The Williamsport Crosscutters and West Virginia Black Bears have both announced awards from the New York-Penn League.
Crosscutters Vice President of Marketing & Public Relations Gabe Sinicropi has won the league’s Male Executive of the Year, while the team claimed a nomination for Minor League Baseball’s John Henry Moss Award Community Service Award.
The 2017 season marked Sinicropi’s 25th fulltime in Minor League Baseball and 30th overall. He was also honored as the league’s Male Executive of the Year in 2011. Gabe has been with the Williamsport franchise since it moved to the city prior to the 1994 season.
Crosscutters Principal Owner Peter Freund stated, “Gabe is not only one of the hardest working people in our industry, but also one of the most influential when it comes to innovation and execution of the fan and business partner experience. From sales to marketing to promotions and everything in-between, Gabe is a force in our business and there is truly no more deserving recipient of this recognition.”
Sinicropi has been a featured presenter and emcee at numerous Minor League Baseball Promotional Seminars and his volunteer service has touched many local organizations. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce, Hope Enterprises, and AAA North Penn while also serving as the Chairman of the Lycoming County Visitor’s Bureau. Since 1998, he has volunteered as a Public Address Announcer for the Little League World Series.
“To be recognized by your peers is indeed a great honor”, Sinicropi stated. “Our league has some of the most innovative, bright and hard-working executives in all of Minor League Baseball, each of whom are equally deserving.”
In addition, the Williamsport Crosscutters were voted the league’s nominee for Minor League Baseball’s John Henry Moss Community Service Award. This award is given to a club that demonstrates an outstanding, on-going commitment to charitable service, support and leadership within their local community and within the baseball industry.
“There is nothing more important than an organization’s ability to give back and connect within their respective communities. In Williamsport, this is our first priority and we take great pride in our ability to champion diverse outreach through our numerous service events and initiatives”, Freund said.
Some of the many Crosscutters on-going charitable initiatives include the Hot Stove Banquet, Cutters 5K race and the Dominican Plate Dinner, all of which raise money for various charities.
The recipient of the John Henry Moss Community Service Award will be announced at the Baseball Winter Meetings this December in Orlando, Florida.
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For the Black Bears, Assistant General Manager Jackie Riggleman has won the New York-Penn League Joann Weber Female Executive of the Year.
Riggleman, 25, recently completed her third season with the Black Bears and her first as the club’s Assistant General Manager. This past season, the Single-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates saw a 63% increase in group sales and a 65% increase in suite sales at Monongalia County Ballpark. With Riggleman’s guidance, Black Bears players participated in over 350 hours of community service.
Along with ticketing and community relations, Riggleman oversees the Black Bears merchandise sales and media relations. She also works with the accounting office, and marketing department on orchestrating themed nights and sponsorship contracts.
“This is a tremendously well-deserved honor for Jackie and one that showcases the hard-work and commitment she has for providing Black Bears fans with the absolute best sports and family entertainment experience at Monongalia County Ballpark,” said Jonathan A. Dandes, President of Rich Baseball Operations. “Jackie has become a well-respected leader in our industry and we’re extremely proud to have her as part of the Rich Baseball Operations family.”
Riggleman will formally be honored at this year’s Baseball Winter Meetings in Orlando Florida in December. She becomes the third Rich Baseball Operations to win the Female Executive of the Year award, joining the President of Rich Entertainment Group, Mindy Rich (1988), and former Vice President of Marketing Services for Rich Entertainment Group, Marta Hiczewski (1991).
Riggleman joined the Black Bears prior to their inaugural season in 2015, when the club won numerous ballpark awards for excellence as well as captured a NY-Penn League Championship. She is a 2015 graduate of West Virginia University’s College of Physical Activities and Sports Sciences where she completed a master’s degree in Sports Management.