ELMIRA PIONEERS BASEBALL

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 6, 2008

  Contact: Hoffman Wolff, (607) 207-0159

FORMER PIONEER, MOUNTIE GIBLIN RETURNS TO TWIN TIERS AS HEAD COACH

Elmira, N.Y. – The Elmira Pioneers of the New York Collegiate Baseball League have announced the hiring of Ryan Giblin as the club’s head coach for the 2009 season.

"We are very pleased for Ryan," said Mansfield University head coach Harry Hillson. "Ryan is quality through and through. He was a great player for us but even a better person who's going to be an outstanding coach."

Currently an assistant coach at Millersville University, Giblin was a shortstop and third baseman for the Pioneers during the 2006 and 2007 seasons, and was a member of the 2007 NYCBL championship club.

Giblin played collegiately at Mansfield University, where he was a three-time all- Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference selection at shortstop. The 2008 team captain and MVP, he was third on the squad with a .425 average and led the team in triples last season. Giblin was also selected to the first team All-North Atlantic Region, and was a NCWBA All-America Honorable Mention selection. Following his superb campaign with the Mounties, he was signed by the Windy City Thunderbolts of the independent Frontier League.

At Neshaminy High in Langhorne, Pa., Giblin was a three-time Bucks-Mercer American Legion All-Star and a two-time Lower Southampton American Legion MVP.

He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Sport Management from Millersville.

“I’m looking forward to coaching the Pioneers,” Giblin said. “Having played there before, I know it’s a great baseball area, and we’re going to work hard to put a successful team on the field this season.”

The Pioneers’ season starts Tuesday, June 9 at Webster, with the club’s home opener on June 10 against the Brockport Riverbats at 7:00 p.m.

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