Dune Coast Baseball is excited to announce Blagica Bottigliero as the team’s General Manager, a hire that brings a marketing and operations leader into the front office as the club builds toward its inaugural Northwoods League season.

Bottigliero steps into the role at a pivotal moment for the young franchise. As General Manager, she will oversee the business and operational engine of the team, from partnerships and community programming to the day-to-day work of standing up a first-class fan experience. She joins the club having already helped shape its brand, its voice, and its early identity, and now takes the lead on turning that foundation into a fully operational baseball organization.

“I could not be more pumped to take on this role,” said Bottigliero. “Building a team from the ground up is a rare opportunity, and I get to do it in a community that already loves its sports. My goal is to make Dune Coast Baseball a place people are proud to be part of, on the field and off.”

Bottigliero’s appointment adds to a growing group of women stepping into front-office leadership across professional and collegiate baseball. Dune Coast Baseball is now part of that – ensuring that women and female athletes hold front-of-house positions in the sport, from the executive suite to game day operations.

Co-Owner Tom Rowland: “The fact that Blagica is helping expand women’s representation in front-office roles makes it even more meaningful. This game is better when the people running it reflect everyone who loves it. Women and female athletes belong in these leadership seats, and we are proud that Dune Coast is a place where that is true from day one.”

A former athlete, Bottigliero brings the discipline, drive and love of sport that come from years of training and competing. That athletic background pairs with a deep professional command of marketing and operations, the two engines that turn a new team into a lasting institution.

“I ran track, and I have loved sports my whole life,” she said. “That competitive instinct never really leaves you. I am going to pour my understanding of marketing and operations into this team, because a great fan experience is built on both a great story and a machine that runs smoothly behind it.”

A native Michigander and WMU grad, Bottigliero has lived in New Buffalo and knows the region from the inside. She understands the particular magic of the area for the people who call it home year round, and for the second homeowners who make it their escape. Before becoming a full timer, she spent years in Chicagoland and frequented the coast long before she moved back, giving her a rare feel for both sides of the community the team will serve.

“I am from Michigan and lived along the Dune Coast, I love this area and understand what makes it special,” Bottigliero said. “I have seen it from both sides. I lived in Chicagoland and came here as a visitor for years before I was ever a full timer, and now I am back in Michigan for good. That perspective helps me understand the region and the community, the residents who are here all year and the second homeowners who love it just as much. A ball club can bring all of those people together.”

Under her leadership, Dune Coast Baseball will focus on building a brand that resonates with the region, an operation that delivers for fans and partners and a culture that reflects the community it represents.

“We are thrilled to have Blagica leading the front office,” Co-Owner Brian Williams shared.  “She combines vision with execution, and she cares deeply about doing this the right way. She is exactly who we want at the helm as we bring Dune Coast Baseball to life.”

Dune Coast Baseball will share more news on its roster, schedule and community initiatives in the months ahead. For updates, follow the team on social media and visit the club’s website.