Mankato MN,
With the beginning of the Northwoods League season just hours away the MoonDogs staff are in an unusual situation. Field Manager, Ryan Day, will not be in uniform for the season opener. Day, an assistant coach for Concordia University Irvine (CUI), and the Eagles are competing in the 2015 NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho.
Day, and former 2014 MoonDog Tyler Mark, following a win Sunday, have advanced to the third round of the tournament after knocking off the number one seed Oklahoma Baptist.
This left a major hole that needed to be filled and quickly. Another Ryan would end up saving the day. Ryan Kragh, head Coach at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, is assuming the Field Manager position until Day’s return.
Day and Kragh have been working behind the scenes to ensure a seamless transition. From conference calls to scouting reports, they have been in working hand in hand to start the season off right.
The Minot, North Dakota native, Kragh, was a four year letter winner at the University of North Dakota (UND) where he ended his collegiate career in the record books in several pitching categories. After an injury cut his professional playing career with the Thunder Bay Whiskey Jacks of the Northern League, he returned to UND to begin his coaching career.
Kragh has spent 13 years as a member of the Bethany Lutheran coaching staff eleven of those years as head coach. Since 2004 Kragh’s squad has qualified for the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) conference tournament, and this past season came just short of taking the UMAC championship falling to St. Scholastica.
“I was more than happy to fill the role as manager in Coach Day’s absence,” said Ryan Kragh. “This is truly one of the best summer organizations out there. I am honored to help out a group that has meant so much to the community of Mankato and the surrounding areas.”
This isn’t the first time the Kragh has been behind the bench for the MoonDogs. In 2013 he served as an assistant filling in for part of the summer for Cody Fick who took a full time coaching position.
“He [Kragh] knows the team and the system and we are lucky to have him be able to help us out,” said MoonDogs Vice President Kyle Mrozek.
Kragh also serves as Assistant Athletic Director, and Head Women’s Golf Coach for Bethany Lutheran.
“It’s going to be fun to work with such highly talented athletes and coaches that have a passion for working with baseball players that want to get to the next level,” said Kragh.
The MoonDogs open up the 2015 season at Rochester on Tuesday May 26 and then return to The Frank for the home opener on Wednesday May 27 at 7:05pm where former Minnesota Twin Jacque Jones will the special guest and post-game fireworks extravaganza presented by Wealth Enhancement Group, KTOE, and The FAN Mankato in Association with Radio Mankato. Tickets are still available online, over the phone at (507) 625-7047, or in the office located at 1221 Caledonia Street.
“The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website. For more information, visit http://www.mankatomoondogs.com – See more at: http://northwoodsleague.com/mankato-moondogs/2015/05/08/trio-of-arms-join-moondogs/#sthash.l79H3lU2.dpuf