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**truebluefan** · 12-15-2007, 11:02 AM

South Coast League

Backman to Manage in Northern League

ALBANY, GA - The South Coast League of Professional Baseball and the South Georgia Peanuts, presented by Security Bank, have announced that Wally Backman has been named manager of the Joliet JackHammers of the Independent Northern League. Backman managed the Peanuts during their inaugural season. Wally was named SCL "Manager of the Year" after posting a 59-28 record and leading the Peanuts to the Inaugural SCL Championship.

"We are happy for Wally that he is able to take a step closer towards his ultimate goal of managing in the major leagues by joining the JackHammers in the Northern League," said SCL CEO Jamie Toole. "Hopefully he will attain his goal of managing in the big leagues and we can be proud that he was able to resurrect his career by leading the Peanuts to the Inaugural SCL Championship."

To learn more about expansion opportunities, inaugural season statistics, awards, organizational announcements, photos, and more, log on to South Coast League.

**truebluefan** · 12-15-2007, 11:03 AM

WhiteWings Join Forces with US Marine Corps Reserve

Harlingen, TX - The United League's Harlingen WhiteWings have been drafted by the United States Marine Corps Reserves, figuratively that is, tomorrow when they join the legendary Toys for Tots Drive. Wild Wing himself, the official mascot of the WhiteWings, will head to the studios of KGBT-TV, 9201 W. Expressway 83 in Harlingen, tomorrow from 11 am - 1:00 pm, along with Marine Corps Reserves. They will be collecting toys for the less fortunate in the Rio Grande Valley while also accepting donations of canned goods which will be given to the Rio Grande Valley Food Bank.

Anyone bringing a new toy or food items will be rewarded with four tickets to any 2008 WhiteWings regular season game played at Harlingen Field from Santa Wild Wing himself.

The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots campaign celebrates its 60th Anniversary in 2007. Last year, the effort collected 19.2 millions toys for nearly 8 million needy children in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

"We are extremely proud to take part in this event with the US Marine Corps Reserve Unit," said WhiteWings' General Manager Dave Kost. "Baseball season, for us, doesn't start until May but we need this community to recognize that there isn't off-season when it comes to helping the less fortunate in the Rio Grande Valley," added Kost. "If giving away free tickets will encourage the community to give more toys and food, then we are more than happy to help."

The Harlingen WhiteWings Baseball Club is a member of the independent United League Baseball circuit with six clubs located in both Texas and Louisiana. The 2008 season marks the league's third season and is scheduled to take the field in mid-May.

**truebluefan** · 12-15-2007, 11:04 AM

Veterans Field to Receive Minor Facelift

LAREDO- The City of Laredo Parks and Recreation Department and the Laredo Broncos announced that Veterans Field will receive a minor facelift for its 2008 baseball season. Broncos General Manager Jose Melendez and Parks and Recreation Director Miguel Pescador announced the changes today.

The facelifts call for the Parks and Recreation Department adding air condition to the main restrooms located at the entrance of the stadium. "For the last two years, we have had some requests to add air conditioning to the restrooms and now those requests are being implemented thanks to the City of Laredo." Melendez added.

In addition to air conditioning the main restrooms, the City of Laredo Parks Department is also putting up a new façade at the entrance of stadium. For several years, the sign Veterans Field has hung above the entrance. Now, the sign will get a facelift with the possible addition of the Laredo Broncos logo as well as the TAMIU logo, who plan on playing there baseball season this year at Veterans Field.

Parks and Recreation Director, Miguel Pescador mentioned that "The Parks Department is always evaluating ways to improve our park facilities and accommodating our citizen's requests. We hope that these upgrades to Veterans Field will improve the fan experience at Veterans Field as we enter our third season in partnering with the Laredo Broncos in bringing professional baseball to Laredo."

Other improvements that are being discussed are repainting the whole stadium as well as replacing the dugout tops.

On other issue that is being addressed is dressing up the right field parking area. "We would like our fans this season to take advantage of the abundance of parking at the Civic Center and with that in mind the City of Laredo will be investing in dressing up that area to make it more inviting to our great fans." Melendez stressed.

Mr. Pescador plans to add better lighting to walk through East Martin Field as well as clear all bleachers that are blocking the entrance from right field. "I really want to thank the City of Laredo staff, the Parks Department and the Laredo City Council in making these modifications to improve our fan experience for 2008." A pleased Melendez added.

"The Laredo Broncos are about affordable family entertainment and we are here to support the Broncos and their fans for a successful year." stated Assistant City Manager Jesus Olivares, who oversees the Parks and Recreation Department.

The Broncos and the other five ball clubs in the ULB - Amarillo Dillas, Edinburg Coyotes, Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings (Harlingen) the Colts and the Alexandria, La. Aces - will begin their third year of independent baseball in mid-May. Each club will play 90 games this year.

Season Tickets and sponsorship packages are available at the Laredo Broncos front offices at 2200 Santa Maria (Veterans Field) or by calling 956-723-2273 and by visiting the Broncos website at Laredo Broncos.

**truebluefan** · 12-15-2007, 11:06 AM

JackHammers ink a new manager

Joliet, IL - The Joliet JackHammers have named Wally Backman their new field manager for the 2008 season. Along with 14 years of major league baseball playing experience, he has eight years of managerial experience in independent and affiliated minor league baseball. The JackHammers 2008 home season begins at Silver Cross Field on Friday, May 23 at 7:05 p.m. versus the Winnipeg Goldeyes.

"We are thrilled to have Wally onboard with us," said General Manager Kelly Sufka, who has been with the JackHammers since their inaugural season. "He's certainly a name people will be familiar with, and he is extremely determined to bring a winner to Joliet."

Backman was selected 16th overall by the New York Mets in the first round of the 1977 draft. After making his way through the Mets minor league system as a second baseman, he was eventually called up in September of 1980 and hit .323 in 93 at-bats. As a member of the World Championship team in 1986, he and teammate Len Dykstra became known as the "Partners in Grime" due to their blue-collar style of play.

"Wally coaches the way he played," said Sufka. "Our fans will come to appreciate the type of winning baseball he demands."

Following the 1988 season, Backman was traded to the Minnesota Twins. In 1990, he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates and helped them claim the National League East title batting .290 in 104 games. He then spent two years with the Philadelphia Phillies before finishing his playing career with the Seattle Mariners in 1993.

Backman's first managerial job came in the independent Northeast League with the Catskill Cougars in 1997. After that, he managed two other Western League teams in Bend and Tri-City, and won the Western League Championship with Tri-City in 1999.

Backman then went on to manage four seasons of affiliated minor league baseball with the Chicago White Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks. He spent 2001 in Winston-Salem (A) and 2002 through 2003 with Birmingham (AA), where he won the Southern League title in 2002. In 2004, he led Lancaster (A) to the California League Championship series and was named "Minor League Manager of the Year" by The Sporting News.

Most recently, Backman managed the South Georgia Peanuts in the inaugural season of the independent South Coast League. He was named "Manager of the Year" after posting a 59-28 record and leading the Peanuts to the South Coast League Championship.

"I am very excited to be part of the Joliet JackHammers organization, and I look forward to getting things going in a winning direction," said Backman.

For additional information, or to purchase 2008 full season seats or mini-plan packages, please visit jackhammerbaseball.com: Home, contact the JackHammers Ticket Department at 815.726.2255 (BALL) or stop by the Silver Cross Field Box Office during normal business hours.

**truebluefan** · 12-15-2007, 11:07 AM

Northern League Announces Postseason Format

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - The Northern League has announced its revamped playoff structure new for the 2008 season. The league will be made up of one six-team division with the top four teams heading to postseason play. Unlike past seasons there will not be first-half and second-half winners; postseason placement will now be based on teams' overall records for the entire 96 game season.

"We feel that six teams in one division, not only fighting for playoff spots, but also jockeying for home field advantage throughout the playoffs, will make games exciting and meaningful during the entire 96 game schedule," said Northern League Director of Baseball Operations Harry Stavrenos. "We all are looking forward to the new format for the 2008 season."

The first round of the playoffs will feature the top four finishers in the league. The regular season winner will be the top seed and will play the fourth-place team as the four seed. The second and third-place teams will be the two and three seeds respectively and will play. The top seeds will always have home field advantage in each of the two rounds of the postseason. Both rounds are comprised of a best-of-five series.

The T-Bones open the 2008 season on the road May 15 in Winnipeg, before the home-opener at CommunityAmerica Ballpark on May 23 against Schaumburg. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05. Season tickets are available now by calling the T-Bones box office at (913) 328-5618.

**truebluefan** · 12-15-2007, 11:11 AM

Outlaws acquire first baseman Julian Benavidez

CHICO, CA - The Chico Outlaws Tuesday announced its first roster move of the upcoming 2008 season - the defending Golden Baseball League champions have traded pitcher Nick Singleton to the independent Northern League's Sioux City Explorers for veteran infielder Julian (pronounced "JOOL-e-in") Benavidez.

The 25-year-old Benavidez, a right-handed hitter who plays both first and third base, will begin his eighth pro season when the Outlaws open the '08 campaign May 22 against the Yuma Scorpions. In 71 games for the Explorers last season, Julian batted .261 with eight home runs and 44 runs batted in. A Bay Area native, Benavidez starred at Berkeley High School and Diablo Valley Junior College before being drafted by San Francisco in the third round of the 2001 amateur draft. Julian spent six seasons in the Giants farm system, spending parts of two seasons with the double-A Norwich Navigators. A career .246 hitter, Benavidez enjoyed his best year statistically in 2001 when he hit .319 for the single-A Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, then drove in a career-high 72 runs the following year at single-A Hagerstown.

"Julian is a great kid and should be a good fit for us," Outlaws manager Jon Macalutas said Tuesday. "It's an opportunity for him to come back to the West Coast and play closer to home. Les Lancaster (the former Reno Silver Sox skipper who was named manager of Sioux City last month) expressed interest in acquiring Nick...and with the Explorers he'll get to play closer to home as well."

Singleton posted a 2-4 record and 4.59 earned run average in 15 appearances for the Outlaws last season, but he saved his best performance of the year for the playoffs - he held the Long Beach Armada to just a run on four hits in seven innings and was the winning pitcher in the Outlaws GBL Championship Series clincher September 1. Nick leaves Chico ranked second on the Outlaws career leader board in starts (29), innings pitched (192) and strikeouts (169).

**truebluefan** · 12-15-2007, 11:11 AM

The Blythe Heat, members of the Arizona Winter League, the premier off-season development league for minor league players in the United States, announced today that two-time major league all-star Jeffrey Leonard has been signed as the new field manager of the Heat. The 14 year major league veteran returns to managing as he previously skippered the Sonoma County Crushers in the Western League.

"We believe that Jeffrey Leonard will be a superb manager for the Heat" said Kevin Outcalt, Commissioner of the Arizona Winter League. ""He's an experienced minor league manager, played at the highest levels of the game, and has been a baseball instructor with his own amateur academy for years. His intensity and passion for the game will not only be felt by his players, but throughout Blythe as he intends to be very active in the community."

Leonard, 52, was signed as an amateur free agent out of high school in 1973 by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He rose rapidly through their farm system as a complete player known both for his defense, leading the California League in outfield assists at Bakersfield, and his dominating presence at the plate as he led the AAA Pacific Coast League in hits and batting average while with the Albuquerque Dukes. Joining the Dodgers in 1977 as a 21 year old he began a 14-year major league career where he compiled almost 1500 hits and hit 144 home runs while playing for five teams, appearing in two National League Championship Series, was voted an all-star twice, finished in the National League MVP Top 20 voting twice, and had such an outstanding National League Championship Series in 1987 that he was voted MVP even though his Giants lost to the St. Louis Cardinals. He began his managing and coaching career in 2000 in the independent Western Baseball League.

"I am thrilled to have this opportunity to manage and help develop professional baseball players" said Leonard. "It will be exciting to bring professional baseball to Blythe and continue the tradition that the Arizona Winter League has developed in helping professional players move up in their careers. I'm looking forward to putting together a fine team, getting to know the community, and getting involved with the fans and with the Blythe youth sports organizations as well."

**truebluefan** · 12-15-2007, 11:13 AM

Miners Double Hospice's Winnings

MARION, Ill. - The Southern Illinois Miners have donated an additional $500 to Hospice of Southern Illinois after Manager Mike Pinto won the Southern Illinois Celebrity Shootout during halftime of the SIU men's basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 1. Because of Pinto's victory, Old National Bank contributed $500 to Hospice of Southern Illinois. With the Miners contribution, the total donation is $1,000.

"Hospice is a great organization and we were pleased to partner with them on this event," said Miners General Manager Tim Arseneau.

Pinto competed against two other celebrity contestants in the Shootout. The two other shooters were Sarah Newlin, who was a contestant on The Bachelor, and former Saluki basketball player Harvey Welch. Each contestant had 30 seconds to hit as many free throws as he or she could. Pinto hit three of his six free throw attempts.

The Miners home opener is scheduled for Saturday, May 24 at 7:05 p.m. For the latest Miners news and updates, visit Southern Illinois Miners.

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