Document text
CLEAR Temp: 84 °F Wind: NW at 8 mph Tuesday, June 3, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend May 30, 2003 RiverDogs back for anothergo-round By KRIS HENRY Mail Tribune Sometimes summer league baseball can benefit both players and coaches. At least, that’s the hope of first-year Southern Oregon RiverDogs head coach Mike Mayben. Mayben’s name has been bandied about the baseball diamond from Little League through the Babe Ruth levels for the past few years, but he’ll be taking a crash course in the top level of local competition beginning tonight. Fortunately, he’s not afraid of embarking on a new learning curve. After all, his full-time job is as a teacher at McLoughlin Middle School. Advertisement "I love to coach," says Mayben, a 1994 graduate of North Medford High, "but with a young family, that kind of time commitment is too much between coaching and working at the same time." But having the summer off and a family that loves baseball allowed Mayben to agree to replace John White as the RiverDogs open their third season tonight at 7 with a nine-inning game against the Redding Dodgers at Miles Field. "It’s a great opportunity for me and the guys," says Mayben, who, along with his wife, Casey, is the father of two girls, Taylor (4) and Mia (2). "I know quite a few of the guys, and they’re familiar with me, my coaching style and what I expect, so I think that makes for a good transition for me." After an inaugural 20-18 season in 2001, the RiverDogs posted a 37-20 record last season that went far in developing a positive reputation statewide. Mayben’s desire is simply to continue what White and RiverDogs president Jim McAbee started two years ago. "We’re starting to get our name out there," says Mayben, who played for McAbee while at North. "People know who we are and that we play great baseball and put on a quality program down here. That was the goal from the start, and I hope we keep the program there." While the RiverDogs’ leadership is important, the majority of credit for building a thriving franchise goes to the local players who have come back home to take part in the collegiate wooden-bat season. Eleven of the 23 RiverDogs expected to take part this year are returners, led by former North standouts Steve DeClerck, Ken Halpin, Phil Ouellette and Dan Bruce, as well as Crater graduate Brent Foster, Phoenix’s Abe Lupkin, Eagle Point’s Jesse Stevenson and Henley’s Brad Bailey and Eric Beasley. Also returning will be Glide standout John Jefferson and Cascade Christian’s Bryan Edwards. "I think the nice part about this program is it develops the local kids," says Mayben. "I obviously have a personal bias in the area, but I just don’t think a lot of guys in this area get a look (from scouts). This is an excellent way to get their name out there. "As we continue to develop a fan base and also a better reputation by playing the kind of ball we did last year, hopefully guys will see this is the next opportunity as they finish high school and go on to the Medford Mustangs and college and then the RiverDogs." Making their first appearances with the Southern Oregon program this season will be Casey Campbell of Crater, South Medford’s Chris Empio, Chuck Shine and Matt Skundrick, Eagle Point’s Ryan Garrett and Brandon Willer, Phoenix’s Brett Goble, North Medford’s Brent Kircher, Ashland’s Bill Rowe, Derek Draper of Grants Pass, Henley’s Brian Stock and D.J. Kooken of Douglas. "We feel really confident that we have a deep squad talentwise," says Mayben. "When we interchange guys, it’s not going to hurt our lineup at all. We’re not taking a step down no matter who’s out there." 2003 RiverDogs Schedule (Home games in caps at Miles Field) May 30 REDDING DODGERS 7 p.m. May 31 REDDING DODGERS (dh) 1 p.m. June 1 EUGENE BANDITS (dh) 2 p.m. June 6 BEND ELKS 7 p.m. June 7 BEND ELKS (dh) 4 p.m. June 8 at Siskiyou Suns (dh) 1 p.m. June 13 at Mt. Hood Cardinals 7 p.m. June 14 at Clackamas Kings (dh) 1 p.m. June 15 at Mt. Hood Cardinals Noon June 20 REDDING SPIRITS (dh) 5:30 p.m. June 22 at Valley Rangers TBA June 27 SAN FRANCISCO 7 p.m. June 28 SAN FRANCISCO (dh) TBA June 29 VALLEY RANGERS (dh) 1 p.m. July 11 at Bend Elks 7 p.m. July 12 at Bend Elks (dh) 4 p.m. July 13 SISKIYOU SUNS (dh) 1 p.m. July 18 at Butte Sabres 7 p.m. July 19 at Butte Sabres (dh) 11 a.m. July 25 REDDING SPIRITS (dh) 5:30 p.m. July 26 BUTTE SABRES (dh) 5:30 p.m. July 27 BUTTE SABRES 1 p.m. Aug. 2 EUGENE BANDITS (dh) 1 p.m. Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times