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NAmL San Rafael Pacifics

New Independent League Announced

January 14, 2013 - North American League (NAmL)
San Rafael Pacifics News Release


SAN RAFAEL, Calif. - The Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs - a new independent professional baseball league based in California and Hawaii has announced plans to begin play in 2013.

The league is an outgrowth of the North American Baseball League, which ceased operations in November of 2012, and will include teams carried over from that league's North Division - the San Rafael (CA) Pacifics, Na Koa Ikaika Maui, the Hawaii Stars from Hilo, and a new franchise - the Sonoma County Grapes.

In a corresponding move, the league has announced that former Los Angeles Dodger outfielder Mike Marshall, who managed the Pacifics to a division championship in 2012, has been named Commissioner of the League.

Marshall, who served as Vice President of Baseball Operations for the Northern League, and as manager of the league champion Chico Outlaws in 2010, was also president/manager of the NABL's Yuma franchise from 2007- 09.

Eugene Lupario - Managing Principal Owner of the San Rafael and Sonoma County franchises - made the announcements adding, "We are very excited to launch the Pacific Association with four strong franchises and plans to add other prospective franchises. We're busy working on our 2013 schedule and we'll be announcing more about our inaugural season shortly."

League Commissioner Marshall is a 30 year veteran of professional baseball, and a two-time World Series Champion with the Dodgers in 1981 and 1988.

"This is a great development for the further of independent baseball on the west coast. Several leagues have been launched and failed because of a wide range of problems but the Pacific Association is starting out with solid franchise ownership and a smart business plan that will guarantee long-term success," said Marshall.

The Pacifics and the Hawaii teams participated in the North Division of the North American League in the 2012 season. The Pacifics nosed out the Maui club for the championship but the Maui and Hawaii teams had some consolation when they fielded a joint squad to complete a home and away exhibition series with the Ishikawa Million Stars, a team in the Japanese Baseball Challenge League ("BCL"), one of two independent leagues in the country.

Bob Young, owner of both the Hawaii teams, said that the Pacific Association will be playing inter-league games with the BCL, and will be engaged in player trades and player try-outs with these leagues as they seek to expand the footprint of independent professional baseball in the Western United States and the Pacific Rim.

"Baseball speaks a common language," said Young, "and the ardent passion of our fans in California and Hawaii and the fans in Japan for this continued international competition after our exhibition series in 2012 spurred our Japanese partners and the Pacific Association to broaden our horizons in all aspects of our baseball operations and businesses. It is an exciting development and opportunity for baseball at this level and gives the players in the independent baseball system further opportunities to reach their goals of making the show."

The Grapes, who played as a travel team in 2012, will play their 2013 home games at a Northern California location still to be determined. The team is owned and operated by the Pacifics' ownership group, Redwood Sports and Entertainment.

The Pacifics and Grapes have announced their first open tryout for ballplayers seeking a professional contract.

The tryout will be held on January 26, 2013 at Laurel Creek Park in Fairfield, CA. For more information, visit the team's website at pacificsbaseball.com.

The new Pacific Association, presently headquartered in San Rafael, CA, also revealed its logo and announced it will have a website shortly.

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North American League Stories from January 14, 2013


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.

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