There is some personnel news to report, as general manager Dave Chase is departing the Sussex County Miners (independent; Can-Am League).
Hired by Miners owner Al Dorso Sr. before the 2015 season, Chase brought plenty of experience to Sussex County, having previously served stints with the likes of Baseball America and the Memphis Redbirds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League).
In his two seasons at the helm, Chase provided a boost to baseball at Skylands Stadium, which has hosted three professional teams since its opening in 1994 and faced an uncertain future several years ago. The Miners posted an increase in attendance for 2016, and Dorso announced at the end of the season that the Miners will continue to play at Skylands Stadium through at the least the 2019 season. Chase, who concluded his run with the Miners on Sunday, looks to be leaving the team on very good terms. More from the New Jersey Herald:
“I think we’re going to be good friends, hopefully for the rest of our lives,” Dorso said.
“I learned a lot from Dave, and not just about baseball. He is a total professional. He always knew what he was doing. He always had a plan.”
“Our relationship has evolved into a friendship,” Chase said. “I admire Al, I admire what he’s done here, how he’s brought baseball back to what was an empty, abandoned ballpark.
“It seems that once we started talking about going our seperate ways, we became friends more than in the past.”
The New Jersey Herald also reported that Dorso will likely split Chase’s role into two positions. During his time with the Miners, Chase oversaw both business and baseball operations.