Gnats Katz Accepts Challenge
Published on June 17, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
Savannah, GA - Augusta GreenJackets General Manager Nick Brown has elevated the stakes of the challenge put forth by Gnats team President, John Katz, according to a press release issued by the GreenJackets on Thursday afternoon:
"The GreenJackets won their last South Atlantic League Championship following the 2008 season. The Savannah Sand Gnats haven't sniffed the playoffs since 1996 when Nick Brown was a member of the staff in Savannah."
"I know what the playoffs smell like," said Katz. "They smell like champagne-soaked visiting clubhouses in places like Lake Elsinore, Kinston, Lynchburg and maybe even Augusta."
Katz, who has been a club "head honcho" for the past 12 seasons, has seen nine of his eleven prior clubs make playoff appearances, including the 2002 Stockton Ports, a club that won 89 regular-season games en route to the California League Championship. His presence in Salem, VA put an end to an 18-year hiatus without winning a half-season crown.
"Nick obviously has super-powers which I had originally underestimated," said Katz. "As a result, I accept his challenge and amend it as follows: I will be Batman, or Nick will be the Boy Wonder."
Brown's wife, Savannah-native Stacey Brown, is pulling for her home team. In email correspondence, Mrs. Brown is "pulling for Savannah (to win) so that she could laugh at Nick."
"I also think that the loser of this wager should be required to toss the ceremonial first pitch at the first meeting of the clubs at the winner's ballpark during the 2011 season," added Katz. "I am sure Stacey would enjoy seeing her husband try to throw a baseball 60'6" in her hometown of Savannah."
The Georgia MEGA-Series opens tonight at Lake Olmstead Stadium in Augusta, with Savannah's Armando Rodriguez (4-4, 3.26) squaring off against Augusta's Chris Heston (2-6, 5.74) in the 7:05PM ballgame.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 17, 2010
- Suns Fall in First Game of Final First-Half Series - Hagerstown Suns
- Gnats Move One Win Away from Championship with 4-1 Win - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Power Top Hagerstown, 7-5 - Charleston Dirty Birds
- BlueClaws Aren't Intimidated, Win 4-1 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Santana Leads 'Dads past Drive, 4-0 - Hickory Crawdads
- Drive Outhit Crawdads, but Lose 4-0 - Greenville Drive
- Gnats Take MEGA Series Opener, 4-1 - Augusta GreenJackets
- 'Birds Win Fourth Straight, 3-0 over Legends - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Braves Tame RiverDogs - Rome Emperors
- Delmarva Takes Series Opener over Legends, 3-0 - Lexington Legends
- Rome Quiets RiverDogs, 6-1 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Gnats Game Notes - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Gnats Katz Accepts Challenge - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Rome Adds Cunningham to Roster - Rome Emperors
- Brown Accepts Savannah's MEGA Series Challenge - Augusta GreenJackets
- Shorebirds Game Notes: June 17 Vs. Lexington - Delmarva Shorebirds
- All-Star CF Miguel Velazquez to Participate in Home Run Derby - Hickory Crawdads
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Ramirez to DL, Milo Added to Roster - Charleston RiverDogs
- Charleston Baseball Hall of Fame Releases 2010 Candidates - Charleston RiverDogs
- BlueClaws to Host Cole Bros. Circus, August 5-8 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Series Preview: June 17-20 at Augusta - Savannah Sand Gnats
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