It has been relatively quiet in the local baseball realm since the Altoona Curve organization announced several weeks ago that they were picked up as a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate.
Yesterday, the Pirates announced their 2007 minor league coaching assignments. The State College Spikes will be managed by former Pirate and veteran major leaguer Turner Ward. Joining Ward on the State College bench will be former Altoona Curve infielder Mike Moriarty, and pitching coach Wilson Alvarez, who pitched for 14 seasons in the major leagues and is famous for tossing a no-hitter with the Chicago White Sox in August 1991.
This will be Ward’s second season as a manager within the Pirates organization. Last season, he coached the Gulf Coast League’s Bradenton Pirates. Ward retired as a player following the 2001 season.
The Pirates also assigned the field staffs for their five other minor league affiliates, including the Spike’s sister franchise, the Altoona Curve.
Coaching assignments for all of the Pirates’ affiliates are listed below:
Indianapolis (AAA)- Trent Jewett (Manager), Hensley Muelens (Hitting), Jeff Andrews (Pitching), Jason Palmer (Trainer)
Altoona (AA)- Tim Leiper (Manager), Brandon Moore (Hitting), Ray Searage (Pitching), Thomas Pribyl (Trainer)
Lynchburg (A)- Jeff Branson (Manager), Greg Briley (Hitting), Bob Milacki (Pitching), Bryan Housand (Trainer)
Hickory (A)- Gary Green (Manager), Ryan Newman (Hitting), Dave Lundquist (Pitching), Jared Destro (Trainer)
State College (A)- Turner Ward (Manager), Mike Moriarty (Hitting), Wilson Alvarez (Pitching), Mike Zalno (Trainer)
Bradenton (R)- Tom Prince (Manager), Woody Huyke (Coach), Ramon Sambo (Coach), Miguel Bonilla (Pitching), Jose Ministral (Trainer)
The new coaching staff will make
their debut on June 19th,
when the Spikes take on their intrastate rivals, the Williamsport Crosscutters. Season tickets, mini-plans, flex books and group packages are currently
available for the 2007 season and can be purchased by calling the Spikes
toll-free at 877-99-SPIKES. For more information, visit www.StateCollegeSpikes.com.
