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**truebluefan** · 01-29-2008, 07:48 AM

United League Baseball

United League Releases 2008 Schedule

The United League of Professional Baseball (ULB) today announced the release of its 2008 regular season and playoff schedules.

The ULB will open its 2008 schedule on May 13th on the home turf of defending champion Alexandria, Louisiana, along with Laredo and Edinburg, Texas. The opening day tilt in Alexandria will be a rematch of the 2007 Championship Series pitting the Aces against the Harlingen WhiteWings. The 2008 regular season schedule will be 90 games, ending on August 17th.

The ULB also announced they have expanded their 2008 post-season format to two rounds with four teams competing for the chance to be crowned champions. At the end of the first half of the season, the top two teams will earn the right to host a first round best-of-three series at their home stadium starting on Monday, August 18th and concluding on August 19th. The final two post-season participants will be chosen by the best overall winning percentages during the entire season.

The winners of the first two series will then meet for the championship in another best of three series. The Championship Series will be played at both parks with the lower seed drawing game one on Thursday, August 21st and the higher seed hosting games 2 & 3 on Friday and Saturday, August 22nd and 23rd.

League President Craig Brasfield commented, "Playing a 90 game regular season allows the League to add another round of playoffs to the post-season, further adding to the excitement when we crown our new League champion in August."

The 2008 schedule is highlighted by the United League versus Golden League All-Star Game to be played in San Angelo, Texas on July 15th.

**truebluefan** · 01-29-2008, 07:49 AM

United League Baseball

Laredo, TX- The Laredo Broncos welcomed a familiar face to their family on Thursday. Dan Shwam, a veteran minor league manager, and former manager of the Laredo Broncos in 2006 returns for his second stint. Shwam led the Broncos to the semifinals in 2006 after taking over for former Manager Mike Smith in mid season.

"It feels great to come back to Laredo and help the Broncos win a championship." I enjoyed my time in Laredo in 2006 and I'm really looking forward to help bring a good team here." Shwam mentioned. Shwam spent last season managing the Can Am Grays of the Can Am league and set a record for most wins by a traveling team.

Laredo Broncos General Manager, Jose Melendez was excited about bringing Shwam onboard, "this season, I really wanted to focus on bringing an experienced manager that knows how to win and who will be a great role model to the community. With Dan's 20 years experience and the great relationship I had with him in 06, I felt this was a win/win situation for the Laredo Broncos and the community of Laredo." " I expect great things this season and I think the City of Laredo would be proud of Dan's style of winning baseball." Melendez added.

Shwam comes to the Broncos as being one of the most successful independent league managers of all time. Shwam currently is third in wins by an independent league manager with over 600 wins. During his 20 year managerial and coaching career, Shwam has captured a total of 4 championships, two as a manager and two as a coach. Shwam's teams have also qualified for the playoffs a total of 10 times during his career. His most recent championship came in 2003 while managing the Jackson Senators of the American Association.

The Jackson Senators General Manager at that time was current United League President Craig Brasfield. Shwam also spent four years scouting for the Florida Marlins, Montreal Expos and Milwaukee Brewers

After finishing his playing career with the California Angels, Shwam received his first coaching gig with the Salt Lake City Trappers in 1987, affiliate of the Angels. During his stint as a coach, his team set a record for winning 29 games in a row. After his coaching stint, Shwam has had a myriad of managing jobs from Laredo, Texas to Catskill, New York and everything in between.

Shawm, a Southern California native, is married to wife Melody and has a son Brad, who played college baseball and daughter Heather. They currently reside in Utah.

**truebluefan** · 01-29-2008, 07:50 AM

United League Baseball

Alexandria, LA; January 25, 2008- The Alexandria Aces of United League Baseball (ULB) announced today the release of its 2008 regular season and playoff schedules.

The two-time, defending ULB Champion Aces will open at home on Tuesday, May 13th against the Harlingen WhiteWings, a rematch of the 2007 Championship Series. The 2008 regular season schedule will be 90 games, ending on August 17th.

The ULB also announced they have expanded their 2008 post-season format to two rounds with four teams competing for the chance to be crowned champions. At the end of the first half of the season, the top two teams will earn the right to host a first round best-of-three series at their home stadium starting on August 18th and concluding on August 19th. The final two post-season participants will be chosen by the best overall winning percentages during the entire season.

The winners of the first two series will then meet for the championship in another best of three series. The Championship Series will be played at both parks with the lower seed drawing game one on Thursday, August 21st and the higher seed hosting games 2 & 3 on Friday and Saturday, August 22nd and 23rd.

League President Craig Brasfield commented, "Playing a 90 game regular season allows the League to add another round of playoffs to the post-season, further adding to the excitement when we crown our new League champion in August."

The 2008 schedule is highlighted by the United League versus Golden League All-Star Game to be played in San Angelo, Texas on July 15th.

The Alexandria Aces full season schedule is listed on the following page. Game times and promotional schedule will be released at a later date.

United League Baseball welcomes the opportunity to bring the excitement and tradition of professional baseball to communities with a long standing love affair with the Nation's favorite pastime. Every night, history is made in the League's storied ballparks in San Angelo, Laredo, Amarillo, Edinburg, Harlingen, Texas and Alexandria, Louisiana. Join us today for great professional baseball and a value-packed experience for fans, friends, and families!

**truebluefan** · 01-29-2008, 07:50 AM

United League Baseball

Harlingen - The Harlingen WhiteWings Baseball Club, of United League Baseball (ULB), announced the release of their 2008 Regular Season Schedule. The Harlingen WhiteWings will officially open the 2008 campaign on the road on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 against the defending United League Champion Alexandria Aces, a rematch of the 2007 Championship Series.

The WhiteWings will play their Home Opener on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 when they host the Edinburg Coyotes. This will be a historical event when the WhiteWings take the field as the first ever team to play a home game as the new "Harlingen" WhiteWings.

The 2008 regular season schedule will be 90 games, ending on August 17th. The United League also announced they have expanded their 2008 post-season format to two rounds with four teams competing for the chance to be crowned champions. At the end of the first half of the season, the top two teams will earn the right to host a first round best-of-three series at their home stadium starting on Monday, August 18th and concluding on August 19th. The final two post-season participants will be chosen by the best overall winning percentages during the entire season.

The winners of the first two series will then meet for the championship in another best of three series. The Championship Series will be played at both parks with the lower seed drawing game one on Thursday, August 21st and the higher seed hosting games 2 & 3 on Friday and Saturday, August 22nd and 23rd. The 2008 schedule is highlighted by the United League versus Golden League All-Star Game to be played in San Angelo, Texas on July 15th.

**truebluefan** · 01-29-2008, 07:53 AM

Northern League

Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks - Agreed to terms with RHP Nate Cotton.

Joliet JackHammers - Agreed to terms with RHP Drew Shetrone and RHP Shannon Wirth. Announced the retirement of RHP Matt Smith.

Schaumburg Flyers - Acquired INF Jason Diaz from San Angelo (United) for future considerations.

Joliet JackHammers - Agreed to terms with LHP Dustin Taylor.

Schaumburg Flyers - Agreed to terms with INF Chris Gaskin.

**truebluefan** · 01-29-2008, 07:53 AM

Northern League

Schaumburg, IL - The Schaumburg Flyers Professional Baseball Club announced today that starting pitcher Nat Harris is returning for the 2008 season. Harris appeared in 22 games for the Flyers last year, posting a 9-7 record and 4.90 ERA.

"Harris was our number one priority this off season. We wanted him under contract as soon as possible," says Flyers manager Steve Maddock. "He's been a key player for us and I'm looking forward to having him at the top of the rotation again this year."

The Flyers have also signed left-handed pitcher Brad Mumma, first baseman Chris Gaskin and outfielder Corey Stang.

Mumma, who was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2003, pitched 35 games for the Gary Railcats in 2007, posting a 1-3 record and 4.33 ERA.

First Baseman Chris Gaskin hit .270 with 60 RBI's for the New Haven Cutters (Can-Am League) in 2007. . Gaskin was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2004 and led their Single-A affiliate Boise Hawks in RBI's with 39 that year.

Outfielder Corey Stang joins the Flyers with a .313 career batting average. In 2007, Stang batted .295 in 29 games with the Northern League's Winnipeg Goldeyes.

The Schaumburg Flyers are a member of the Northern League, a 6-team Independent Professional Baseball League established in 1993. Opening Day is May 15th, 2008. For ticket information call (847) 891-BALL (2255) or visit Schaumburg Flyers Professional Baseball.

**truebluefan** · 01-29-2008, 07:54 AM

Northern League

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Construction is underway at CommunityAmerica Ballpark on permanent bleachers that will replace the left field berm. Additional bleacher seating will also be added behind what used to be the left field berm and on the concourse above the left field wall. In total eight new seating sections will be added at the Home of the T-Bones. It is estimated that the new seating will seat 2,172 fans. Fans of the berm seating will still have the unique opportunity of sitting on the grass with the right field berm.

The additional seating is needed to help accommodate the fans expected to attend Kansas City Wizards MLS games over the next two seasons and the increasing number of fans attending T-Bones games each summer. The T-Bones have averaged nearly 2,000 fans over their seating capacity each of the past 2 seasons.

"With the growth the organization has seen over the past five years, it's great to see our seating capacity expand," said senior director of ticket operations Brandon Smith. "Because we have averaged 140-percent of our capacity, it has been hard to get a reserved seat for a lot of our games especially on the weekends. This will give fans another option besides our popular berm seating and it will give fans a great view of the game. It will have kind of a Fenway Park feel to our stadium."

Currently 4,365 fixed seats exist to seat only a portion of the 6,024 fans the T-Bones averaged in 2007. With the added seats the stadium will now seat approximately 6,537 fans with additional seating available in the remaining right field berm space. Though the seats are bleachers, each ticket will represent a specifically seat for T-Bones games. General admission will remain consistent with the berm and standing room only.

The bleachers replacing the left field berm will be called Select Bleachers and tickets for those sections are eight dollars. The additional bleacher sections will be called Reserved Bleachers and those tickets are seven dollars.

Stadium construction is scheduled to be finished in time for the Wizards opener on March 29.

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** · 01-29-2008, 07:55 AM

Golden Baseball League

(Dublin, CA. January 29, 2008) The Golden Baseball League (GBL) announced today that the Chicago White Sox have purchased the contract of OF Steve Boggs of the Chico Outlaws. Boggs joins fellow outfielder Daniel Nava as the second member of the 2007 GBL Champion Chico Outlaws to join a major league organizations. Nava went to the Boston Red Sox in November.

Boggs, 23, a switch-hitting outfielder, had a breakout season for the Outlaws in 2007 as he set personal bests in all offensive categories. Originally signed by the Colorado Rockies as a non-drafted free agent out of San Diego State, Boggs spent three seasons in their minor league farm system advancing to Single-A before being released after the 2006 campaign. Joining the Chico Outlaws he won a starting outfield job and was a key to their championship season as he contributed with both his bat and glove. He hit .296 and was second in the GBL in hits while also stealing 17 bases. His 18-game hitting streak at the end of the first half of the season included a number of clutch hits that resulted in key wins for the Outlaws that propelled them into the playoffs.

Boggs is the second GBL player in 2008 to be acquired by a major league organization following the 17 players sold in 2007.

**truebluefan** · 01-29-2008, 08:11 AM

Frontier League

TRAVERSE CITY - The Traverse City Beach Bums have announced the retirement of 1st basemen Brad Vericker.

Vericker signed with the San Francisco Giants as an undrafted free agent out of Point Loma College and played three years in their farm system, reaching as far as double-A before being released following the 2005 season. Vericker was signed by the Gary Railcats of the Northern League and traded to the Beach Bums early in the 2006 season for outfielder Kevin White. Vericker made an immediate impact on the Beach Bums, hitting .294, with 13 doubles, 9 home runs, and 44 RBI in 64 games in 2006 and .266, with 17 doubles, 7 home runs, and 48 RBI in 88 games in 2007.

"Brad was and will always be a huge part of the Beach Bums family," said Director of Baseball Operations Jason Wuerfel. "He was one of our more popular players and one of the more feared hitters in the Frontier League. Will will miss him in Traverse City; it will be hard to replace his leadership on and off the field."

The Traverse City Beach Bums also announced the trading of outfielder Aaron Garza to the Grand Prairie AirHogs of the American Association for future considerations.

"Garza had a very memorable rookie season in Traverse City, but he expressed to us this off-season that due to financial reasons that he would need to play someplace closer to home," said Jason Wuerfel, the Beach Bums Director of Baseball Operations. "He is going to get a good opportunity to play for an expansion team in a brand new stadium, a great league, and for a very good manager. We wish him the best of luck."

The Grand Prairie AirHogs are managed by former Major League player Pete Incaviglia, who enters his first season as a professional manager after coaching for several seasons in the Detroit Tigers farm system.

**truebluefan** · 01-29-2008, 08:12 AM

Frontier League

The Gateway Grizzlies are introducing a rare sponsorship opportunity to area businesses and fans for the 2008 season.

The Grizzlies are giving individuals as well as companies the chance to become presenting sponsor for a particular player on the roster.

"We're giving fans and sponsors a chance to attach their name to their favorite player," Grizzlies General Manager Tony Funderburg said. "As far as I know there aren't many other teams that give their fans a chance to do this."

The cost to adopt a player is just $500 and includes the following:

Sponsor/fan's name on the players baseball card

Sponsor/fan's name with the player's picture on the website

Name recognition on the scoreboard during players at-bats

Barbeque for the sponsors and players at GCS Ballpark

On field recognition in a pre-game ceremony with players

Suite tickets for the night the ceremony takes place

o Player's jersey at the end of the year

Fans and sponsors will get to choose the player they sponsor on a first-come, first serve basis. The proceeds will help to offset player costs throughout the season.

The Grizzlies being their eighth Frontier League season May 21 when they host the Southern Illinois Miners.

Season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are currently on sale and are available by calling the Grizzlies at 618-337-3000 or visiting the GCS Ballpark ticket office in person.

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