Pro ball arrives in Marietta

By Kerry Patrick, kpatrick@mariettatimes.com

MARIETTA, Ohio - As the first-year general manager of the Ohio Valley Redcoats, John Aebischer takes living out of a suitcase to the extreme.

His 1999 Mercury Cougar is his office. That is where he sets up shop with his laptop computer and fax machine. His cell phone serves as the team phone.

The players and coaching staff are in the same situation. After having spent two weeks in Lorain for spring training, the Redcoats are experiencing the 2005 Frontier League season as a traveling team. The 96-game schedule features only 24 home dates over three different cities.

Frontier League officials have revived an Ohio Valley Redcoats franchise which was originally established in Parkersburg during the organization’s first season in 1993. The Redcoats eventually became the league’s smallest market and the franchise moved to Huntington, Ind., in 1999.

But the Redcoats are back and they are testing the markets in Marietta, Lorain and Lafayette, Ind. Their six-day visit in Marietta begins with a three-game series against the Chillicothe Paints starting Wednesday at Pioneer Park. They conclude their set with three games against the Washington Wild Things from June 11 to 13.

“The league is interested in the Marietta and Parkersburg area,’ Aebischer said. “The baseball tradition down there is so rich with the Marietta College baseball team. The league wanted to go down there and at least test the market.”

The Frontier League is an independent league. Players are not affiliated with a major league organization. Marietta College baseball coach Brian Brewer, who is the site administrator for the team’s visit, spent one season as a member of the Redcoats in 1993.

“While it was the lowest level of baseball, it was professional baseball and we were being paid to play the game,” Brewer said. “I saw a few (Frontier League) games last year and the talent level is day and night compared to what it was when I played.

“It is similar to Class A ball — I don’t know if the rotations have the depth of maybe some of those high Class A clubs. Still, it is quality baseball and it’s the best in this area, and should be very entertaining.”

Redcoats manager Mark Mason remembers visiting Marietta and the Pioneer Park facility during his coaching days with Washington and Jefferson College.

“Somebody told me that the Marietta area is looking to get some professional baseball,” Mason said. “Because we don’t have a home, the league is trying to showcase us to a few cities that have an interest.”

Mason began his professional coaching career in 2000 serving as the third base coach for the Atlantic City Surf of the Atlantic League. Mason spent the past three seasons as the pitching coach for the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League. He currently coaches at Waynesburg College.

“We’re a traveling team in the respect that we will be on the bus more than anybody else because we don’t have a home park,” Mason said. “We will be on and off the bus a lot, but there are three other teams in the league who will travel more miles.”

After defeating the Richmond Roosters 5-4 Thursday night in Lorain, the Redcoats evened their record at 4-4 and moved within one game of first place in the East Division.

“All three cities are pretty much showing us all the same interest,” Aebischer said. “With us being in Lorain for spring training, they showed us a lot of hospitality. The people were great and hats off to Lorain.

“I’ve been working with Howard Korn and Brian Brewer at Marietta College. I’ve also been talking to Jim Schaly. The feedback has been very positive — the area is positive on having pro baseball back.”

At Marietta College, Korn is the chief of campus police and director of campus services. His staff has spent the past month preparing for the Redcoats’ arrival.

“As I told their general manager, I hope they have a very positive experience here,” Korn said. “This is good for the Marietta community and for the college.”