TROY, NY - The Tri-City ValleyCats announced on Tuesday their 2025 Coaching Staff. This Building the Roster Update presented by Curtis Lumber. Greg Tagert enters his second season at the helm with the ValleyCats, and his 30th season as a manager of a pro baseball team. He guided the ‘Cats to their fourth consecutive 50-win season in 2024, and their first playoff berth since 2018. Tri-City hosted the Wild Card Game at “The Joe” against the Ottawa Titans on September 3rd. The Carlsbad, N.M. native was at the helm for the first three championships with the Gary SouthShore RailCats (2005, 2007, 2013) in the American Association of Professional Baseball (AAPB), and earned the Manager of the Year award in three different seasons (2001, 2007, 2009). Overall, he has managed more than 2,500 games. Tom Thornton enters his second season as the Pitching Coach for the ‘Cats. He has had three separate stints as a member of Tagert’s staff. The former New York-Penn League and Frontier League left-hander was instrumental in the franchise-record seven selections in the 2024 Draft. The University of Notre Dame product led the charge in the acquisitions of several ValleyCats such as pitchers Easton Klein, Gino Sabatine, and Rolando Heredia-Bustos. David Robinson enters his first season with Tri-City. and previously joined the Wiley University Wildcats’ coaching staff in January 2023. Robinson was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1995, spending time in the New-York Penn League with the Batavia Clippers. He finished his playing career as a member of Tagert’s Evansville Otters teams from 1997-99. J.T. Scara is in his second season as the Bench Coach of the ValleyCats. He worked alongside as the Catchers/Third Base Coach for Tagert with the RailCats in 2016-17. In the Frontier League, Scara was the Hitting Coach for Jamie Bennett of the Schaumburg Boomers from 2018-19. Additionally, he served as an Assistant/Bullpen/BP Coach for the Windy City ThunderBolts from 2010-11. The New Lenox, Ill. native will also serve as the Third Base Coach this season, and has been named a Scouting/Player Procurement Assistant alongside Thornton.  Brian White is in his first season with Tri-City. He was a part of the Florence Freedom/Y’alls coaching staff from 2015-2022, and served as their manager in his final two seasons. In the ValleyCats’ offseason, he was an Assistant Coach/Pitching Coordinator for Dallas College Cedar Valley. Previously, he coached at his alma mater at Texas Wesleyan University.

AUGUSTA, NJ — Skylands Stadium, home of the Sussex County Miners professional baseball team, is proud to announce a landmark agreement with Sussex County Community College (SCCC), naming the stadium as the official home for the school’s athletic programs. Beginning in August 2025, Skylands Stadium will host Sussex Skylanders football and baseball teams, offering student-athletes the opportunity to compete in a professional sports environment. This agreement marks a new chapter for both institutions, reinforcing a shared commitment to fostering youth sports, community development, and regional pride. It also coincides with Skylands Stadium’s ambitious transformation into a year-round athletic and entertainment destination. Following a series of capital upgrades—most notably installing a state-of-the-art turf field—the stadium can now safely and sustainably host a range of events throughout the year. “This is an extraordinary opportunity for our college and student-athletes,” said Dr. Cory Homer, president of Sussex County Community College. “Having our teams play at a professional-caliber facility like Skylands Stadium enhances the student experience and reinforces our role as a proud community institution. We’re thrilled to collaborate with Skylands Stadium and the Sussex County Miners to make this a reality.” Dr. Homer added, “We look forward to expanding opportunities for our student-athletes and weaving them into the fabric of Sussex County life. For many athletes, playing at Skylands Stadium will be a dream realized—a venue that offers top-tier amenities and a big-league atmosphere.” “Our vision is to transform Skylands Stadium into a year-round community asset,” said Vincent Sangemino, general manager of Skylands Stadium and the Sussex County Miners. “From our new turf field to a growing calendar of events, this agreement with SCCC is exactly the kind of local collaboration we’re proud to build. It’s a win for our stadium, our community, and most importantly, the student-athletes of Sussex County.” Mike Dorso, owner of Skylands Stadium and the Miners, emphasized the long-term vision: “We’ve invested in Skylands Stadium with a clear purpose: to become the cornerstone of athletic and cultural activity in the region. We want to create an environment that increases community engagement, promotes regional talent, and opens the doors to organizations that make a lasting impact. SCCC adds to this mission in a big way. We’re excited to see their teams compete here and look forward to giving them a home-field advantage in every sense of the word. For more information about Skylands Stadium, please visit skylandsstadium.com. To learn more about SCCC athletics, please log on to sussexskylanders.com.

With a disappointing 2024 season behind them, the Sussex County Miners gearing up for an exciting 2025. Field Manager Chris Widger has been collecting several new roster pieces for Sussex County with the hope of giving Miners fans a taste of playoff baseball in the team’s 10th anniversary season. The Miners have several fantastic new elements that they have added to Skylands Stadium for the upcoming baseball season. To start, they have agreed to collaborate with the Barnyard; the award-winning restaurant will not only open a location in Skylands Stadium but will also oversee concessions at the ballpark. Another key development that the team has rolled out for their 10th anniversary is the replacement of the Skyland Stadium field with a new synthetic turf. The new playing surface shows a commitment from the Miners to their community in New Jersey. Fans will get their first look at the stadium’s latest enhancement during the Miners’ Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival on May 3. The family-friendly event takes place on the field and features a fun day of great food, drinks, live music, games, and more. Tickets can be purchased at skylandsstadium.com/foodtruck. The team recently announced their scheduled promotions for year. The team’s fourth season in the Frontier League kicks off with an anniversary celebration all throughout Opening Weekend. Sussex County will have several giveaways and theme nights, including a lightsaber giveaway for Star Wars Night on July 19 and a two-day Independence Day celebration on July 4 and 5.  The Miners will open their season on Thursday, May 8 when they host the Aigles of Trois-Rivières for a three-game weekend series. Fans are encouraged to check out sussexcountyminers.com for all team news, events, and ticket information.

AVON, OH - Two key pieces from the 2024 pitching staff - LHP Jack Eisenbarger and RHP Sammy Tavarez - will be returning to the squad in 2025 after re-signing with Lake Erie. Jack Eisenbarger had an incredible season with Crushers last year and had plenty of Frontier League accolades to show for. In his first year with Lake Erie, Eisenbarger sported a 2.91 ERA in 111 ⅓ innings. His ERA was 7th best in the Frontier League and his 111 strikeouts placed him 9th in the league with his 8-4 record in 19 starts. Personally, he’s coming off a historic season as well. The lefty was named to the Frontier League All-Star Game last summer and no-hit the Trois-Rivieres Aigles in June, the second of his career (first professionally), making him the first pitcher in Lake Erie Crushers history to toss a no-hitter. Eisenbarger's quiet demeanor and consistency was an asset at the top of the rotation last year, and his return is a welcome sight for the pitching staff as a unit looking to build off of a strong 2024. He is returning from abroad after a stint in the Colombian Professional Baseball League this winter with a 2.90 ERA in nine starts for Vaqueros de Monteria. Sammy Tavarez , the 6’7” right-handed Dominican flamethrower and set-up man in 2024, is back and ready to light up the radar gun again this season with his upper 90’s fastball. The 26 year-old pitched for three seasons in the New York Mets organization between Low-A St. Lucie, High-A Brooklyn, and AA Binghamton before joining Lake Erie in 2024. In 44 appearances Tavarez posted a 3.32 ERA with a whopping 59 strikeouts in 40 ⅔ innings (13.1 K/9) at the back end of the bullpen. While Tavarez was tasked with pitching in high leverage relief situations with the Crushers in 2024, his recent stint with Venados de Mazatlan in the Mexican Pacific Winter League makes his role for 2025 a curious prospect. While previously coming exclusively out of the bullpen in his professional career, Tavarez made four starts (in eight appearances) this winter with a 3.42 ERA. Skipper Jared Lemieux has the option to convert Tavarez into a starter this season, but the option is still there to allow him to be a high-leverage reliever once again in 2025.

WASHINGTON, PA – Prior to the start of what was the final season on manager Tom Vaeth’s contract, the Wild Things and the skipper have agreed to terms on an extension that tacks on two seasons to the end of his deal, which was a new contract for the 2022 season. Vaeth will enter his fifth season as field manager in 2025 and the new deal ties him to the club through the 2027 season. This job is the first pro managerial job for Vaeth, who has also managed in the California Winter League for several years and on an interim basis during his tenure with the Winnipeg Goldeyes in the American Association. He was named the 10 th Wild Things’ manager on January 6, 2021. “I am incredibly excited and grateful to receive this extension. I want to sincerely thank the Williams family, general manager Tony Buccilli and the entire front office for their continued support and the trust they’ve placed in me to lead this organization [on field],” said Vaeth. “As we continue our pursuit of a Frontier League championship. I remain committed to putting the best possible product on the field for our fans and ensuring our players have the best experience possible here in Washington.” Vaeth continued: “I’d also like to thank all the fans, players, coaches and clubhouse staff who make this job so rewarding. I’m proud to call the Washington Wild Things and the Washington, PA community home and I look forward to even bigger and better things in the future. Let’s keep building something special!” Vaeth, the 2022 Frontier League Roger Hanners Award winner for Manager of the Year, enters the 2025 season with a record of 232-151 (.606), good for the second most wins in franchise history for a manager. He’s chasing John Massarelli’s 239, who managed the club from 2004 through 2007 and went 239-143 (.626) in that time. Under Tom Vaeth, the Wild Things have been to two league championship series and won three division titles, giving them three playoff appearances in the last four years, a standard of winning Vaeth and the club are eager to keep going. The Baltimore, Maryland native spent 17 seasons as an assistant with Winnipeg, working in player procurement and as base coach, hitting coach and bullpen coach. While with the Goldeyes, he was on the staff for 10 playoff teams and three that won American Association titles. He’s overseen an MVP (Caleb McNeely, 2024), two Rookies of the Year (Ryan Hennen, 2021, Kobe Foster, 2022), a Pitcher of the Year (Hennen, 2021) and multiple Frontier League postseason all stars (Nick Ward, SS, 2022, Anthony Brocato, OF, 2023, McNeely, OF, 2024, Tyreque Reed, DH, 2024 and Gyeongju Kim, RP, 2024). Alex Boshers, Vaeth’s previous pitching coach, won Coach of the Year twice under Vaeth’s tutelage. Ward was also the Citizenship Award winner in the league in 2021. The Wild Things, in Vaeth’s four seasons, have had 15 players make the midseason All Star team, which consists of three All Star chances with the midseason All Star classic not happening in the league in 2021. Six players have also moved on to affiliated ball directly in a contract purchase from the Wild Things in Vaeth’s tenure: Sean Kealey (STL, 2021), James Meeker (MIL, 2021), Ryan Hennen (KC, 2022), Jake Pilarski (LAD, 2022), Nick Ward (PHI, 2022) and Turner Hill (SF, 2023). John Murphy (2021), Spencer Bivens (2021), Isaac Mattson (2022), Alex Carrillo (2024) and Cole Roberts (2024) have also moved into affiliated or back into it after playing for Washington during Tom’s time as manager. “It has been great to see the growth and development our organization has taken on the field under Tom’s management,” said president and general manager Tony Buccilli. “There is an aligned effort to consistently making the Wild Things a winning program annually, a destination location for athletes and a style of play that resonates with the region. We look forward to the continued partnership and the high-level product on the field.”  The Wild Things open their season on the road Friday, May 9, and the home opener, presented by EQT and at EQT Park, is scheduled for Tuesday, May 13 at 7:05 p.m. Season tickets, group packages and premium areas are available now by calling 866-456-WILD or by going to washingtonwildthings.com . Fans can also follow the team’s social media pages and site for news, including on X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok and YouTube. Search @WashWildThings, go to youtube.com/@WashWildThings or go to facebook.com/washingtonwildthings .

AUGUSTA, NJ – Pull up, put your car in park, and let us handle the rest. This summer, the Sussex County Miners are going full Jersey with their all-new alter ego: the Fill It Up Regulars—a loud, proud, high-octane tribute to the only state where drivers haven’t had to pump their gas since 1949. The Miners will embrace that classic Garden State energy with custom gas station-inspired alternate-identity uniforms, classic car shows, and exciting themed game nights. The Miners play four special Alter Ego Nights this season at Skylands Stadium. Tickets are available at scminers.com. Friday, May 23 : Opening Day of the Tank—featuring the first classic car show and baseball Friday, June 27 : Fuel Up Friday—see more chrome, more classics, and more baseball Friday, July 18 : Motor Oil Madness—check out more vintage rides and high-octane baseball Saturday, August 30 : Full-Service Finale—enjoy the final classic car show, baseball, and a fireworks spectacular. But this series isn’t just about nostalgia and muscle cars—it’s about community. As part of the Miners’ Community First Initiative, the Fill It Up Regulars campaign will support Blakely Boyle, a brave 4-year-old from Sparta battling T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. All proceeds from the jersey auctions and related fundraising efforts will go directly to Blakely and her family as they fight this terrible disease. In the coming weeks, the Miners will share more on Blakely’s story and how fans can help. Each alter ego game will feature a pregame classic car show thanks to our friends at K&A Towing and Recovery in Wantage, NJ, plenty of throwback flair, and opportunities to bid on the game-worn Fill It Up Regulars jerseys. Bidding opens at each themed night and wraps up during the August 30 finale—with winning fans rolling home with a one-of-a-kind jersey and the knowledge they’ve fueled a cause that truly matters. “We’re taking Jersey pride and turning it into something powerful,” said Miners General Manager Vincent Sangemino. “This is about celebrating our roots and rallying around a local family that could use all our love and support. The Miners’ goal is to make an impact on and off the field, and we encourage fans to join us in helping Blakely fight against cancer.” So fire up your iconic Mustang, classic Corolla, retro Caravan, or vintage Vista Cruiser, and head down Route 15 to Skylands Stadium on the Miners’ Alter Ego Nights. Because in New Jersey, we don’t pump gas; we pump up the community! Full service. Full spirit. Full Jersey. Fill it up, regular.  Fill It Up Regulars merchandise will soon be available at the Miners Company Store in Skylands Stadium. Fans are encouraged to visit scminers.com and the team’s social media accounts for the latest details about alter ego swag, games, promotions, theme nights, and other news. For information about tickets, group packages, sponsorship opportunities, field rental, or event booking, please email the Miners at contact@scminers.com or call (973) 383-7644.