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Captains Name 2010 Coaching Staff

May 3, 2010 - American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release


SHREVEPORT, La. - The Shreveport-Bossier Captains named Jorge Alvarez, Darien Dukes and B.J. Litchfield to manager Ricky VanAsselberg's coaching staff, the team announced today - the first day of 2010 spring training. Alvarez will be a player-coach supervising hitters in his first official coaching role, while Dukes (bench coach) and Litchfield (pitching coach) will each begin their second season coaching professional baseball.

The 42-year-old Alvarez was ninth in the American Association in 2009 with a .319 batting average, and was the first player signed to this year's squad, back in November. Entering his 23rd season as a player, Alvarez has been an unofficial player-coach for years, but is excited to have his first true coaching job.

"I have been like a player-coach for 10 years now, but I've never had a chance to have the real title and responsibilities like I have thanks to Ricky," Alvarez said. "It's a real honor and I'm looking forward to it."

Alvarez has been a hitting force throughout his long career, and he still can get the job done. His 130 hits in 2009 were tied for second place in the American Association, and his 71 runs and 76 RBIs were both fourth. 2009 also marked Alvarez's 12th .300 or better season in independent baseball (out of 15 total), and he holds a career average of .312 with 185 homers and 1,266 RBIs. The native Dominican, who now lives in San Antonio, is approaching 2,000 career professional games (outside of countless winter ball contests), was traded to the Captains from El Paso late last season, helping them go 8-5 down the stretch chasing a playoff spot.

"I think we've got one of the best new hitting coaches in all of baseball," VanAsselberg said. "Jorge is a great communicator, it helps that he is truly bilingual and can work easily with all of our hitters, and I'm privileged to be able to give him this job."

Litchfield retired as a player midway through 2009 and immediately joined the Captains' staff, and enters his first full season as a professional coach in 2010 as the pitching coach.

"I just want to provide our pitchers with an opportunity to really work hard every day and improve themselves as players," Litchfield said. "We're going to have a good staff, and I will make sure that they are prepared to go out there each game at the best of their abilities."

As a player, Litchfield was a submarining righty reliever, who played both college baseball and football at Azusa (Calif.) Pacific University. He won a championship in his rookie season with Pensacola (Fla.) in 2002 - the Pelicans' first season of existence - and went on to play in Selma (Ala.) and Macon (Ga.) in the Southeastern League, Windy City (Ill.) in the Frontier League, San Angelo (Texas) in the Central League, Winnipeg and Schaumburg (Ill.) in the Northern League, Coastal Bend (Texas) and El Paso in the American Association and Alexandria (La.) in the United League, where he played for VanAsselberg.

He also played with Alvarez twice, in San Angelo and El Paso, along with coaching him last season.

Litchfield had a career record of 14-17, with a 3.42 ERA and 23 saves in his career, and currently holds the American Association record with 53 games pitched in 2006. He finished in his league's top three in games pitched three times, and was in the top 10 in ERA twice.

A native Californian, Litchfield lives near San Diego and is currently studying for his Master's Degree.

"Litch works hard, knows the game, and I know he's going to do a great job," VanAsselberg said. "For someone new at his job, he is really impressing me with his preparation so far."

Dukes begins his second season on the Captains' coaching staff, this year serving as the bench coach. He was partially responsible for VanAsselberg's college playing career at Baptist Christian College in Shreveport (now Louisiana Baptist) after seeing him play in high school.

Nearly two decades later, VanAsselberg still appreciates the baseball lifer's contribution to his own career.

"You don't meet too many people who love the game like Dukes does," VanAsselberg said. "He helped recruit me to college, and after all these years it's great to be sharing a dugout with him for another season."

Playing at BCC from 1987-92, Dukes was part of two Small College National Championship-winning teams. He earned his college degree in physical education, and now teaches eighth grade social studies at McLeod (Texas) High School along with serving as the baseball coach there.

"I'm delighted to get the chance to get to know my fellow coaches, who are three real good baseball guys," Dukes said. I enjoyed picking their minds and learning a whole bunch last season, and am excited to do it again this year."

Dukes lives in Shreveport with his wife Kristi and daughter Breanne.

The Shreveport-Bossier Captains open the 2010 season in Fort Worth on May 13, and will be on the road for the first series of the year. The home opener is a day-night doubleheader against Pensacola on Tuesday May 18. All games will be broadcast on ESPN Radio, KRMD-1340 AM as well as streaming live on supertalk1340.com. For information on tickets, promotions, advertising, and other opportunities with the Captains, check out the team's Web site at www.sbcaptains.com, or call the Fair Grounds Field office at (318) 636-5555.



American Association Stories from May 3, 2010


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