PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city's latest team has a cheery moniker: the Pittsfield Suns.
BallParkDigest.com reported the name of the Futures League franchise that will call historic Wahconah Park this summer.
The collegiate team, owned by the Goldklang Group, will have a familiar face at the helm in Jamie Keefe, general manager for last year's Pittsfield Colonials. Keefe was named Can-Am League Manager of the Year for 2011.
Also on the team are assistant general manager Kevin McGuire and director of client services Jackie Wendling.
Owner Jeff Goldklang has had a home in the Pittsfield area for 30 years. He said in a statement that "we intend to honor the tradition and history of the game in Pittsfield, while adding heavy doses of smiles and laughs."
The Suns are the latest in a string of professional and collegiate leage teams to take up residence at Wahconah in the last decade, including the Defenders, Black Bears and Dukes. The Suns owners are hoping to break the city's losing streak in keeping teams for more than a year or two.
"We have a different business model, highlighted by our signature and often times unconventional promotional initiatives," said Tyler Tumminia, Suns co-owner and senior vice president of the group. "It's an experience we are providing in addition to a ballgame."
Hopefully, the Suns sunny name will deflect the washouts at Wahconah Park that have put previous teams under water.
The Suns will play 54 games from June through August, half at Wahconah Park in Pittsfield. The Suns will kick off their 2012 season at Waconah Park on June 7 as they take on the Nashua Silver Nights.
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Good luck Pittsfield Suns.Hopefully the fans will come out and support the team.Think the schedule will help with the first game being June 7 and the kids being out of school.
I think the name is appropriate given the fact that they'll have to wait for the sun to get out of the batters' eyes on occasion. Wishing them better luck than the last several Waconah Park home teams!
Too funny but true. In June the sun is in the batters eyes from 7:30 until it sets. The city field should have been moved downtown, but there is a wonderful CVS with a drive up window found on the property.
