Professional Baseball Returns to Baton Rouge
May 14, 2002 - Southeastern League (SEL)
Baton Rouge River Bats News Release
BATON ROUGE, LAâ The Southeastern Professional Baseball League (SEPBL) and local businessman L.J. Dupuy will bring a fresh start to professional baseball in Baton Rouge with the formation of the Baton Rouge River Bats. The first season for the Bats will open May 31 against the Montgomery Wings at Pete Goldsby Field. Game time is 6:35 p.m.
The forward thinking of Dupuy and several Montgomery businessmen along with league commissioner James Gamble ensured there would be baseball in several southern cities along with Baton Rouge this summer. The River Bats organization will allow Dupuy's plan of renovating Goldsby Field and involving the community in baseball to continue.
On the field Chris Cassels will lead the River Bats. A 1986 draft pick of the Milwaukee Brewers, Cassels begins his second stint as a manager in professional baseball. He led the now-defunct Greenville (Ms.) Bluesmen of the Central League (formerly Texas-Louisiana League) to a record of 46-66 during the 2000 season. Cassels will also continue his playing duties.
On a limited basis last season, Cassels finished with a .300 batting average along with five home runs and 32 RBI for Baton Rouge.
Assisting Cassels on the field will be pitching coach Darrin Babineaux and coach Jason Williams. Both will continue taking regular turns in the River Bat lineup. Babineaux, a former ULL pitcher, and Williams were key components of Baton Rouge's 2001 post-season championship.
In the 2001 All American Association Championship Game Babineaux pitched seven innings of three-hit ball for the 3-2 victory with Williams driving in two runs and scoring the game -winning run on a fifth-inning double by Cassels.
The River Bats will play a 72-game schedule during the split season. First and second half winners along with the two teams owning next best overall-season record will make the playoffs.
Goldsby Field is located next to Memorial Stadium off Interstate-110 near the Governor's mansion in downtown Baton Rouge.
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Southeastern League Stories from May 14, 2002
- Professional Baseball Returns to Baton Rouge - Baton Rouge River Bats
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