Coaching Staff Set For 2010
January 11, 2010 - Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
MARION, Ill. - The Southern Illinois Miners have announced the coaching staff for the upcoming season with a shift in responsibilities. Bart Zeller, Ralph Santana and Ron Biga will return to the club as members of Manager Mike Pinto's coaching staff while Pitching Coach Brendan Sagara will not return. He has taken a position in his native Hawaii with a new independent club starting up this season in Maui.
After three seasons as the Miners bench coach, Zeller will become the pitching coach. Ralph Santana, back for this third season on the Miners coaching staff, will move across the diamond from first base coach to third base coach and will work with the hitters. Ron Biga, who has also been with the club for the last two seasons, will continue in his dual role as coach and advance scout and will once again assist in player procurement.
"With Brendan staying home in Hawaii this season," Pinto said, "Bart and I talked about moving him to the pitching coach role. As a pitching coach myself at one time, we have had a program in place that Bart knows, having been with me for five seasons, and will be able to continue to implement."
Zeller spent seven years as a catcher in the St. Louis Cardinals organization and made it to the majors in 1970. Before joining the Miners prior to the 2007 season, he spent two years as the bench coach for Pinto with the Sioux Falls Canaries.
"Bart is a former catcher himself," Pinto said. "He has worked with some of the finest pitchers in the game including former Cardinal Bob Gibson. I have all the confidence that our pitchers will continue to get the guidance, structure and program that they need to succeed with Bart working with them."
Santana was the starting second baseman on the Miners inaugural team in 2007. In one season with the team, he hit.342 and recorded 126 hits, both are still franchise single-season records. He joined the Miners coaching staff for the 2008 season after surpassing the league's age limit of 27.
"Ralph has grown into a fine coach over the last two seasons," Pinto said. "He works very hard, is extremely dedicated and has a lot of knowledge to impart to the hitters. Ralph was a very aggressive player, and I know that he will work with our runners to take full advantage of running situations as well."
Biga, a former high school all-American, spent 13 years as manager of the semi-pro Prairie Gravel who he led to the 2005 National Baseball Congress World Series Championship. He joined the Miners staff for the 2008 seasons after spending two years as an assistant coach in charge of player procurement for the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association
"Ron is an unseen gem on this club," Pinto said. "The fans don't see him a lot, but Ron does so much behind the scenes to help this team win games. His advance scouting work gives us pitching and defensive plans for opposing hitters. He is invaluable in his help to me with player procurement. Ron is my sounding board."
The Miners will open the season on May 20 at home against River City. For a complete schedule and the latest news on the Miners and events at Rent One Park, visit www.southernillinoisminers.com.
Frontier League Stories from January 11, 2010
- Beach Bums Acquire Infielder Eveland - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Find Belle First For Free Martina McBride Concert Tickets - Florence Y'alls
- Coaching Staff Set For 2010 - Southern Illinois Miners
- Baseball's Best Burger Ranks 72nd In Countdown - Gateway Grizzlies
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
