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Wilson not renewed as Field Manager

September 5, 2003 - Central Baseball League (Central League)
Springfield/Ozark Mountain Ducks News Release


The Springfield/Ozark Mountain Ducks will have a new look in 2004 on the field as two-year Manager Phil Wilson did not have his contract renewed for the 2004 season.

"The Team didn't live up to the expectations that we had in the front office," said General Manager Todd Rahr. "Phil was the best manager I've ever worked with, he did everything we ever asked him, he brought in great talent, we just didn't win enough games."

Wilson went 85-107 (.443) overall in his two seasons at the helm. He managed a team record of 107 stolen bases in 2002 and gave the Ducks their second best record in team history in 2002 finishing 45-51.

"The Fans and the Ducks organization has been great to me and my family," said Phil Wilson. "I got to know a lot of people with our fan support and I think I'll remember that as much as anything."

In 2003 he managed a team record 21 complete games. He managed the Ducks when Steve Newson hit for the cycle for the first time in franchise history. Wilson also managed Steven Oelke in his team record 14 strikeout game. Wilson was managing when Jim Essian set the team record with 29 steals in 2002 including stealing home plate. Wilson brought Preston Harriman into the league in 2002 in which Harriman won the MVP of the 2002 All-Star Game in San Angelo and hit the only inside the park grand slam in team history in Fort Worth this season. Wilson, in his last game, orchestrated the playing of all nine positions by Duck players Dominic Woody and Adam Wheeler. Robert Hewes accomplished the same feat while playing for the opposition in the same game, a first in professional baseball history.

"The two young men accomplishing the feat of playing every position was something that I would say was really, really special," said Wilson. "I've never had college players that could have accomplished what those players did.

Adam Wheeler, first year player, was one of the bright stars that Wilson signed for 2003. Wheeler had a whirl wind season as he hit .304 with 16 stolen bases, was knocked unconscious running into the outfield wall missing two weeks of play, and then finished the season as a starting pitcher. "I learned a lot of things from Phil," said Wheeler "He introduced me to a lot of new parts of the game that I hadn't seen as a college player." Derek Eddie, a starting pitcher that Wilson signed from SMS in 2002, has played in only parts of two seasons while battling shoulder soreness.

"Phil is a great guy, very easy to get along with and enjoys being with the players," said Eddie. "I did all right, under the circumstances with my arm, I think I preformed OK under Wilson's managing."

Barry Jones who managed the Ducks from 1999 through the 2001 season had a winning percentage of .444 in 293 games including three playoff games in 2000. The Ducks begin the search for their third Manager, one who will lead the club back to the playoffs during their sixth season in Missouri.



Central Baseball League Stories from September 5, 2003


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.

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