Skyhawks Name Manager and Director of Player Procurement
February 27, 2006 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Sussex Skyhawks News Release
Sussex, NJ (February 27, 2006) - Ben Wittkowski, General Manager of the Sussex Skyhawks, today named Brian Drahman Manager of the new team and Pete Caliendo Director of Player Procurement.
"We have filled both of these positions with high caliber personnel," stated Wittkowski. "New Manager Brian Drahman has a history of developing an excellent rapport with his players, and I know he is ready to embrace the Sussex community. Pete Caliendo has the experience and knowledge of the complex classification system and salary cap that every Can-Am league must operate within."
Drahman is a former big league reliever with four years of major league experience pitching for the Chicago White Sox and Florida Marlins, and has spent the last five years as a Pitching Coach for several minor league teams such as the Allentown Ambassadors, Gary Railcats and New Jersey Jackals, including the 2004 Jackals championship squad. While pitching in the minor leagues, Drahman notched an impressive total of 168 career saves, including 30 saves with a 2.01 ERA in the 1992 season while pitching for Vancouver of the Pacific Coast League, the AAA affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.
"This is going to be a fantastic season, and I cannot wait for it to start," said Drahman. "I am excited to bring high quality professional baseball back to the fans of Sussex County. I know that the Skyhawks are going to provide on-the-field excitement every game day."
Pete Caliendo comes from a rich background in both professional scouting and player procurement. He experience in independent baseball began in 1999 with the Thunder Bay WhiskeyJacks of the Northern League. In 2002, Caliendo was named Director of Player Procurement of the new franchise North Shore Spirit of the Can-Am league. Developing that team from scratch, the Spirit won the Can-Am championship in their first year. His resume also includes working with the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), Team USA, Team USA Youth Pan Am team, and the Pan Am World Baseball Program. In addition, Baliendo has been an Associate Scout for the Toronto Blue Jays.
"I am honored to be part of the new Sussex franchise," stated Caliendo. "This is going to be a great challenge, and I am sure that working with Brian (Drahman) and Ben (Wittkowski), we will be up to the task. The Can-Am league is a quality association, and I really believe that independent baseball is an important and exciting component of professional baseball."
The new Skyhawks organization has made changes that will make Skylands Park a family friendly environment everyone can enjoy and as promised, the Skyhawks have cut prices across the board. Individual game tickets are now $10 for box seats, $8 for reserved and $6 for general admission bleachers. Parking fees will now be $3 per automobile. The Skyhawks will also provide a new, updated concessions menu with lowered food and beverage prices.
The Skyhawks are also offering many different group discounts packages. Season tickets are available for $380 for box seats and $300 for reserved seats. Also available are 6, 12 and 25 game mini-plans, picnic and birthday packages. Please visit the team's newly launched website, www.sussexskyhawks.com, for more information.
As part of the independent Can-Am league, the Skyhawks will host 46 exciting games against the Brockton Rox, Nashua Pride, New Haven Cutters, New Jersey Jackals, North Shore Spirit, Les Capitales de Quebec, and the Worcester Tornadoes. Standard game times are 7:05 pm Monday through Friday, 5:05 on Saturdays and 2:05 pm on Sundays.
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- Skyhawks Name Manager and Director of Player Procurement - Sussex Skyhawks
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