MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons Field Staff All New

Published on January 16, 2004 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Dayton, OH – The Dayton Dragons will try and return to the Midwest League's post season in 2004 after missing the playoffs for the first time in team history, in 2003. If the club reaches the post season, it will do so under the direction of a new field boss. The Cincinnati Reds have named Alonzo Powell as the Dragons Manager in 2004. Powell becomes the third skipper in the Dragons five year history, following Freddie Benavides (2000) and Donnie Scott (2001-2003).

Powell, who played 19 seasons of professional baseball, has been with the Reds organization for the past two seasons. In 2003 Powell served as the hitting coach at AA Chattanooga in the Southern League. Powell, who lives in Indianapolis with his wife Selena and their three children, spent time in the Major Leagues with the Montreal Expos (1987) and the Seattle Mariners (1991). He also played professional baseball in Japan for seven seasons, where he was a five time all star, three time batting champion (becoming the first American (94-96) to win three consecutive batting titles) and a two time winner of the gold glove.

The remainder of the Dragons 2004 staff will be first time coaches in Dayton as well. Larry Pierson will be the fifth Dayton pitching coach in as many seasons. Pierson pitched in the St. Louis Cardinal organization for four seasons and coached in the Boston Red Sox organization for eight seasons before joining the Reds prior to the 2003 season. Pierson was the pitching coach of Cincinnati's "high" A affiliate in Potomac in 2003.

Former Red ('85-'87) and 12 year veteran of the Major Leagues Max Venable will be the Dragons hitting coach in 2004. Venable also played in the Majors with the San Francisco Giants, Montreal Expos and California Angels in addition to the Reds. The 2004 season will be the first in the Cincinnati Minor League system for Venable, who spent four years in the Atlanta Braves Minor League system, including two as a manager.

Randy Brackney will be back in 2004 for his fifth season as the Dragons Trainer. Prior to coming to Dayton, Randy served in the same capacity for the Reds organization in Rockford, Illinois with the Rockford Reds during the team's final season of 1999. Randy's family includes his wife Jennifer, son Corey and daughters Brooke, Abigail and Gracie Jena.

The Dragons look to improve on a 2003 season that saw the club finish with a 61-78 record under Manager Donnie Scott.

In his three seasons on the Dayton bench, Scott led the Dragons to winning records and a post-season playoff birth in both 2001 and 2002. Scott's three year record as the Dragons Manager was 216-202. Donnie will manage the Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer League in 2004. Jaime Garcia, the Dragons Pitching Coach in 2003, will serve in the same capacity for the GCL Reds in 2004, while Dragons Hitting Coach Billy White, will work with the hitters in Potomac, the Reds "high" A affiliate in the Carolina League.

The Dragons will open up the 2004 Midwest League season at Fifth Third Field on Thursday, April 8th versus the West Michigan Whitecaps, the MWL affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. The first pitch on opening night is scheduled for 7:05 PM, with the game being broadcasted live on WING AM 1410 ESPN Radio and at www.daytondragons.com and televised in the Miami Valley on Time Warner Television channel 25.

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Midwest League Stories from January 16, 2004


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