The Charlotte Knights add six new staffers; sportscasters win awards in Wilmington and Manchester; and the Fayetteville SwampDogs add staff. Today's news roundup from baseball's front offices.
The Charlotte Knights add six new staffers; sportscasters win awards in Wilmington and Manchester; and the Fayetteville SwampDogs add staff. Today's news roundup from baseball's front offices.
—-
The Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League) announced six new additions to the front office: Assistant General Manager, Danny Tetzlaff, Coordinator of Community/Team Relations, Sarah Szabo, Ticket Sales Representatives, Tony Furr, Jr., Dave LaCroix, Matt Millward and Client Relations Intern, Lindsey Roycraft.
Danny Tetzlaff comes to the Charlotte Knights after serving as Assistant General Manager with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Class AAA; International League) from 2006–09. Tetzlaff will serve as the Assistant General Manager of the Knights with an active role in all aspects of the ball club’s operations. The native of Winston-Salem, NC, was an integral member of the inaugural staff of the IronPigs. Tetzlaff was heavily involved in sales and marketing of the club before transitioning to baseball operations and stadium management.
Sarah Szabo joins the Knights as Coordinator of Community/Team Relations. Sarah was an intern in the Knights community relations department during the 2009 season. She is a 2003 graduate of Charlotte Latin School and received her BA in Marketing from University of Georgia/Terry College of Business in 2007. Sarah is a member of the Junior League of Charlotte and United Way Young Leaders.
Tony Furr joins the Knights as ticket sales representative. He is a 2008 graduate of North Carolina State University. He first gained experience in front-office baseball as an intern for the Greenville Drive (Low Class A; Sally League) while a senior in college. Upon graduation he moved up north to work for the Pittsburgh Pirates until returning home to join the Knights organization for 2010.
Dave LaCroix joins the Knights as ticket sales representative. Dave is a 2006 graduate of Central Michigan University. He first gained experience in front-office baseball as a Sales Associate for the Akron Aeros (Class AA; Eastern League) in 2009.
Matt Millward joins the Knights as ticket sales representative. He is a recent December 2009 graduate of Penn State University with a BA in Management. Matt interned with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in their ticket sales department the last two seasons.
Lindsey Roycraft joins the Knights as client services intern, managing all details of assigned sponsorship accounts. Lindsey graduated from Wingate University in May of 2009 with a degree in Sport Management. She served as the Executive Assistant and General Manger Intern for the Tarheel Summer Baseball League of the previous year. Following graduation, she worked full time for a Children’s Company managing their National Sales and Client Accounts.
—-
The Wilmington Blue Rocks (High Class A; Carolina League) announced that lead play-by-play announcer John Sadak has been named 2009 Delaware Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.
"John brings an incredible amount of passion and energy to each Blue Rocks broadcast,” said Blue Rocks general manger Chris Kemple. "Through the years we have had some terrific broadcasters who have achieved great success. Jim Rosenhaus is in the majors with the Cleveland Indians, Bob McElligott calls NHL games with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Mark Nasser announces Triple-A baseball for the Omaha Royals. John is as talented as any broadcaster we have ever had."
In 2009, Sadak’s Delaware work included the play-by-play of the Carolina League’s winningest team on the regular season with the Blue Rocks. He also announced University of Delaware women’s basketball on the radio for a sixth straight season and called the television play-by-play of the first-ever regular-season meeting between the University of Delaware and Delaware State University football teams.
—-
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Class AA; Eastern League) announced that team play-by-play broadcaster Mike Murphy has been honored as the 2009 New Hampshire Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA). It is the fifth overall award for Murphy and second consecutive year he has been recognized in the voting by Granite State sportscasters and sportswriters. He will be honored at the 51st annual NSSA Awards Program in Salisbury, N.C., May 1-3, along with Allen Lessels of the New Hampshire Union Leader, who was named the 2009 New Hampshire Sportswriter of the Year.
"Congratulations to Murph on another well-deserved New Hampshire Sportscaster of the Year Award," said Fisher Cats President/General Manager Rick Brenner. "His voice has been synonymous with the Fisher Cats radio broadcasts for six years, and we are excited to give our fans the opportunity to hear Mike and Bob Lipman once again for the call of our games on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network in 2010."
—–
The Fayetteville SwampDogs (summer collegiate; Coastal Plain League) announced the addition of Robyn Womac to their front office staff effective immediately. Womac will assume the role of Director of Community Relations and oversee the SwampDogs extensive community involvement in Cumberland County and the surrounding areas.
Womac is a Texas A&M graduate with a professional degree in Sports Management and minors in both Psychology and Business. For the past three years the Salado, TX native has had an active part in helping form Texas Collegiate League teams. She got her start working for the Brazos Valley Bombers as their Corporate Sales and Public Relations director. After two seasons with the Bombers, Robyn accepted the General Manager position with the Coppell Copperheads. While managing the Copperheads, Womac revamped the inner workings of the organization, established improved marketing programs, and rejuvenated game operations. The Copperheads won the 2009 TCL Championship during her term as General Manager.
—-
Share your news with the baseball community. Send it to us at editors@augustpublications.com.
Subscribers to the weekly Ballpark Digest newsletter see features before they're posted to the site. You can sign up for a free subscription at the Newsletter Signup Page.
Join Ballpark Digest on Facebook and on Twitter!