The HSV Stealers announced a few days ago that they have signed a new head coach. The 27-year-old Canadian Shawn PYNN is from Branton, Ontario and replaces Sven HUHNHOLZ at the helm. He went to the Genesee Community College in Batavia, New York at the age of 18. He later moved on to the Gannon University in Pennsylvania and played there two seasons (AVG .167 in 25 games at second base) in 2003 and 2004. He also started his coaching career at about the same time. He is married to a woman, who is from Hamburg. He is supposed to coach full time, which was impossible for HUHNHLOZ due to professional reasons.
Besides this important signing, they also have acquired an outfielder from Boston College. Peter FRATES was born on December 28 in 1984. He went to St. John’s Preparatory High School in Danvers, Massachusetts before joining BC. He played in 149 games at the Division I level, batting .227 (SLG .341) with eleven homeruns, 56 runs scored and 56 RBI. He also was successful in 34 of 41 stolen base attempts. Besides his playing time at the Baseball-Bundesliga team he is going to coach the second team of the Stealers, which are promoted to the second division in German Baseball.
The club also confirmed that pitcher Thomas HAUGH will be back for 2008. He impressed during the second half of the 2007 season, posting a 4-5 record with an ERA of 1.80 and 57 strikeouts (21 walks) in 65 innings pitched. The Stealers travel to Paderborn on April 5th for the opener.