Veteran Schuamburg Flyers set for opener

After 11 seasons of managing baseball teams, Steve Maddock has not lost his passion for the game.

Following a disappointing finish to last year's season in the Northern League, the second-year Schaumburg Flyers manager accepted the challenge and put together a whole new team over the winter and spring, one he believes is based on good individuals as well as baseball talent.

The 2008 Flyers' roster indicates it has only four veterans and four rookies, but Maddock describes this 22-man team as one with plenty of experience. Every player has had playing time at the professional level.

The Flyers will make their regular season debut and open their 10th season of baseball tonight at Alexian Field when they host the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks at 6:20 p.m. The four-game series with Fargo-Moorhead concludes Sunday, with the Joliet Jackhammers coming to Schaumburg next for three games starting on Monday.

Maddock says the 2008 Flyers are anchored around a good defense and strong pitching staff. The Flyers will also be able to score runs, he said, with a lineup featuring Patrick "Peanut" Williams. The 30-year-old Williams is coming off a career-high batting average of .344 in the Golden League, where he earned MVP honors in 2006 after hitting 20 homers. The 6-foot-3 designated hitter and first baseman from Nacogdoches, Texas, checks in at a solid 225 pounds.

"He (Williams) played with me before," Maddock said. "He has good numbers and he's a quiet leader."

Maddock believes he solved the pitching woes of last season's team (39-57) by putting together a stronger bullpen and bringing in a deeper staff.

The pitching staff includes Lombard native Dan Frega, who is expected to start the third game of the season. Frega, who played at Willowbrook High School and Illinois State University, was a 12th-round draft pick of the Cleveland Indians in 2006.

"He (Frega) came in better than expected. He's a hard thrower with good movement," Maddock said.

Flyers pitcher Brian Finch will take the mound in the opener. The rest of the lineup will feature Ryan Luther at catcher, Chris Gaskin at first base, Bo Hart at second, Mark Haske at shortstop, Vince Harrison at third, and an outfield of Jermaine Allensworth, Rontrez Johnson and Lance Koenig.

Schaumburg Flyers roster

No.-Player, B, T, Size, Birth

Pitchers

19-Brooks, Doug, R, R, 6-3, 205, 8/12/1982

26-Byard, David, R, R, 6-3, 225, 6/1/1978

44-Finch, Brian, R, R, 6-4, 215, 9/27/1981

33-Frega, Dan, R, R, 6-5, 195, 11/16/1984

29-Hagerty, Luke, R, L, 6-7, 230, 4/1/1981

21-Mumma, Brad, L, L, 6-4, 230, 4/1/1981

11-Popp, Jim, R, R, 6-4, 210, 1/29/1981

43-Saenz, Chris, R, R, 6-3, 200, 8/14/1981

25-Shippey, Steve, R, R, 6-2, 215, 5/16/1980

16-Novosel, Walt, L, L, 6-3, 215, 6/16/1981

28-Varner, Matt, R, R, 5-11, 200, 1/16/1982

Catchers

10-Luther, Ryan, R, R, 6-0, 190, 1/21/1977

Infielders

12-Gaskin, Chris, R, R, 6-4, 228, 6/30/1983

13-Harrison, Vince, R, R, 5-11, 200, 11/29/1979

20-Hart, Bo, R, R, 5-11, 185, 9/27/1976

8-Haske, Mark, L, R, 5-11, 175, 5/28/1983

30-Manuel, Anthony, R, R, 6-0, 175, 8/17/1982

1-Matthews, Dustin, R, R, 6-3, 180, 6/17/1980

38-Williams, Peanut, R, R, 6-3, 225, 10/3/1977

Outfielders

17-Allensworth, Jermaine, R, R, 6-0, 190, 1/11/1972

3-Johnson, Rontrez, R, R, 5-10, 165, 12/8/1976

6-Koenig, Lance, R, R, 6-3, 190, 12/10/1980

Manager: Steve Maddock; Coaches: Jim Gentile, Tom Waelchi, Gavin Chugh