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Ballpark Notes for Feb. 26, 2009

In today’s ballpark newsy goodness: staff changes in Montgomery, a new voice in the Colorado Sky Sox broadcast booth, and the Williamsport Crosscutters attempt to conquer youth baseball one team at a time.In today’s ballpark newsy goodness: staff changes in Montgomery, a new voice in the Sky Sox broadcast booth, and the Crosscutters attempt to conquer youth baseball one team at a time.

The Montgomery Biscuits (Class AA; Southern League) announced the hiring of Richard Coats, a veteran sales executive with almost thirty years of experience. Coats has worked closely with the team in a client role since the Biscuits 2004 inaugural season, and brings a new level of sales experience and professionalism to the Biscuits front office team.

"We are committed to meeting our clients’ needs, and exploring ways to better serve the local business community," said Biscuits’ Co-Owner Sherrie Myers. "I have seen Richard interact with members of his staff and this community, and have been impressed with his passion and ability. We are excited about adding an executive of his caliber to the Biscuits team to take us to the next level."

Coats, as the team’s Vice President of Sales, will manage all corporate, group ticket, venue and special event sales. Coats’ reaction was enthusiastic, “This is a dream opportunity for my family and me. The Biscuits are one of the best operated teams in the country, and I love the atmosphere at Riverwalk Stadium. The opportunity to manage the Biscuits sales team, and expand the reach of the Biscuits experience into our community, is something that I couldn’t be happier about.”

Prior to joining the Biscuits Coats spent over thirty years in sales and marketing management positions, including Division Director for AT&T, Regional Marketing & Sales Director of GTE, and most recently Sales & Marketing Manager at Knology. Coats lives in Montgomery with his wife Kay, and sons Stuart and Spencer.

The Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) announced Sam Farber will be joining longtime radio play-by-play man Dan Karcher for this season’s radio broadcast on AM-1460 KZNT. This season will also mark a milestone for Karcher, as it will mark his 20th with the Sky Sox.

Farber, a San Jose, CA native, will begin his eighth year in broadcasting. During his broadcasting career, Farber has spent time calling games for a number teams. While working for WRGW/Colonials Radio Network, he called games for the George Washington Colonials men’s and women’s basketball teams, while also hosting the number one rated sports talk show, Coast to Coast. Farber also spent time as the play-by-play broadcaster for the Bowie Baysox (Class AA; Eastern League), the Cal-State Northridge baseball and women’s basketball teams, and the Santa Clara University women’s basketball and men’s soccer teams.

The Williamsport Crosscutters (short season; NY0-Penn League) are offering teams both locally and nationally, the chance to name their team the “Crosscutters.” Teams taking on the Crosscutters moniker will receive a Cutters uniform at a discounted price for the players as well as the coaching staff.

The Crosscutters uniform includes an adjustable red twill replica cap featuring the team’s alternate logo and a 100% preshrunk cotton red t-shirt with the Cutters home jersey lettering on it.

"The response and demand to the Crosscutters name and logo over the last year since our logo change has been tremendous and we are continually looking for new and inventive ways to promote ourselves both in our area and throughout the country,” Crosscutters VP of Marketing and Public Relations Gabe Sinicropi said.

Prices are $17 per youth uniform (S-XL), $20 per adult uniform (S-XXL). An additional $10 shipping and handling charge is added per team order. Youth orders will receive both a youth tee and a youth cap, and adult orders will receive an adult tee and an adult cap unless otherwise specified.

In addition, teams that sign up will have the opportunity to attend a selected 2009 Cutters game free of charge and join the team on the field for the National Anthem as part of the Field of Dreams program presented by the Little League Museum.