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Ballpark Notes for April 8, 2009

Today’s newsy goodness from the ballpark world: radio news from the Birmington Barons, Casper Ghosts and Kansas City T-Bones, a new GM hire in United League Baseball, and coaching staff additions in Windy City.
Today’s newsy goodness from the ballpark world: radio news from the Birmington Barons, Casper Ghosts and Kansas City T-Bones, as well as a new GM hire in United League Baseball.

The Casper Ghosts (rookie; Pioneer League) announced a new partnership with Appaloosa Broadcasting to provide Internet streaming of all Ghosts home and away games for the 2009 season. "We are very excited about this new joint venture with Appaloosa Broadcasting," said Ghosts General Manager Mike Sandler. "With this agreement we have found a partner that shares our vision for growth." Appaloosa Broadcasting is best known locally for such popular radio stations as KTED 100.5 and 105.5 The Vibe.

Ghosts fans need only to turn on their computers to hear all 76 regular season games and the playoffs on ghostbaseball.com or casperspurerock.com.

Announcer Tim Ray is back in the booth after a one-year hiatus. He will be doing all home games from Mike Lansing Field.

Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern League) games will once be broadcast on WYDE, 101.1 FM “The Source” and WYDE, 1260 AM for the 2009 season.

“This has been a great partnership between the Barons and all of our stations here at WYDE,” WYDE National Sales Manager Jennifer Paepcke said of the relationship that began in 2003. “It has been a great fit for our listeners because they are definitely supporters of the Barons.” WYDE’s switch back to talk radio will make the partnership an even better fit, according to Paepcke.

The 2009 season will also mark the first time that 6:05 PM CST games will be broadcast in its entirety on 101.1 FM “The Source.”

Ben Larson is the new voice of the Kansas City T-Bones (independent; Northern League). Larson joins the T-Bones after spending the past two seasons calling games for the Madison Mallards (summer collegiate; Northwoods League). During the offseason, Larson also spends time covering football for the University of Wisconsin.

Doug Leary, whose background includes serving as general manager or assistant general manager for three affiliated clubs, is the new GM of the Edinburg Coyotes (independent; United League Baseball). His management experience includes positions at Ogden, Phoenix and Tucson, while he’s worked worked as a spring-training coordinator for the Giants and the A’s.

Greg Mucerino is the new hitting coach for the Windy City ThunderBolts (independent; Frontier League). Mucerino spent the 2007 season as the hitting coach for the Bradenton Juice (independent; South Coast League), leading the team to the third-best record in the league despite spending all but three games on the road. Billy Bryk joins the ThunderBolts as pitching coach after spending the 2008 season on the staff of the Edmonton Cracker-Cats (independent; Golden Baseball League). Returning for his sixth season as bench coach is former Chicago White Sox farmhand and Cook County Cheetah outfielder Mike Kashirsky. Mike took over as interim field manager after Brian Nelson left the team at the All-Star Break last season and posted a 37-14 record, including winning 34 of his last 40 games in leading the ThunderBolts to a successful defense of their Frontier League title. Also back with the ThunderBolts is bullpen coach Pascual Santiago. Pascual serves as pitching coach at Robert Morris College and previously served on the staffs at Olive Harvey College, Moraine Valley College, and Lewis University.