HOME OF BULLDOG BASEBALL - 10 SCIAC Championships

University of Redlands baseball’s Head Coach Scott Laverty has been named the field manager for the Wisconsin Rapids while Assistant Coach Aaron Holley has been named the head coach for the Cheyenne Grizzlies, as announced by Laverty. Both Laverty and Holley will remain with Redlands.

The Rapids, based out of Wisconsin Rapids, WI, compete in the Northwoods League while the Grizzlies, based out of Cheyenne, WY, compete in the Mountain Collegiate Baseball League (MCBL). Both clubs fill their rosters with college players and play during the summer months using wood bats.

Laverty’s announcement comes on the heels of two successful summers coaching the Cheyenne Grizzlies. Under Laverty’s stewardship, the Grizzlies compiled their best record in program history in 2009, which led to a regular-season championship. He has created a culture of winning within the Bulldog baseball program, guiding his teams to a 210-196-1 overall record over 10 years, which includes a 129-72 mark over the past five seasons. His 2006 squad won the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) title and set the program record in single-season wins with 30.

“I can’t wait to be part of the Northwoods League,” said Laverty. “This is the best summer collegiate league in the country and the opportunity to be a part of an expansion team in a great baseball town like Wisconsin Rapids really gets a guy like me excited!”

Holley inherits the head coach position with the Grizzlies after Laverty had mentored the team for two seasons. He served as an assistant for the Grizzlies in 2008 and enters his fifth year as a member of the Redlands coaching staff this season. Holley was an All-SCIAC player for Laverty and has been instrumental in helping the team climb up the conference standings, both as a coach and as a student-athlete.

“I’m excited to get a chance at a head coaching position, and what better way than to follow in the footsteps of my coach, Scott Laverty,” Holley said. “I am prepared and ready to be in that position.”

Holley is bringing Luke Wetmore ’08 on as his assistant coach this summer. Wetmore currently is an assistant coach for the baseball program at Occidental College and donned the Maroon and Gray for four seasons as a student-athlete.

The Wisconsin Rapids are celebrating their inaugural season this summer while the Grizzlies have been a member of the MCBL since June 2005.

Redlands kicks off its 2010 campaign on Friday with a 2:30 p.m. game against La Sierra University at The Yard.