NL St. Paul Saints

Saints looking for pitching coach, trainer

Published on February 23, 2005 under Northern League (NL)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN – St. Paul Saints manager George Tsamis knew he had a rebuilding job on his hands in 2005. He just didn't know he would be working on his staff as well as looking as for players.

Ben Fleetham, who has served as the team's pitching coach for the past two seasons and Chris Strickland, who has been head trainer since 1999, will not return to the team for the 2005 season.

Fleetham, a Minneapolis native who also pitched for the Saints, is going to work with his brother in a painting business and Strickland, who is also working with the Minnesota Swarm lacrosse team, will be the head trainer for Asheville, Colorado's team in the Class A South Atlantic League.

"I'm sorry to see them go but I understand the reasons," Tsamis said. "Fleet is an excellent pitching coach and an ever better person. It's a great opportunity for Chris. He did an exceptional job for us."

"It was a tough decision but it is the right one for me personally. This was the best experience I had in my 12 years of professional baseball," Fleetham said. "It was a privilege to be part of this organization. But I'm not going away. I'll be around to watch games next summer."

Fleetham, a Minneapolis Washburn grad, played college baseball at Normandale CC in Bloomington, MN and Rollins College (FL). The Expos took him in the 36th round of the 1994 draft, working his way up the ladder to AAA ball in just three seasons. In addition to playing briefly for Fargo-Moorhead and Sioux Falls, he appeared in 30 games for St. Paul over three seasons, all but two of them as a reliever.

In a 300-game career, he posted a career won-loss mark of 20-15 with 119 saves and a 3.04 ERA.

Strickland, a graduate of North Texas College, had worked with Dallas, Cleveland and Minnesota of the NBA in addition to his duties with the Saints and Swarm.

Tsamis said he will begin an immediate search for a new pitching coach. Derek Sharrer, Saints' Vice President/General Manager, will conduct the trainer search and is also accepting applications now.

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Northern League Stories from February 23, 2005


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