The changes begin at the top with new President John Katz. Katz, who will begin his 18th year in minor league baseball in 2010, worked with the Gnats’ ownership group, Hardball Capital, in his previous position as the Vice-President and General Manager of the Salem Avalanche, which were renamed the Salem Red Sox in 2009. In 1996, the Carolina Mud Cats, where Katz was the Director of Media Relations, Marketing and Promotions, were honored with the Freitas Award as the AA team of the year by Minor League Baseball. Katz’s own work has been recognized numerous times: he was named the 1999 California League General Manager of the Year, the 2000 California League Executive of the Year, both with the Modesto A’s and the 2006 Carolina League Executive of the Year with Salem.
New Vice Presidents Jeremy Auker and Scott Burton both worked with Katz in Salem, Virgina. Auker, the VP of Business Development for the Gnats, who rose from the Director of Group Sales in Salem to the rank of Assistant General Manager will begin his ninth year in minor league baseball in 2010. Burton, the VP of Food and Beverage, begins his sixth year in minor league baseball after holding the same position with the Salem franchise. The University of Tennessee graduate holds a degree in Sports Management/Business.
Also new to the Gnats are Director of Broadcasting and Communications Toby Hyde, Manager of Stadium Operations Evan Christian, and Public Affairs and Special Events Manager Ryan Kirwan. Hyde, who has written about the Mets organization since 2004, begins his seventh season covering minor league baseball in 2010 after broadcasting for the AAA Iowa Cubs in 2007. Christian, who played five years of collegiate baseball, including two at Piedmont College in Demorest, GA, and Kirwan, who graduated from Virginia Tech, both held similar positions with the Salem Red Sox in 2009.
Four members of the Gnats staff from 2009 return in 2010. Director of Sales Ric Sisler, who returned to Savannah in 2009, previously served as the Gnats General Manager for 11 years from 1990 to 2001 and now begins his 15th year overall with the Savannah franchise. In 1991, under Sisler, the Gnats were recognized with the South Atlantic League Merit Award for attendance achievement. Sisler’s baseball career has taken him to AAA in Nashville, and independent baseball in California, Texas, Georgia and New York, where he was named the General Manager of the Year with the Elmira Pioneers of the Northern League in 1999. Sisler, who was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 32nd round of the 1985 draft, is the third-generation in a well-decorated baseball family. His grandfather, “Gorgeous George” Sisler, who spent most of his playing career with the St. Louis Browns, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939 and his father, Dick Sisler, was an All-Star with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1950. Sports Turf Manager Andy Rock begins his fourth season tending to the field at Historic Grayson Stadium. Ticketing Manager Terry McMurtry begins his second year with Savannah after two years with the SAL’s Hickory Crawdads. Manager of Group Sales Chase Polhemus also begins his second year with the team after graduating from Stevenson University in 2007.
OPENING NIGHT
The Savannah Sand Gnats Opening Day is Thursday, April 8th against the West Virginia Power. Opening Night and every Thursday in the 2010 season will be a Thirsty Thursday with 2-for-1 draft beers presented by Bud Light. Please call (912) 351-9150 for ticket information.
ABOUT THE SAVANNAH SAND GNATS
The Savannah Sand Gnats, the Class-A affiliate of the New York Mets, is a professional minor league baseball team and a member of the South Atlantic League. Savannah plays its home games at Historic Grayson Stadium in Savannah, Georgia. Historic Grayson Stadium is situated within Savannah's Daffin Park, creating a unique atmosphere and a "Park within the Park" setting. The ballpark is located just five minutes from downtown Savannah. The Sand Gnats are a Savannah baseball tradition dating back to 1904. For more information call 912.351.9150.
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