Wisconsin Rapids, WI – August 29th, 2013. The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters have hired a new field manager.  Team officials announced today that they have chosen Saginaw Valley State University (Michigan) assistant coach Chris Ebright (E-bright) to lead the 2014 team. Throughout his coaching tenure, Ebright has worked closely with hitters and catchers while also being heavily involved with the recruitment of student athletes.
 
Jake Martin, who had managed the Rafters the past two seasons and had been a member of the coaching staff since 2011, recently earned additional recruiting responsibilities at Coffeyville Community College during the summer months and will not return.
 
In addition to his assistant coaching duties at universities, Ebright has experienced tremendous success in summer leagues as a manager, dating back to 2009.
 
This past summer Ebright managed the Roswell Invaders, an independent professional baseball team in the PECOS League.  He led the Invaders to the most wins in League history with a 55-17 record (.764 winning percentage) and also won the PECOS League Championship, eventually leading him to being named PECOS League Manager of the Year.  
 
Prior to moving into the professional ranks this past summer, Ebright operated as the field manager in two summer collegiate leagues.  He most recently led the Newark Pilots in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League from 2011-2012, where he led his team to playoff appearances in both seasons at the helm.  In 2011, the Pilots won the Perfect Game Championship with a 30-24 record.  The 2011 team finished the season ranked 29th in the nation among all summer collegiate wood bat teams.  He was also named the manager for the PGCBL All-Star Game both seasons.
 
Ebright began his summer collegiate managing career with the Hornell Dodgers of the New York Collegiate Baseball League, where he spent the 2009 and 2010 seasons.  He compiled a two-year record of 53-37 (.588 winning percentage) with the Dodgers, guiding his team to the 2009 Western Division Championship with a 34-14 record.  Ebright was runner-up for Coach of the Year in 2009 and was named an All-Star Game coach in both seasons in the NYCBL.  
 
Prior to recently being hired as assistant coach at Saginaw Valley State, his alma mater, Ebright spent the previous two seasons as an assistant coach at Kentucky Wesleyan College.  His coaching career has also led him to stops at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri as well as Erie Community College in Buffalo, New York.
 
Ebright earned his Masters of Education degree from Central Methodist University in 2011 and Bachelors degree in Accounting from Saginaw Valley State in 2003.  As a collegiate player, Ebright was a four-year starter at catcher for Saginaw Valley State.  He served as Captain of the baseball team during the 2002 season, earned the Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2001 and 2002, Rookie of the Year Award in 1999, and set school records in several offensive categories from 1999-2002.  As a senior in 2002, he posted a .263 average while starting in 28 of 38 games played.  After his playing career at Saginaw Valley State ended, Ebright spent two summers playing in the Western Australia Professional Baseball League for the Vic Park Reds and the Wembley Magpies.
 
"We’ve accomplished a lot in our first four years in Wisconsin Rapids and after completing the first half of the 2013 season with a record over .500, I know we can recruit a winning team here,” said Rafters General Manager Liz Kern. “We have the best fans in the Northwoods League and Chris is here to bring all of that together and fight for a championship in 2014.” 
 
“We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to bring in someone with the experience and success that Chris has had in his coaching career,” said Assistant GM John Fanta.  “I am excited to continue working diligently with him to construct the 2014 roster and put a championship caliber team on the field.”
 
“I’m very excited to be a part of a great organization and a community that likes to win,” said new field manager Chris Ebright.  “I look forward to building a winning culture in Wisconsin Rapids with the ultimate goal of bringing a Northwoods League Championship to the city.”
 
The Rafters plan to introduce Ebright to the Wisconsin Rapids community later this year at a Hot Stove event held at Hotel Mead.  Stay tuned to raftersbaseball.com for further details on this event.
 
The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are members of the 16-team summer collegiate Northwoods League. Reserve your 2014 ticket packages today by calling 715-424-5400, or in person by stopping by the Rafters office at Witter Field. Available quantities of all promotional giveaways will vary from event to event and will be available on a first come, first serve basis.  The best way to guarantee giveaway items is to purchase a 9-Game Package.  The offseason office hours are Monday through Friday from 9am-4pm.  For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com.
 
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