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**truebluefan** · 11-19-2007, 10:02 AM

Eastern League

Vander Woude Steps Down as Senators General Manager

It was announced today that after 21 years with the Harrisburg Senators, Todd Vander Woude, as part of a mutual agreement with the Senators new ownership group, will step down from his position as General Manager. Vander Woude will assist and consult with the Senators' new ownership group to facilitate the transition to a new General Manager.

"I feel the timing is right to give Michael Reinsdorf and his group the opportunity to find a new General Manager. Now that the sale of the team has been completed, I feel that both the Senators and I need to look forward. I will continue to be friends with the Senators and will explore career opportunities not only within baseball but also in the local community," said Vander Woude.

"We appreciate Todd's stewardship of the Senators and his assistance with our purchase of the franchise and transition to our ownership group," stated Michael Reinsdorf, President of Senators Partners, LLC. "While Todd will be missed, I'm confident we will find a capable replacement to lead us through this season and into a renovated Commerce Bank Ballpark prior to the 2009 baseball season."

"I certainly wish the Senators organization nothing but success", said Vander Woude. "Michael and his management team have some exciting ideas for the Senators, including the layout and amenities of the new stadium that will enhance the fan's experience. Baseball in Harrisburg will continue to be a great experience."

Vander Woude continued, "I would like to thank Mayor Reed, the City of Harrisburg and the Senators Board of Directors led by Chairman Greg Martini for their support over all these years. I would also like to thank my entire staff with the Senators for all of their hard work and support. Thanks go out to my family for the support and understanding needed to succeed in Minor League Baseball. And, thank you to all of the fans and sponsors of the Harrisburg Senators; we could not have been as successful in Harrisburg without you. I hope the team continues to flourish under Michael Reinsdorf's leadership and wish them luck in the coming years."

Vander Woude came to Harrisburg when the franchise returned to City Island in 1987, serving as the team's first Assistant General Manager. He was promoted to the top position as General Manager in 1992.

Vander Woude was named the 1993 Minor League Executive of the Year by The Sporting News. The same year, the Senators front office received the Bob Freitas Award from Baseball America as the top baseball operation. Vander Woude has also been honored as a two-time winner of the Eastern League Executive of the Year Award in 1996 and 2001.

Locally, the Central Pennsylvania Business Journal selected Todd to the exclusive First Top Forty Under Forty Club in 1995. That honor goes to the top 40 business leaders of the community under the age of forty. Vander Woude has also been extensively involved in charitable efforts in his years with the Senators. He has served as Vice President, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of United Cerebral Palsy of the Capital Area (currently as a Lifetime Board Member). Vander Woude has also served as Chairman of the 65 Roses Sports Club and board member with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. He has also been a long time supporter of the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.

Prior to arriving in Harrisburg, Vander Woude worked for the Richmond Braves for 3 years after receiving his Masters Degree in Sport Management from the University of Richmond.

**truebluefan** · 11-19-2007, 10:04 AM

The Detroit Tigers announced today that Tom Brookens will be the Erie SeaWolves manager in 2008. Brookens replaces Matt Walbeck who joined the Texas Rangers as their third base coach. He is the 14th manager in SeaWolves history.

Brookens, a Chambersburg, PA native and current resident of Fayetteville, PA, guided the Tigers Class-A affiliate, West Michigan, to the 2007 MidWest League Championship and was tabbed MidWest League "Manager of the Year." It marks the second straight season where an Erie manager will have won a championship and manager of the year award the previous season.

Brookens managerial career began in 2005 with the Tigers Class-A affiliate in Oneonta. He guided the Tigers to a Stedler Division championship in his first season and finished second in 2006.

He played 12 seasons as an infielder at the major league level with the Tigers (1979-88), New York Yankees (1989) and Cleveland Indians (1990). Brookens finished his career with a .246 batting average, 71 home runs and 431 RBI. He was also a member of the Tigers World Championship club in 1984.

The 14th season of SeaWolves baseball begins on April 3, 2008 when the team opens at Bowie (Baltimore Orioles). The 'Wolves 2008 home opener is April 10, 2008 against the Binghamton Mets (New York Mets). For season ticket and mini-pack information, contact the SeaWolves at (814) 456-1300.

**truebluefan** · 11-19-2007, 10:05 AM

Former BayBear Peavy Wins Cy Young Award

MOBILE, AL - Former Mobile BayBears pitcher and Mobile native Jake Peavy has won the 2007 National League Cy Young Award. Peavy pitched for the BayBears during parts of the 2001 and 2002 seasons, and went 19-6 for the San Diego Padres in 2007. His 19 wins, 2.54 ERA and 240 strikeouts all led the National League this season.

Peavy first joined the BayBears in 2001, after a mid-season promotion from Single-A. His BayBears debut came just two years after he played at Hank Aaron Stadium as a high school player for St. Paul's High School in the annual Hank Aaron Classic baseball tournament. Peavy finished the 2001 Southern League season in Mobile, and made 14 starts in 2002 with the BayBears before being called up directly to the San Diego Padres from Double-A.

Peavy has pitched with the Padres since his 2002 Major League debut. In 2004 he returned to a BayBears uniform, making a Minor League rehab start at Hank Aaron Stadium while on the disabled list. Peavy has pitched in two Major League All-Star Games, including a start in the mid-summer classic this past July in San Francisco.

The last former BayBear to win a Major League Baseball post-season award was Jason Bay, who was named the National League Rookie of the Year after his 2004 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The 2008 BayBears season opens on Thursday, April 3rd against the Carolina Mudcats. For BayBears tickets, call 251-479-2327, or visit mobilebaybears.com.

**truebluefan** · 11-19-2007, 10:05 AM

Jacksonville, FL - The Jacksonville Suns announce the resignation of Kirk Goodman as General Manager. Goodman, 31, will be pursuing other opportunities in baseball.

A Suns employee for over seven years, Goodman worked with the Suns in several roles since 1997, when he began with the Suns as Director of Marketing. Goodman served two stints as Assistant General Manager, in 2000 and from 2002-2006, and was named General Manager of the Suns in January 2006, taking over from Peter Bragan, Jr. Goodman has also worked in various capacities for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Batavia (NY) Clippers and the Portland (OR) Beavers.

Goodman's resignation is effective immediately. No successor has been named at this time.

The Jacksonville Suns are the Double-A Southern League Affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers and play at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, located in the downtown sports complex. The Suns play a 140-game season from April through Labor Day and will open the 2008 season at home against the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx on April 3, 2008. Season tickets and sponsorships are currently on sale by calling (904) 358-2846 or visiting the Baseball Grounds during normal business hours.

**truebluefan** · 11-19-2007, 10:06 AM

The Springfield Cardinals have been honored by the Springfield Business Journal and the Joplin Tri-State Business Journal as the 2007 "Best Place to Work in Springfield". In the category of 101-300 employees, the Cardinals were first with 150 points. Scores were based on categories like "Incentives", "Family Friendly", "People Development" and "Corporate Culture" within the workplace.

"We have great employees, who continually make it fun to come to the ballpark," said Vice President - General Manager Matt Gifford. "Our great fans energize our staff, serving as a terrific catalyst for our enthusiasm for Cardinals' baseball."

Thank you to the Springfield Business Journal and the Joplin Tri-State Business Journal for recognizing the Springfield Cardinals as one of the best places to work in 2007!

TEAM USA #1 SEED

Team USA has advanced to the World Cup quarter-finals, after a 10-7 victory over Chinese Taipei on Wednesday night. With the win, Team USA is now 6-1 and will be the top seed going into their quarter-final match vs Korea on Friday night.

Former Springfield Cardinals continue to shine, as Colby Rasmus had two hits in the win and is batting .286 with one RBI in six games. Bryan Anderson has three hits in ten at-bats over five games, while pitcher Chris Perez has allowed five runs, making two relief appearances.

Good luck to Team USA in their quest to win the World Cup!

**truebluefan** · 11-19-2007, 10:08 AM

Dragons Return Entire Field Staff for 2008

Dayton, OH - After a three year absence, Donnie Scott's return to the Dayton Dragons dugout in 2007, as manager was a successful one as he led the Dragons to a 78-62 overall record. Under Scott, the Dragons won the first half Midwest League Eastern Division title and earned a birth in the MWL Playoffs for the first time since 2002. The Cincinnati Reds have announced that Scott will return to lead the charges as Dragons Manager in 2008 and for the first time in team history all three field staff positions remain in tact with the return of Pitching Coach Doug Bair, Hitting Coach Darren Bragg and Athletic Trainer Jimmy Mattocks.

Under Scott, the Dragons posted a 44-26 first half record to win the Eastern Division, setting a franchise record for most wins in a half of baseball. Scott managed the Eastern Division in the MWL All-Star game and had plenty of company, as he was joined by Bair, Bragg and eight Dragons who were voted to the game. Juan Francisco, Justin Turner, Chris Valaika comprised three-fourths of the starting infield and pitcher Sean Watson became the first Dayton pitcher to get the starting nod in an All-Star Game. The Dragons 78 wins overall were an 18 game improvement from 2006 and was the second most in team history behind the 82 win season by the 2001 team.

The 2008 season will be the former Major League catcher's 19th season with the Cincinnati Reds as a player, manager or coach. He is the winningest manager in Dragons franchise history with a 294-264 regular season record. In four seasons as Dragons manager, Scott has led Dayton to the post season on three different occasions (2001, 2002 and 2007) and has an overall managerial record with the Reds in 10 minor league seasons of 600-430. Scott spent five seasons with the Billings Mustangs, winning Pioneer League Championships in 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1997. Before returning to the Dragons in 2007, Donnie managed the Sarasota Reds of the Florida State League in 2006.

A former second round draft choice of the Texas Rangers (1979), Scott played parts of four different seasons in the Major Leagues. The former catcher played in the "Bigs" in 1983 and 1984 with the Rangers, 1985 with Seattle and 1990 with Cincinnati, appearing in 173 major league games during his career.

The 2008 campaign will mark the third season as a Reds pitching coach for Bair, his second with the Dragons. The Dragons team ERA of 3.41 in 2007 was the lowest in franchise history and was good for fifth best in the 14-team MWL. Originally from Defiance, Ohio, Bair pitched collegiately at Bowling Green State University and was a second round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1971. He made his Major League debut with the Pirates in 1976 and would pitch in the big leagues for 15 seasons, including three full seasons and parts of a fourth with the Cincinnati Reds (1978-1981). Bair has two World Series Rings from his playing days: one each with the St. Louis Cardinals (1982) and the Detroit Tigers (1984). The well traveled right hander appeared in 584 Major League games (579 in relief) with seven different major league clubs (Pittsburgh, Oakland, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Detroit, Philadelphia and Toronto) and compiled a 55-43 record with a 3.63 ERA. He saved 81 games, including a career high 28 with the '78 Reds.

Bragg is back for his second season as the Dragons Hitting Coach in 2008 and his second as a Reds Minor League Hitting instructor. Under Bragg's tutelage, the Dragons hit .263 as a team in 2007, good for third best in the MWL and the club's 106 homers ranked second. A 22nd round selection of the Seattle Mariners in the 1991 Free Agent Draft, he made his Major League debut in 1994 with the Mariners. Bragg appeared in the post season on three occasions, with the Red Sox in 1998 and the Atlanta Braves in 2002 and 2003. In 916 games spanning 11 Major League seasons with 10 different teams (Seattle, Boston, St. Louis, Colorado, NY Yankees, NY Mets, Atlanta, Cincinnati and San Diego); Bragg hit .255 with 46 home runs and 269 runs batted in.

The Dragons will open up the 2008 Midwest League season at Great Lakes on Tuesday, April 3rd. The home opener for the Dragons at Fifth Third Field will be Monday, April 7th versus the Fort Wayne Wizards, affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The first pitch on opening night is scheduled for 7:05 PM; with the game being broadcasted live on WING AM 1410 ESPN Radio, also via the Dragons web site at Home of the Dayton Dragons: Home, as well as a live television broadcast.

**truebluefan** · 11-19-2007, 10:11 AM

Honu Extinguish CaneFires in Season Finale

North Shore improved to 13-2 against Hawaii Winter Baseball West Division rival West Oahu tonight as the Honu ended the regular season with a 7-3 victory over the CaneFires at Waipahu's Hans L'Orange Park.

North Shore's Daniel Worth came up a home run short of hitting for the cycle as the Detroit tigers prospect notched two doubles, a triple and drove in two with a perfect 4-4 performance. Teammate Mat Gamel went 2-4 with a solo home run in the second inning as the Milwaukee Brewers took sole possession of the league lead in home runs with eight dingers on the season.

Honu (26-12-1) starter Blair Johnson (3-1, 3.26 ERA) notched the victory after striking out two and surrendering two runs on five hits through three innings. Drew Naylor earned his first save of the campaign with two innings of scoreless relief to close out the game.

Joshua Bell went 3-4 with a triple for West Oahu (13-24-2), while teammates Anthony Hatch and Jamie Hoffmann each notched two hits and drove in a run.

CaneFires' starter Michael Cooper fell to 1-3 after allowing four runs on five hits through four innings.

The Honu face the Waikiki BeachBoys in tomorrow's league championship game. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. tomorrow (Monday, Nov. 19) at Hans L'Orange Park. The game will be televised live on K5 The Home Team (KFVE) and broadcast live on ESPN 1420 AM (KKEA).

The probable starters for tomorrow's game are: Shinya Nakayama (6-2, 3.12 ERA) for North Shore; and Kyohei Muranaka (3-1, 2.00 ERA) for Waikiki.

**truebluefan** · 11-19-2007, 10:13 AM

Wingnuts Announce 2008 Schedule

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts, proud members of the American Association of Professional Baseball, released their schedule today for the 2008 season.

Wichita's newest baseball franchise will begin their first season of play on May 7th, when they host the Sioux City Explorers for a three-game set at Lawrence Dumont Stadium.

The American Association features (AA) a 96-game schedule, broken into two halves. The Wingnuts will play in the North Division, along with Sioux City, the Sioux Falls Canaries, Lincoln Saltdogs and St. Paul Saints. The winner of each half will meet in a best-of-five first round series, unless the same team wins both halves. Then, the team with the second best overall record will also advance to the playoffs. The North and South Division winners will meet in the best-of-five AA Finals.

The Wingnuts will play the other nine AA teams for at least one three-game series, though they will not host the Pensacola Pelicans or the Grande Prairie AirHogs, nor will they face the Shreveport Sports on the road.

Wichita's longest home stand of the season will be seven games; however, the Wingnuts will play away from Lawrence Dumont Stadium, during a 13-game road trip over the first 16 days of August. The 74th anniversary of the National Baseball Congress (NBC) World Series will take place at Lawrence Dumont from August 1-15.

13 of the Wingnuts 48 home games will be played on either Friday or Saturday, with another seven games coming on Sunday. The Wingnuts will play on the road for the 4th of July, but will host a special NBC play-in game and fireworks show on that night.

Other key promotions this season will include the Birth of the Nickel Night on May 9th, Pop-up Toaster Night on May 27th and Sandpaper Night on June 14th. The Wingnuts will wrap up the regular season with a three-game home stand versus Lincoln from August 21-23, which is the same weekend in 1560 that Tyco Brahe decided he wanted to be an astronomer.

Tickets for all Wingnuts home games, as well as all NBC World Series games range from $5.99-$10.99, with discounts for all seniors, children 12 and under and military personnel. Season tickets are also on sale now, ranging from just $30 for a five-game pack to just $475 for a full season package.

The Wingnuts introduced manager Kash Beauchamp (BEE-chum) and pitching coach Luke Robertson at a press conference last Friday. The Wingnuts formally introduced their ownership group last Friday as well, which features Detroit Tigers pitcher Nate Robertson.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please call the Wichita Pro Sports office at 264-GOAL or visit our website at AA Standings - Wichita Wingnuts Baseball. Wichita Pro Sports other entity, the Wichita Thunder, returns to action on Saturday at the first place Rocky Mountain Rage. The Thunder returns home next Friday and Saturday, November 23rd and 24th to host Mississippi and Oklahoma City.

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