NYPL State College Spikes

New Spikes Manager Gary Robinson to Appear at Spikefest

Published on February 9, 2009 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATE COLLEGE - Gary Robinson, who on December 19 was officially announced as the State College Spikes' 2009 manager, will make his first visit to State College as part of SpikesFest 2009 this Sunday, February 15. The indoor carnival event will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Penn State Multi-Sport Facility (adjacent to the Bryce Jordan Center). Admission to the event is free to individuals and families of all ages.

Robinson will be formerly introduced to Spikes fans as the club's 2009 bench boss at 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon at SpikesFest. In addition, Gary will meet and greet Spikes fans, participate in a fan question and answer session and serve as one of the instructors for the first annual SpikesFest Youth Baseball Clinic, which will be held during the 2 p.m. hour of the event.

A native of North Carolina, Robinson becomes the fourth manager in the four-year history of the Spikes franchise, following Mark DeJohn (2006), Turner Ward (2007) and Brad Fischer (2008). He will be joined on the Spikes' 2009 coaching staff by pitching coach Mike Steele and hitting coach Brandon Moore.

Robinson has a diverse background in the game of baseball as a player, coach, scout and umpire. For the past decade, he has served as a Triple-A umpire evaluator for Major League Baseball. Away from the game, he has been an administrator for the Union County School District in North Carolina since 1999.

The Spikes managerial post will be Robinson's first on-field position in professional baseball since 1998, when he served as pitching coach for the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Expos under manager Frank Kremblas, who will be the Pirates' Triple-A manager at Indianapolis in 2009. From 1991-97, Robinson worked as a scout for the San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners and Philadelphia Phillies. Robinson enjoyed a very successful 10-year career as the head baseball coach at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte (now known as Charlotte) from 1982-91, where his teams compiled a record of 280-244-3. His 49ers teams won 30 or more games five times and he was the Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year in 1984. He was also responsible for 34 of his players signing professional baseball contracts.

Now in its third year, SpikesFest is a giant indoor baseball carnival for the entire family, featuring free autograph sessions, prizes, inflatable games, appearances by Ike the Spike, the Nookie Monster and other mascots, youth player and coaches clinics and much more. In addition, the Spikes will once again hold a silent auction of sports memorabilia and entertainment experiences with all proceeds to benefit Coaches vs. Cancer. Over the first two SpikesFest events, the club has helped to raise several thousand dollars for Coaches vs. Cancer, a nation-wide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).

Among the highlight activities associated with SpikesFest 2009 will be autograph and meet and greet sessions with new Spikes' manager Gary Robinson, former Spikes players and current Pittsburgh Pirates' minor league infielders Matt Cavagnaro and Chad Rice, and the Penn State Baseball coaching staff. In addition, the Spikes will make important announcements regarding 2009 New York-Penn League All-Star Game, which will be held at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Tuesday, August 18.

New for this year's SpikesFest are free youth baseball player and coaching clinics, which will be held during the 2 p.m. hour of the event. Clinics for youth players will be run by former Spikes infielders Matt Cavagnaro and Chad Rice and will focus on the areas of hitting, fielding and baserunning. Area youth coaches will have the opportunity to learn teaching points from new Spikes manager Gary Robinson, field maintenance tips from Spikes Sports Turf managers Matt Neri and Shaun Meredith, and injury prevention and maintenance from Spikes Head Athletic Trainer Mike Zalno.

The complete list of activities planned for SpikesFest 2009 includes:

--Free youth baseball player and coaching clinics (2-3 p.m.)

--Sports Memorabilia silent auction to benefit Coaches vs. Cancer

--First opportunity to meet and greet new Spikes' manager Gary Robinson

--Autographs and Meet and Greet sessions with Robinson, the Penn State Baseball coaching staff and former Spikes infielders Chad Rice and Matt Cavagnaro

--Hang out with Ike the Spike and the Nookie Monster

--Check out special announcements and events surrounding the 2009 New York-Penn League All-Star Game, which will take place August 18 at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park

--Inflatables & Carnival games from the Spikes' Kids Zone

--Clock Your Fastball at the Speed Pitch Station

--Swing like a big leaguer in the Batting Cage

--Make your own pennant with the Penn State Center for Arts & Crafts

--Many other great activities still being added.

Fans can check StateCollegeSpikes.com often as the event approaches for additional events and experiences.

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New York-Penn League Stories from February 9, 2009


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