“We have great vibes about this team right now,” White said. “A lot of good guys. We’re athletic. We’re fast. I think we’re going to be a fun team to watch.”
White, the Kings’ general manager since their first season in 2014, takes over as the field manager this year. The move was made to provide veteran leadership and help establish consistency from season to season.
“(The coaching staff) is doing this because we love baseball and we want to help these guys have a chance at the next level,” said White, a Kenton Ridge High School graduate and 14-year major-league baseball pitcher.
That’s not the only change for the Champion City Kings, especially at Carleton Davidson Stadium. The Kings have moved in the fences at what was considered a pitcher-friendly park (404 feet to center field, 375 power alleys and 340 down the foul lines). The new dimensions are 390 to center, 350 power alleys and 320 down the lines.
Additional changes include a shelter house and beer garden with seating for about 250, new locker rooms and a new flag pole.
Then there’s the roster.
“We’ve had an 18-player turnover since January switching guys out from injury and switching colleges and things like that,” White said. “We’ve got some guys coming from a lot of programs we haven’t dealt with in the past. That’s always cool to get guys in from new schools.”
Area players include Eastern Illinois freshman pitcher Ben Hughes (Tippecanoe High School) and Ball State junior infielder Sean Kennedy (Springboro). Wright State University pitchers Zane Collins and Danny Sexton, Urbana University pitcher Dalton Greenwalt and University of Dayton infielder Cale Dineen are also on the roster.
White is excited about a pitching staff that has several throwing 90-plus mph and a more powerful offense that could take advantage of the closer fences. Defense has been upgraded both behind the plate and in the outfield.
“All across the board we think we’ve put together a really good team,” White said. “Obviously a week into the season I’ll have a better idea of what’s going on.”
The Kings open on the road with a two-game series at Chillicothe on Friday and Saturday and one game at Butler on Sunday. Champion City hosts its home opener at 7 p.m. Monday against Lafayette.
The Kings’ average attendance was 511 last season.
“Even if we can double our attendance, that’s huge. That means we’re doing the right thing,” White said. “I think the city needs it. I think it’s awesome baseball. For the price to come down here and watch a game it’s very affordable. We hope people come down here and enjoy it.
“It’s hard to predict how long we’ll be here because it depends on how much the city gets behind us. We’re doing everything we can right now through social media to make more people aware of us. That’d be great if we could be around for 20-plus years like Chillicothe has.”
Special promotions this season include a Help Stamp Out ALS event on June 7, a visit from the Columbus Zoo with 10 different animals on June 10 and mascot Softpaw’s Princess Party on July 15. Fireworks shows are scheduled for July 9 and August 5.
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