The Camden Riversharks Have A New Manager...

And he's sleepy. Sources close to the Sharks say that Jeff Scott will manage the team in 2012.

Scotty co-managed the Sharks back in 2009, prior to that he spent two seasons at the helm of the Atlantic League's travel team, the Road Warriors. He managed the Bellingham Mariners from 1979 to 1983. He was the assistant director of player development for the Seattle Mariners in 1983 and director of player development in 1984-1985. He moved to the Cleveland Indians as director of player development in 1986-1987 and Scouting Director in 1987-1988. Scott was the scouting director of the Detroit Tigers in 1994-1996 and director of player procurement for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1999-2001.

Another old face returning in 2012 is Brett Bonvechio, who'll be replacing Kevin Wilson as the Sharks hitting coach. Bonvechio has played 10 years of professional baseball with organizations like the San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox, reaching as high as Double-A. He last played for the Sharks in 2010.

Drew Macias Signed By Los Angeles Angels

by Michael Barone

CAMDEN, NJ -- Former Rivershark Drew Macias has signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels. Macias, 28, will report to spring training to compete for a spot on the Major League roster.

Macias spent most of the 2011 season with the Camden Riversharks before signing a contract in August with the San Diego Padres to play for their AAA affiliate, the Tucson Padres. With the Riversharks, he batted .267 and had 63 hits in 74 games. When Macias left the team, his .366 on-base percentage led the ‘Sharks and his eight home runs was the fifth highest total.

“We are always very pleased when one of our former players is signed by a major league organization,” states Adam Lorber, General Manager of the Camden Riversharks. “We wish him great luck in the future.”

Macias made his major league debut in 2007 with the San Diego Padres and has previously been a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, as well. He has played in 69 career Major League games.

Macias was originally drafted in the 35th round by the San Diego Padres in the 2002 Major League Draft.

McKellar, Six Others Picked Up By Sugarland In Expansion Draft

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Josh Banks Sugar Land, TEXAS – The Sugar Land Skeeters have obtained the Atlantic League negotiating rights of seven players in the Atlantic League Expansion Draft Friday. Most notable from the list are former major league pitchers Logan Kensing and Josh Banks. “We are excited about the results of the draft,” said Gary Gaetti, Manager of the Sugar Land Skeeters. “We wanted to focus on obtaining the best talent available. All of these guys have at least Triple A experience. ” Former major league pitcher Logan Kensing from San Antonio, Texas, has been selected from the Bridgeport Bluefish. Kensing played college ball at Texas A&M before being drafted by the Florida Marlins in the second round of the 2003 Amateur Draft. The Pittsburgh Pirates have invited Kensing to attend spring training. From the Long Island Ducks, the Skeeters have chosen former major league pitcher Josh Banks. Banks was drafted in the second round of the 2003 Amateur Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. His most recent appearance in MLB was with the Houston Astros in 2010. Austin native Ryan McKeller has been picked from the Camden Riversharks. Drafted in 2002, McKeller spent 7 seasons pitching in the Astros organization. He finished the 2009 season with his hometown Round Rock Express before joining the Riversharks in 2010. Shortstop Iggy Suarez was picked in the draft from the Lancaster Barnstormers. Suarez played college baseball at Texas State University before being drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 2003 draft. From the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, the Skeeters have drafted outfielder Ben Harrison. Harrison was drafted out of the University of Florida by the Texas Rangers in 2004. He spent seven seasons with the Rangers organization before joining the Blue Crabs in 2010. Right-handed pitcher Ryan Houston was selected from the five-time Atlantic League Champion Somerset Patriots. Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1998, Houston has 13 years of professional experience. During 2008, Houston spent the season pitching for the Round Rock Express. Veteran of 13 seasons, catcher Octavio Martinez was selected by the Skeeters from the two-time defending Atlantic League Champion York Revolution. Martinez was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1999 Amateur Draft. About the Sugar Land Skeeters: The Sugar Land Skeeters minor league baseball team, led by Manager and former Major League All-Star Gary Gaetti, will play in the $35 million Constellation Field, which is being constructed by the City of Sugar Land and the Skeeters at the intersection of State Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 90A. The Sugar Land Skeeters will play 70 regular season home games annually, starting with the 2012 season, presented by ABC Home & Commercial Services, beginning on April 26. Constellation Field will play host to a multitude of other sporting events, including football, soccer, lacrosse, cheerleading and band competitions, as well as concerts, group outings and scout sleepovers. Fixed-seat stadium capacity is approximately 6,200 for baseball, plus additional lawn and standing-room-only tickets. Constellation Field has a capacity of 10,000-plus in concert configuration. The Sugar Land Skeeters offices are presently located at 16160 City Walk in Sugar Land Town Square, Sugar Land, TX 77479 where additional information, tickets and Inaugural Season merchandise are available. The Skeeters may be reached at www.SugarLandSkeeters.com or by calling 281.240.HITS (4487), and on Facebook (facebook.com/SugarLandSkeeters) and Twitter (@SL_Skeeters).

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Ben Harrison	Iggy Suarez
Logan Kensing	Octavio Martinez
Ryan Houston	Ryan McKeller

Burgamy Named ABD Hitter Of The Year

From the Australian Baseball Digest

He gets better with age. SMP Images/Ben Southall

Winner:

Brian Burgamy,

164AB, 41R, 67H, 12HR, 34RBI, 20Ks, .409AVG

Switch-hitting 30-year-old Canberra Cavalry infielder Brian Burgamy has had a career year with the bat leading the League with an almost unheard of .409AVG.

A .400+ season is rare in any League and considering the number of high ranking pros pitching in the ABL this is quite an achievement. He also finished the season leading the League with an OBP of .510 ahead of Justin Huber on .466 and was 2nd to Brad Harman with a SLG .677 to Brad’s .709 and led the League in OPS with 1.187 and had only 20Ks in 164ABs.

He has been almost impossible to get out this month – since Jan 12th he has hit a monstrous .543 which includes 5HRs and 10RBIs. Talk about finishing strongly.

Roberto Agnotti in this article on Brian had this to say:-

Before being selected by the San Diego Padres in the ninth round of the 2002 draft, Wichita State-educated five-foot-ten Burgamy was awarded Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year. After a successful run with the Padres Single-A affiliate Lake Elsinore Storm, he was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the Double-A Phase of the Rule Five Draft. A career minor leaguer, he has played for ten seasons without breaking into the Bigs. Never caving in and determined to beat the odds of playing MLB, Burgamy had a Big League season in 2010 when he hit .307 with 15 home runs and 85 runs batted in for the Camden Riversharks and earned himself an Atlantic League All-Star appearance. Like a fine wine getting better with age, vintage Burgamy leads the Cavs.

Other hitters who deserve a mention at season’s end are Aces’ Brad Harman with his League Leading 15HRs ahead of team mate Elliot Biddle [13] who with his 42RBIs, led the League ahead of the likes of Perth’s Tim Kennelly [39] and Mitch Graham [37].

Despite these outstanding efforts we felt that we couldn’t go past a hitter who manages a .409AVG and who was up there with the others in HRs [12], RBIs [34] and led the League also in OBP [On Base Percentage] at .510 followed by Justin Huber [.466]. He also led the League in Runs, Hits and Walks. So its congratulations to Brian Burgamy as our Hitter of the Year.

Noah Hall Named Hitting Coach For GCL Red Sox

BOSTON, MA - The Boston Red Sox today announced the 2012 field staffs for each of their six minor league teams.

The announcement of managers, coaches and athletic trainers was made by Director of Player Development Ben Crockett.

The Red Sox have added three new individuals for assignment in the 2012 field staff alignment, hiring Gerald Perry as the hitting coach at Triple-A Pawtucket, Darren Fenster as the hitting coach at Single-A Greenville and Noah Hall as a coach at the club's rookie level Gulf Coast League team.

BOSTON RED SOX 2012 MINOR LEAGUE FIELD STAFFS

Pawtucket (Triple-A, International League)
Manager: Arnie Beyeler
Pitching Coach: Rich Sauveur
Hitting Coach: Gerald Perry - Joins Pawtucket after serving as the Oakland Athletics hitting coach in 2011. Perry previously spent four seasons in the Boston organization as a minor league hitting coach with Single-A Michigan (1997) and Pawtucket (1998 and 2010) and was the club's minor league hitting coordinator in 1999.
Athletic Trainer: Jon Jochim

Portland (Double-A, Eastern League)
Manager: Kevin Boles
Pitching Coach: Bob Kipper
Hitting Coach: Dave Joppie
Athletic Trainer: Brandon Henry - Begins his first year with Portland after spending the last two seasons as athletic trainer for Salem. He enters his sixth season with the organization having also served as athletic trainer for Greenville (2009) and Lowell (2008-07).

Salem (High-A, Carolina League)
Manager: Billy McMillon - Will serve as Salem's manager after skippering at Greenville from 2010-11. He led the Drive to the South Atlantic League Championship Series in his 2010 managerial debut.
Pitching Coach: Kevin Walker
Hitting Coach: Rich Gedman - Joins Salem after serving last season as hitting coach for Lowell in his first coaching position in affiliated ball.
Athletic Trainer: David Herrera - Moves to Salem from Greenville, where he was the Drive's athletic trainer from 2010-11. He also held that position for Lowell (2009) and the GCL Red Sox (2008).

Greenville (Single-A, South Atlantic League)
Manager: Carlos Febles - Moves to Greenville after making his managerial debut with Lowell in 2011. He was Salem's hitting coach from 2009-10 and held the same role for Single-A Lancaster in 2008.
Pitching Coach: Dick Such
Hitting Coach: Darren Fenster- Joins Greenville in his affiliated coaching debut after spending six seasons on the Rutgers University baseball staff, including three as an assistant coach (2009-11). He also served as an assistant coach for the Cape Cod Baseball League's Orleans Cardinals in 2008. Selected by Kansas City in the 12th round of the 2000 First-Year Player Draft, Fenster spent five seasons in the Royals minor league system and was named a Carolina League All-Star in 2002 and 2004.
Athletic Trainer: Mauricio Elizondo- Enters his fifth season in the Red Sox organization and his first as athletic trainer with Greenville. He previously served as athletic trainer for Lowell (2010-11) after joining the system as an intern with the GCL Red Sox (2008-09).

Lowell (Short-A, New York-Penn League)
Manager: Bruce Crabbe - Returns to Lowell after serving as Salem's manager in 2011. This will be his third season at the helm of the Spinners (also 2006 and 2010). Pitching Coach: Paul Abbott
Hitting Coach: Nelson Paulino - Joins Lowell as hitting coach after serving in the same capacity for the Dominican Summer League Red Sox over five seasons from 2001-02 and 2008-11.
Athletic Trainer: TBA

Gulf Coast (Rookie, Gulf Coast League)
Manager: George Lombard
Pitching Coach: Goose Gregson
Pitching Coach: Walter Miranda
Coach: Dave Tomlin
Hitting Coach: U.L. Washington
Coach: Noah Hall - Makes his coaching debut after playing parts of 13 seasons as an outfielder in affiliated minor league baseball from 1996-2009. He also played parts of five seasons in independent leagues (2001, 2007 and 2009-11).

Hayes, Wilson Out For '12 Season

Sources close to the Camden Riversharks have confirmed that Von Hayes will not return to manage the club in 2012.

Hayes had been the Sharks manager for the past two seasons. Combined, the team went 119-144 under his watch, and finished last in the Liberty Division both years. Hayes previously managed the Lancaster Barnstormers for part of two seasons, again compiling losing records in both.

Today it was confirmed via his Twitter account that hitting coach Kevin Wilson will also not be returning for the 2012 season.

Sharks Bytes would like to wish both Mr. Hayes and Mr. Wilson good luck in their future endeavors.