Mankato, MN)—The Mankato MoonDogs Baseball Club, a member of the Northwoods League, is proud to announce the return of assistant coach Craig Marquez of Regis University, in Denver, Colo.

This will be Marquez’s second year in the Northwoods League as he spent his first year in Mankato under the tutelage of head coach Brad Rupert, who will also be returning to the 2004 MoonDogs.

"It’s great to have Craig coming back. After spending a year together, we know what to expect and how to really make things work because we’re both on the same page,” Rupert said.

This is Marquez’s first season at Regis after spending the previous five seasons coaching at Butte Community College in Oroville, Calif., the same school he started his own playing career at in the 1995, before transferring to Briar Cliff College is Sioux City, Iowa in 1997.

"I can’t wait to be back in Mankato. Being able to return with so many of the same players and with Brad, tells me we really have something good going there,” Marquez said from his Denver office.

Also on the list of his coaching positions are several teams located in both the United States and Canada. He spent the summer of 1999 in Melville, Saskatchewan, Canada as an assistant with the Melville Millionaires. In 2001 and 2002, Marquez stayed closer to home in Oroville, coaching the Chico Stix.

"Craig is the epitome of an assistant coach. He throws great BP, his input on our hitters is crucial to our success and he understands so much about the game,” said Rupert, followed by "he will make a great head coach someday.”

Be part of all the action at the MoonDogs 32 home games this summer at Franklin Rogers Park. Season tickets are now on sale and single game tickets go on sale May 1. Call the ticket office at 507-625-7047 for any of your MoonDogs needs.

GO MOONDOGS!!