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NYPL State College Spikes

New Coaching Staff to Lead 2011 Spikes, Turgeon Named Manager

December 22, 2010 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATE COLLEGE- An all-new coaching staff will guide the State College Spikes in 2011, led by first-year manager Dave Turgeon (pronounced TUR-gin), the Pittsburgh Pirates announced today. Pitching coach Justin Meccage (pronounced MESS-age), hitting coach Edgar Varela and athletic trainer Thomas Pribyl will join Turgeon on the bench when the Spikes open New York-Penn League play June 17 at Williamsport.

Turgeon, newly hired by the Pirates, has spent the past eight seasons coaching at the NCAA level, including the past four as associate head coach and pitching coach at Virginia Tech. The 45-year old has also made college assistant coaching stops at Boston College (2002-03), Connecticut (2004-05) and Duke (2006). Prior to his college coaching stint, Turgeon coached and managed for three seasons in the Cleveland Indians' organization from 2000 to '02.

Turgeon is no stranger to the New York-Penn League having both played and managed in the league. In 1987, after being drafted by the New York Yankees, he began his professional career with the Oneonta Yankees. He returned to the NYPL in 2001 to manage the Mahoning Valley Scrappers for one season.

As a player, the Groton, Connecticut native spent 13 seasons playing professionally - the first five as an infielder and the last eight as a pitcher, where he rose to the AAA level. Turgeon played for the Yankees organization from 1987-90 before continuing his career internationally in Holland (1991), France (1992), Taiwan (1993-96, 1998) and Mexico (1997-99). In 1998, he returned to affiliated baseball playing at the AAA level for the Baltimore Orioles.

Meccage will make his professional coaching debut with the Spikes in 2011 after having served as pitching coach at Arkansas State University since August 2007. The 30-year old also coached at the University of Texas-Pan American from 2004-07. Meccage will be returning to the New York-Penn League for the first time since the 2002 and '03 seasons, when he pitched for the Staten Island Yankees after being drafted out of Oklahoma State University.

Varela enters his fourth season as a coach in the Pirates' minor league system, having coached at Low-A West Virginia the past two years. In 2008, his first season with Pittsburgh, he was a coach with the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Pirates. The 30-year old Varela played five seasons in the minor leagues from 2002-06 with the White Sox, Diamondbacks and Marlins organizations. A native of Southern California, he played his college baseball at Long Beach State University and was drafted by the White Sox in the 31st round of the 2002 MLB Draft.

Pribyl, a veteran athletic trainer with 12 years of professional baseball experience, will serve in that same capacity with the Spikes in 2011. The 36-year old native of Texas has been with the Pittsburgh minor league system and has worked at every level, including Triple-A Indianapolis, where he served in 2010. Prior to that, Pribyl was the head athletic trainer for the Double-A Altoona Curve from 2006-09.

Each member of the Spikes' 2010 coaching staff - manager Gary Robinson, pitching coach Mike Steele, hitting coach Brandon Moore and athletic trainer Mike Zalno - has been promoted within the Pirates' minor league system for the 2011 season. Robinson has moved up one level and will manage the Low-A West Virginia Power of the South Atlantic League. Steele has been promoted to High-A and will serve as pitching coach for the Bradenton Marauders of the Florida State League. Moore and Zalno will handle their same roles with the Double-A Altoona Curve of the Eastern League.

The Spikes 2011 New York-Penn League season opens June 17 at Williamsport with the Home Opener set for Sunday, June 19 at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Season Tickets, Mini Plans, Flex Books and numerous group outing opportunities are currently on sale for the Spikes' 2011 season. Fans can learn more by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com or by calling the Spikes at (814) 272-1711.

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