Midwest Sliders Coaching Staff Returns

Published on March 30, 2010 under Frontier League (FL)
Oakland County Cruisers News Release


WATERFORD, MI, March 30, 2010 - Believing that stability plays a significant role in promoting team chemistry and a winning ball club, Oakland County Cruisers President & Director of Team Personnel announced that last year's entire coaching staff would be returning for the 2010 Frontier League campaign.

Field Boss Eric Coleman and Pitching Coach Cory Domel will begin their third season with the team, while Gera Alvarez is back for his second tour of duty as Hitting Coach. The Cruisers added former Eastern Michigan University pitcher Matt Dillard as bench coach. Dillard, who played professionally with the Utica Brewmasters of the New York State League and Traverse City Beach Bums of the Frontier League, is a native of Waterford, MI, and runs the Oakland County Cruisers Baseball Academy during the off-season.

"We're pleased with the job our field staff has done," said Hilliard, pointing to the club selling three of its pitchers to Major League organizations in 2009 while the Sliders' .275 team batting average was tied for third best in the League.

Despite a rash of injuries which included the loss of both catchers who began the season with the team, the second baseman, right fielder and two pitchers, the team continued to battle and won four of its last six games on the season-ending road trip. "Our guys have always played hard and that's a tribute to E.C.," said Hilliard.

In recognition of his work, Coleman was given a contract extension for the 2011 season. "We didn't want our manager to be working under a lame-duck situation. The players need to know that E.C. is going to be around for awhile," he added.

Coleman, who now resides in nearby Rochester, gives lessons at the Cruisers Academy in Waterford. "Having spent most of my career in California, I'm used to warm weather. But this winter was fairly tame," said Coleman, who remembers his last collegiate stint as pitching coach and recruiter at Niagara University in upstate New York. "That (weather) redefined cold," he added with a shiver.

The Cruisers begin Spring Training on May 7th, with the opening game starting on May 21st. Current plans call for the club to play most of its games prior to the Frontier League All-Star break on the road, with 12 home games slated for Eastern Michigan University's Oestrike Stadium in Ypsilanti.

Oakland County has 27 home dates during the second half of the 2010 campaign and plans call for a completed seating bowl with capacity of 2,500 complemented by mobile food & beverage concession units and temporary, special-event restrooms. Construction on the venue's permanent structures is slated to commence immediately after the Cruisers' season is completed and to be completed in time for a full schedule of college and high school baseball in late March of 2011.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Frontier League Stories from March 30, 2010


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.

OurSports Central