Ward, Coaching Staff to Manage All-Star Game

After winning 90 games in 2011 and bringing a third Southern League Championship to Mobile, BayBears manager Turner Ward was given the honor of Southern League Manager of the Year. Not only did his team win a title last year, but it broke several franchise records along the way.

Now, Ward and his coaching staff are getting the opportunity to reap some of those rewards by managing this year's Southern League All-Star Game which is scheduled for Tuesday, June 19 at the home of the Tennessee Smokies in Kodak, Tennessee.

"It's just a real privilege and an honor to be able to coach in the All-Star Game," Ward said. "It's only deserving because of the success of last year's team and it's just a great reward for us as coaches to be a part of something special like that."

Ward, pitching coach Dan Carlson and hitting coach Jay Bell will pilot the South Division All-Stars in the game. BayBears' athletic trainer Ben Fraser will also travel with the BayBears to Tennessee for the All-Star Game. The South Division All-Star team --- which will consist of players from the BayBears, Montgomery Biscuits, Pensacola Blue Wahoos, Jacksonville Suns and Mississippi Braves --- will be announced Thursday, June 7. Starting lineups and starting pitchers will be named Friday, June 15.

"It's nice to be a part of the coaching staff for an all-star team, because it doesn't always work out that you are around to participate," Carlson said. "As coaches, you might move up a level or take a different position, so you might not get those benefits of being able to coach in the game."

That is the case for 2011 BayBears hitting coach Alan Zinter who now has an instructor's role in the Cleveland Indians organization.

"You look at the guys who are going to be in this game. They are going to be big-leaguers some day," Ward said. "The talent at the Double-A level, especially in the Southern League, is as good as any you will see. These are the best pitchers and hitters at this level and for a lot of the teams, some of the top prospects.

"It's just going to be exciting to be a part of it."

Carlson echoed Ward's thoughts on the talent they will be able to coach in the All-Star game.

"Guys in Double-A know they are only one step away from the big leagues," Carlson said. "So you know they are going to want to show their best in this game. From a coaching standpoint, that's going to make it a lot of fun."

Unlike the Major League All-Star Game which determines homefield for the World Series, the Southern League All-Star Game is just about bragging rights between the North and South Divisions. But that's not going to change how the BayBears coaching staff looks at the game.

"It doesn't have the significance of the Major League All-Star Game, but it's still important to everyone," Ward said. "From a managing standpoint, you want to make sure everyone gets their at-bats and all the pitchers get their innings in, but I'm sure we'll look at matchups and things like that if the game is close late.

"You definitely want to enjoy being a part of the game, but we also want to win it, too."

First pitch for the All-Star Game is scheduled for 7 p.m. (CST) at Smokies Park.