Warren, Coaches To Return To Grizzlies In 2008
November 6, 2007 - Frontier League (FL)
Gateway Grizzlies News Release
The Gateway Grizzlies announced today that Phil Warren will return as Manager for the Frontier League club in 2008. The club also announced it is bringing back Randy Martz for his second season as pitching coach and Darin Kinsolving as hitting/bench coach.
Warren enjoyed great success in his first season as a professional field manager. The St. Louis native led the Grizzlies to a franchise-record 64 wins and a West Division title. The club's 64-29 record was the second-best regular season mark in league history. The record was second only to the 2007 Windy City ThunderBolts, who won the league championship.
"Obviously I am thrilled that Rich and Tony wanted to bring me back," Warren said. "We have a West Division title to defend and we're excited to put the pieces together again and make another run at it.
Warren served as the Grizzlies Director of Player Personnel in 2006. Prior to the 2006 season, he spent three seasons on the playing field for the Grizzlies and parts of six seasons total in the Frontier League. Warren retired following the 2005 season, holding many of the Grizzlies career offensive records. Most of those records have since been broken.
Martz returns for his second season with the Grizzlies in 2008. Martz guided the pitching staff to a 4.28 earned run average, which was good for fourth in the league. Grizzlies pitchers allowed just 324 walks during the 2007 season, good for third-best in the league.
Martz joined the Grizzlies prior to the 2007 season after spending seven full seasons in O'Fallon, MO with the River City Rascals. Martz served as the Rascals' pitching coach before skippering the team for three full seasons. Martz compiled a record of 153-163 over the three-plus seasons. Martz also continues as head coach at Lewis and Clark Community College.
"We just hope we can continue the success from last season," Martz said. "It's a good situation because I have a good relationship with both of those guys (Warren and Kinsolving). We get along on and off the field."
Martz was the 12th overall pick, by the Chicago Cubs, in the 1977 amateur draft and spent the 1980-1982 seasons with the Cubs. Martz finished his career with one game in a White Sox uniform in 1983. He compiled a 17-19 record with seven saves in 68 appearances as a major league hurler.
Kinsolving also returns for a second season with the Grizzlies. 2007 marked Kinsolving's professional coaching debut as well. Kinsolving helped lead the Grizzlies to their finest offensive season in franchise history. The Grizzlies hit .286 as a team, leading the Frontier League and establishing a new franchise record. The club's 928 hits also set a new franchise mark and was second best in the league. The Grizzlies crushed 164 home runs during the 2007 season, shattering the previous league mark by 40, and their own franchise record by more than 50 homers.
Kinsolving spent seven seasons in uniform as a player, including five seasons in the Frontier League. He hit a combined .292 with 71 home runs. His 56 Frontier League home runs were fourth best prior to 2007.
"We had a lot of fun last year," Kinsolving said. "Obviously it helps when you win. Being around Randy and Phil is great. We know how each other will react, we don't get all worked up and that shows in the team."
"Having [Martz and Kinsolving] back is very important to me," Warren said. "We understand each other. We have a very good chemistry and that translates to a very good team chemistry."
The Grizzlies will begin their eighth Frontier League season in May 21, 2008.
Ticket packages are currently on sale, and can be purchased by visiting GCS Ballpark, or calling the Grizzlies office at 618-337-3000.
Frontier League Stories from November 6, 2007
- Fireworks Fridays, Hillbilly Weekend highlights in Florence Freedom 2008 Promotional Schedule - Florence Y'alls
- Warren, Coaches To Return To Grizzlies In 2008 - Gateway Grizzlies
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
