Vipers unveil training camp roster

Published on May 5, 2005 under Northern League (NL)
Calgary Vipers News Release


The Calgary Vipers of baseball's Northern League unveiled their inaugural training camp roster at a media conference at Foothill Stadium today.

Field Manager and former Los Angeles Dodger Mike Busch and Pitching coach Steve Maddock will have 26 players in camp for the official start of Training Camp today. Veteran Cory Paul will join the team on the weekend as will bench coach Dave Allen.

On Wednesday the Vipers put veteran Tony Pendergrass on irrevocable waivers. Former Edmonton Trapper pitcher Anthony Ferrari was also released by the Vipers so that he could join the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

The Vipers have a large Canadian contingent in training camp led by veteran first baseman and Calgary Dinos assistant coach Greg Morrison. Eight more Canadians are on the camp roster.

The Vipers also announced a special celebration for opening night. Calgary's Jeff Zimmerman will fly in from the Texas Rangers facility in Phoenix for the opening night celebrations. Zimmerman was a walk on at the Winnipeg Goldeyes free agent camp in 1997. After making the team and recording a 9-2 record with the Fish that season Zimmerman was signed by the Rangers organization and only two years later became on of the top closers in Major League Baseball. He was chosen to the All-Star team and is the only Albertan to ever play in the Mid-Summer Classic. Zimmerman, who is on a rehab stint with the Rangers will sign autographs during the Vipers home opener against the Joliet Jackhammers.

The Vipers also announced that installation of their new ViperVision Widescreen video board will begin on Monday, May 16. The largest outdoor widescreen in North America will also be unveiled at the home opener sponsored by First Calgary Saving.

The Vipers announced their support this summer of the WIBL. After agreeing to lease Foothills Stadium for a minimum term of 15 years the Vipers will welcome the Calgary Dawgs to the park this season. They have also entered into an affiliation agreement with the Red Deer Generals. The Vipers will assign up to 6 players to the Generals this season. As well the entire Vipers coaching staff will work with the Generals players throughout the summer. Generals President Greg Tisdale was at the media conference and will make a joint announcement in Red Deer.

As well, the Vipers, in conjunction with City of Calgary, will entertain proposals for the naming rights to Foothills Stadium.

The Vipers also disclosed plans to enhance the baseball programs at U of C and SAIT. The Northern League team will more than double the field availability at both schools next spring and summer. Dinos Assistant Coach Brad Doss has joined the Vipers as head groundskeeper this season while Head Coach Craig Burak will assist the Vipers on the field this summer as well. The Vipers have also hired Dinos second baseman Fabrizio Montoya as their club house manager for both home and away games this season. Numerous Dinos players will also be hired for summer jobs on the Vipers grounds crew. The Vipers and Dinos will play a controlled scrimmage, under the lights at Foothills, next Wednesday evening.

SAIT and Mount Royal Students have not been left out. The Vipers have entered into an agreement with the Television Broadcast Technology program at SAIT to hire students to run the ViperVision control room and man the cameras for each game. Numerous MRC Sports Administration students have been hired as interns in the Vipers front office and game night operations.

The Vipers medical team will be led by Dr. Jason Giroux, dentist Dr. Brian Sachs, Strength and Conditioning coach, Dr. Corrado Cultrera, Athletic Therapist Schad Richea and team trainer Curtis Amiot.

In conjunction with their flagship radio station The Fan 960, the Vipers and The Fan program director Kelly Kirch announced that the radio voices of the Vipers for home and away broadcasts this season will be veteran broadcaster Rob Kerr and youngster Patrick Steinberg. The Fan will carry 55 Vipers games live and the remaining 43 streamed on their web site.

In the park, the public address voice of the Vipers will be former CBC broadcasting veteran Peter Watts.

Also introduced was the Vipers mascot, the cutest little reptile in Alberta, Slider.

On the corporate front the Vipers announced a number of major sponsorship arrangements for their inaugural season including a 10-year deal with well know North American concessionaire Aramark to handle all food services at the stadium.

The Vipers disclosed that exclusive product contracts have been negotiated with Pepsi, Nestles and Old Dutch. The teams' brewery sponsor will be announced next week. The retail ticket partner and official grocery chain of the Vipers will be Co-op. The major media sponsors of the Vipers are The Calgary Sun, A-Channel and The Fan 960. MetroFord will be the official automobile supplier to the Vipers. Heenan Blaikie will be the official law firm for the Vipers. Green Drop will provide exclusive grass care for the Vipers infield and outfield. Able Landscaping is in charge of cutting the Vipers infield and outfield and all Vipers players will work out at World Health Club.

Cardel Custom Homes have signed on as the official sponsor of Cardel's Baseball Buddies. Each home game an area boys or girls team will be introduced prior to the game and will be joined on the field by the Vipers for the national anthem. The Cardel Baseball Buddies for the home opener will be the Kingsland Thunder 14-year old girls team. Cardel will also welcome 50 children to each Saturday Vipers game. The kids will get to toss the ball with the Vipers players, watch batting practice from the field and be treated to hot dogs and drinks all courtesy of Cardel.

The Vipers will play three pre-season games before heading out on their franchise opening road trip to Sioux City and St. Paul. The Edmonton Cracker-Cats will visit Calgary for games on Friday, May 13, Saturday, May 14 and Sunday, May 15. Admission is only a toonie with all proceeds to the Vipers Children's Charity Foundation.

This Saturday and Sunday the Vipers will hold their free agent camp from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Up to 20 hopefuls will be trying to catch the eye of skipper Mike Busch with two or three training camp roster spots available.

And the Vipers front office staff will be holding an Open House and Job Fair on Saturday. Anyone looking for summer game night positions with the Vipers can apply on site. As well fans are welcome to come to the park, watch the workouts, and pick out seats for Vipers Northern League action.

The Vipers training camp roster is as follows:

PITCHERS B T HT WT BIRTH 2004 CLUB RESIDES 2005 STATUS

BREWER, JEFF R R 6'3 215 10/5/1980 Kingsp/CapCty Vancouver, BC ROOKIE

CILLO, CODY R R 6'2 190 7/17/1980 CGL Mar/Green Longmont, CO ROOKIE

FALCONER, KENNY L R 6'6 225 9/27/1982 Everett Lethbridge, AB ROOKIE

FAUSKE, J.P. R R 6'4 220 3/16/1974 Schaumburg Scottsdale, AZ ROOKIE

GREUSEL, EVAN R R 6'3 212 8/22/1979 Jupiter/Greensboro Diamond Bar, CA LS-3

JANSEN, SAMUEL L L 6'4 195 5/1/1981 None New Berlin, WI ROOKIE

JOHNSON, DOUG R R 6'1 175 12/1/1980 Visalia Pelham, NH LS-3

MILLER, MATT L L 6'2 195 6/6/1978 Joliet Mississauga, ONT LS-3

MOORE, BEN R R 6'1 180 6/10/1981 Tamp/Tren/BaCk St. Croix Falls, WI LS-1

MOWDAY, CHRIS R R 6'4 225 8/24/1981 Daytona Bc Queensland, AUS LS-4

PIDUTTI, JAMES R L 6'2 200 11/22/1981 Pulaski Coniston, ONT ROOKIE

REILLY, CHRIS R R 6'6 220 11/17/1980 Windy City Bound Brook, NJ LS-1

ROGERS, BRAD R R 6'4 210 12/6/1981 None Nanaimo, BC LS-3

CATCHERS B T HT WT BIRTH 2004 CLUB RESIDES 2005 STATUS

GUGLIELMELLI, BRAD R R 6'0 190 10/31/1979 Windy City San Luis Obispo, CA LS-1

HOPKINS, TRAVIS R R 6'0 200 9/18/1981 None Walnut, MS ROOKIE

SHORSHER, ADAM R R 6'2 200 10/8/1980 New Haven San Jose, CA LS-1

INFIELDERS B T HT WT BIRTH 2004 CLUB RESIDES 2005 STATUS

DUNCAN, CARLOS R R 6'0 195 6/30/1977 Ran.Cuc/Arkansas San Pedro, DR VETERAN

FIALLO, ADRIEL B R 5'11 195 1/15/1982 None Tampa, FL ROOKIE

HINE, DENNIS L R 5'10 200 6/1/1982 Nashua Milford, CT ROOKIE

MORRISON, GREG L L 6'1 205 2/23/1976 Winnipeg Medicine Hat, AB VETERAN

ROSARIO, SAM R R 6'0 185 2/13/1980 None Nagua, DR LS-1

OUTFIELDERS B T HT WT BIRTH 2004 CLUB RESIDES 2005 STATUS

ASHMAN, SHAUN L R 6'0 195 2/5/1980 Northwood Univ. Dallas, TX rookie

GERMAN, AMADO B R 6'2 200 3/30/1978 Montgomery San Pedro de Mac,DR VETERAN

JAMES, TONY R R 5'10 `85 5/16/1976 San Angelo Apple Valley, CA LS-5

MILLER, DREW L R 6'1 215 1/3/1980 Richmond Medicine Hat, AB LS-2

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Northern League Stories from May 5, 2005


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