Olympic Medal Winner and Tony O. Headline Hot Stove Banquet
January 7, 2010 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Beloit Sky Carp News Release
The Beloit Professional Baseball Association, Inc. will officially kickoff it's 29th season of baseball by hosting its sixth annual Winter Hot Stove Banquet, Monday, February 1, 2010 at the Country Club of Beloit. The banquet will feature 2008 Olympic bronze medal winner and current Minnesota Twins Pitcher Brian Duensing, and Minnesota Twins Special Assistant Tony Oliva, along with current Minnesota Twins Director of Minor Leagues Jim Rantz and Twins Senior Advisor to the GM Terry Ryan. Also scheduled to appear are Snappers Pitching Coach Gary Lucas and new Snappers Hitting Coach Tommy Watkins.
Duensing, a University of Nebraska product and 3rd Round pick in the 2005 draft, played with the Snappers in 2006, starting 11 games, working his way to a 2-3 record and an ERA of 2.94 before being promoted to high A Ft. Myers. Duensing was a starting pitcher for Team USA in the 2008 Summer Olympics Games in Beijing, China. He posted a 1-0 record and 1.17 ERA in 7.2 innings of Olympic action, helping lead Team USA to a bronze medal. In 2007, Duensing also pitched for Team USA helping win the gold medal in the IBAF World Cup. USA defeated Cuba that year bringing home the gold medal in World Cup action for the first time since 1974. In 2009 Duensing made his Twins debut by going 5-2 with an ERA of 3.64 in nine games.
Oliva, the 1964 American League Rookie of the Year, is entering his 18th season as a minor league hitting coordinator for the Twins. The eight time American League all-star was signed by Minnesota on July 24, 1961, playing 13 plus major league seasons as an outfielder and designated hitter for the team. Oliva is a three time A.L. Batting Champion (1964, 1965 and 1971), along with a two time Sporting News Player of the Year (1965 and 1971). He played in two American League Championship Series (1969 and 1970) and one World Series (1965) and finished his major league career with a.304 batting average, 1,917 hits, 220 home runs and 947 RBI's in 1,676 games.
Rantz has been a member of the Twins' organization since its inception in 1961 after signing his first professional contract with Washington in 1960. He was the winning pitcher for the University of Minnesota in the deciding game of the 1960 College World Series. Rantz spent five years as a player and manager in the organization before moving to the front office after the 1965 season. Minnesota named him the Director of Minor Leagues in January 1986. Rantz is in charge of the full administration of the minor league department, including the working relationships with all Twins' affiliates. He is also responsible for player moves at the minor league level, contract negotiations with minor league players and development of younger players for the major league club.
Terry Ryan, former Twins General Manager, is a native of Janesville, WI and continues to play an important role with the Twins franchise even after stepping down in the fall of 2007 after 16 years as GM. Ryan began his professional baseball career with the Twins in 1972 after he was drafted in the 35th round out of Parker High School in Janesville. He pitched in the Twins' minor league system over a four-year span, totaling a 14-3 record. An arm injury cut Terry's career short, resulting in him enrolling at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1975. Ryan graduated in 1979 with a degree in Physical Education.
Pitching Coach Gary Lucas will also be in attendance at this year's banquet. Lucas is part of the Snappers coaching staff once again in 2010, guiding the pitchers for a fourth season in Beloit. He played eight years in the majors for the San Diego Padres, Montreal Expos, and California Angels. Gary resides in Rice Lake, WI in the offseason.
First time Hitting Coach Tommy Watkins will join Lucas and returning manager Nelson Prada on the Snappers coaching staff in 2010. It will be Watkins first season away from playing after a 12 year career in the Twins organization. Watkins hit.357 in 9 games with Minnesota during the 2007 season. He did spend some of his playing days at Pohlman Field as a part of the Quad City River Bandits during the 2001 season. Watkins resides in Fort Myers, FL.
Tickets for the Winter Hot Stove Banquet are $30 for adults and $25 for children. The ticket includes a plated dinner, with dessert, catered by the Country Club of Beloit and a box seat ticket voucher good for the 2010 Snappers regular season.
The Country Club of Beloit is located at 2327 S. Riverside Drive in Beloit, Wisconsin. The doors will open at 5:45 PM for the silent auction and social time. Dinner will be served at approximately 6:30 PM with the program immediately following.
Space is limited and the banquet has sold out in the past, so tickets must be purchased in advance, by calling the Snappers Administrative Offices at (608) 362-2272 or by stopping by the office located at Pohlman Field, 2301 Skyline Drive in Beloit. The Snappers accept cash, checks, Mastercard or Visa.
The Snappers will open up the home portion of their 29th season on Sunday, April 11, 2010 at 4:00pm. Beloit will take on the Peoria Chiefs, class A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Season tickets are available now at the Snappers front office.
Midwest League Stories from January 7, 2010
- Cardinals Carvan Sold Out - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Olympic Medal Winner and Tony O. Headline Hot Stove Banquet - Beloit Sky Carp
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