In 2003, he was named broadcaster of the year in Montana. Now he will be heard before and after all Twins games from the Twins' new studio in downtown Minneapolis.

"It's an exciting time to be a part of the Twins," he said. "They have a great team on the field, a new ballpark on the way, and tremendous history and tradition on the radio. As a broadcaster, you can't ask for a better situation."

Bird Seeds: The Canaries will host their annual Holiday Party on Tuesday Night in the team's clubhouse. The party, which begins at 6:30 p.m., will feature the music of the Cartwright Brothers and Doktor Barkey.

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ST. PAUL, MN - The St. Paul Saints are going to bat to help the Second Harvest Heartland Foodshelf Network. The team mascot Mudonna and others members of the organization will be on hand to welcome the annual stop of the 2006 CPR Holiday Train when it visits St. Paul on Tuesday, December 12.

The train, which is traveling across the United States to raise awareness and money for food shelves, is scheduled to stop at the upper level of the Central Parking System ramp at 7:15 p.m. The Saints will be on hand at 6:30 p.m. in the Lowertown area to play whiffleball, distribute hot chocolate, offer holiday merchandise specials and collect money for Second Harvest. It is estimated that for each dollar donated to Second Harvest, $9 of food is distributed to those in need.

"It's a special event at a very special time of year," said Annie Huidekoper, Saints Director of Customer Service/Community Relations. "There's a great mixture of entertainment and it goes to a good cause."

Indeed, the Holiday Train, which is decorated with hundreds of thousands of Christmas Lights and features entertainment from many singers, has raised over two million dollars and collected over a million pounds of food since its debut in 1999. The train began its 40-city run December 1 in Scranton, PA and finishes in Carpio, ND on December 16. In addition, a similar train is going through Canada this week.

For more information on the Holiday Train, click on this link:

‘All aboard’ the 2006 CPR Holiday Train in support of food shelves

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You're invited to join us on Saturday, December 16 for our Holiday Extravaganza at the Saltdogs Store at Haymarket Park. We'll be open from 8 a.m.-Noon for holiday shopping with great deals on Saltdogs tickets, gift cards, and merchandise that will make great Christmas gifts for the Saltdogs baseball fan in your family. Homer Claus will be there to meet and greet plus there will be hot chocolate and other goodies. If you can't make it, we'll also have special "Last-Chance" Holiday store hours on Monday, December 18 from 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. And don't forget, you can always shop on-line anytime at Lincoln Saltdogs.

Saltdogs season tickets for 2007 make great Christmas gifts and ordering them is easy...just stop by during business hours or contact the office at 402-474-2255 and place your order. In addition to our traditional full- and half-season ticket packages, we're offering our brand new flexible ticket plan simply called, "It's Your Call". Order a minimum of six tickets and use them anytime you want however you want

We hope to see you Saturday, December 16 and that you and your family have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season!

truebluefan

Stan Hough, who guided the Fort Worth Cats to the 2006 American Association Championship, will return for the 2007 season, the club announced today.

It will be Hough's second season as the team's manager and fourth year overall with the club. He was the team's hitting instructor from 2004-05.

The Cats in 2006 won their second consecutive championship, defeating St. Paul 3-2 in a best of five game series. Fort Worth rallied from down 2-games-to-1 in both playoff series in 2006. The Cats finished with a 56-39 record during the regular season, winning the season's second half to clinch a playoff spot.

Hough was named the Cats' manager on Dec. 6, 2005, taking over for Wayne Terwilliger, who remained with the club as Hough's first base coach in 2006.

The 2006 campaign was Hough's eighth full season as a minor league manager. Prior to last year, his last managerial job was with the Delmarva Shorebirds, the Class-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles in 2003. He also managed the Triple-A Ottawa Lynx in 2001.

His coaching career stretches back to 1983 when he served as a player/coach with the Daytona in the Houston organization. His first manager's job came in 1987 with the Texas Rangers' Gulf Coast League Affiliate.

He was originally drafted by the New York Mets in the second round of the 1974 draft and spent seven seasons catching in their organization.

Hough resides in Waco, Texas with his wife Martha, daughter Casey and son Ty.

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ST. PAUL, MN - It was well worth the wait to see Brian Sprout in a St. Paul Saints uniform. Now manager George Tsamis hopes the encore will be just as good.

The 26-year old Lake City, MN native, who played his college baseball at St. Olaf, has re-signed with the Saints for the 2007 season. He is coming off the best season of his five-year pro career in which he flirted with the league lead in Batting Average before finishing third with a solid .350 mark. Although he didn't join the team until the season was four days old, he still set career highs for hits (118), doubles (28) and RBI (a team-leading 59). In addition, he was named to the American Association All-Star team and was the circuit's Batter Of The Month in July when he went 43-101 (.426 BA, 21 runs, 10 doubles, three home runs, 20 RBI).

"He had a terrific season in every aspect of the game for us," Tsamis said. "I expect him to be one of the cornerstones of our offense in 2007."

Sprout, who once hit for the cycle in home runs for St. Olaf in a game against Augsburg (solo, two-RBI, three-RBI and a grand slam shot) first worked out for the Saints in 2002. But then manager Jimmy Johnson decided against signing him. He signed instead with Fargo-Moorhead, moving to Joliet later in the summer. He was back in Fargo in 2003, where he hit .302 in 88 games. That earned him a contract in the Dodgers' system. In two-plus seasons there, he advanced as high as AA Jacksonville before joining the Saints in time for their May 15 home opener.

He played left field for the first half of the season before moving to his more familiar position of shortstop. From the start, he was solid at the plate. In addition to his high ranking in the batting race, he finished fifth in the American Association in On-Base Percentage with a .429 mark. In 408 games as a pro, he is a career .297 hitter (454-for-1528). He had a game to remember on June 7 when he went 5-for-5 and hit a pair of homers (including the winning three-RBI blow in the ninth inning) in a 9-7 win at Lincoln. His 12 total bases in that game tied a team record.

Tsamis, who will be in the Twin Cities for the team's annual Winter Camp December 26-29, says he expects to sign more players shortly. Two solid members of the 2006 team - IF Pat Scalabrini and RHP Ivan Hernandez - have retired. Scalabrini, who played 2B and 3B, batted .313 with eight home runs and 57 RBI. Hernandez started the final game of the season but worked the rest of the team in the bullpen. In 38 games, he went 3-2 with a team-leading 3.07 ERA.

NOTES - When the Minnesota Twins hired Kris Atteberry to be their studio host for their 2007 broadcasts, he became the third ex-Saints' announcer to get a big league broadcasting gig. Ryan Lefebvre, the ex-Gopher outfielder and now a member of the Kansas City Royals radio crew, got his start calling Saints' games in 1993. Anthony LaPanta, who called games here for 12 seasons on radio and television, works fulltime for Fox Sports North and was part of several Twins' telecasts in 2006. He also was on their radio team in 1999. In addition, Jon Laaser, who did games in 2005, has been hired to work on the broadcasts of the AA Altoona Curve (Eastern League) in 2007. Laaser served as the main radio voice for Yakima in the Northwest League in 2006.

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The Pensacola Pelicans are pleased to name Mac Seibert as the teams new field manager for the 2007 season. A press conference is scheduled for Friday, December 15 at 4 p.m. at the Pelicans Training Academy located at 4920 N. Davis Highway, two blocks south of Brent Lane in Pensacola to introduce the new skipper of the Pelicans.

The Cantonment resident has more than 17 professional years experience in the baseball industry, which includes playing, coaching, and scouting. Seibert's last position was with the Baseball Factory as the vice-president and executive director of Team One Baseball.

"I've known Mac for 15 years, he is the right guy for this position and can take the Pelicans to the next level, both on the field and off," said Pelicans general manager Talmadge Nunnari.

In addition to the Pelicans field manager duties, Seibert will also head up the Pelicans Training Academy, which is expected to open in mid-January. Seibert will oversee the daily baseball operations and organize camps and clinics.

"Mac has the experience and passion to teach the skills to younger athletes," said Nunnari. "The opening of the Pelicans Training Academy is right around the corner and Mac will enhance the outstanding Academy staff and be able to provide some leadership and experiences to the athletes."

"I am excited to be part of this great organization," said Seibert. "I'm looking forward to the action on the field as well as the development of baseball players in the Pensacola area through the Academy."

Seibert has a keen eye for baseball talent and has proven that over his career. From coaching and being ranked 5th in the country at Jefferson Davis Community College to being the national scouting supervisor with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Seibert has constantly put together winning teams and signed great players. Seibert signed major leaguer Rocco Baldelli and back-to-back minor league players of the year in B.J. Upton and Delvin Young along with several other players who have spent time in the major leagues.

The new skipper is also very involved in the community serving on the Advisory Board of TITUS Sports Performance, a member of the Escambia County School Advisory Council, and is very active in his home church, Gonzalez Baptist Church.

The press conference is open to the public to meet and talk with the Pelicans new field manager. Seibert and Nunnari will make statements and then be available for questions. Light refreshments will be provided.