The Rochester Honkers will have a new manager in 2014, but it will be a coach very familiar with the team.
On Monday the Honkers announced that Matt Bowman, last year's pitching coach and current pitching coach at the University of Sioux Falls, will manage the team next summer.
Bowman takes over for Adam White, who will stay on campus next summer at Oral Roberts.
"The decision was pretty easy," Bowman said. "I really enjoyed last summer, despite our record. Our guys played all 70 games hard and made it really enjoyable to come to the park every day. (Owners) Dan (Litzinger)and Kim (Archer) do an amazing job running a great ball club. It truly is a first class organization."
Bowman was in his first year with the Honkers in 2013. He guided a pitching staff that posted a 4.87 ERA, and admitted that coming back as field manager made his decision easier.
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"It definitely makes the decision a little easier knowing you are the skipper and not just the assistant anymore," Bowman said. "All the calls are now on my shoulders. That is what most excites and motivates me."
Bowman enters his fourth season as the pitching coach at Sioux Falls. He is a native of Madera, Calif. He played his final two years of college ball at South Dakota State University ,where he was the staff ace. Bowman was named SDSU's Pitcher of the Year both seasons and recognized twice on the NCAA Division I Independent All-Tournament Team.
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Former Honkers player Andre Ethierwas one of 11 former Northwoods League playoffs who was on a Major League team that qualified for this year's playoffs.
Ethier, an outfielder with the Los Angeles Dodgers, played with the Honkers during the 2002 season. He had an up-and-down season and was battling injuries at the end of the year. He did bat .272 with 52 RBIs over the final 142 games, but has not played much recently.
Ethier was paid $13.5 million for the 2013 season with the Dodgers and is scheduled to make $15.5 million in 2014.
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Rochester's John Meyermade the list of the 200 prospects of the Northwoods League from the 2013 season.
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Meyer, a right-handed pitcher, is a 2011 Century grad. He played for the Duluth Huskies during the 2013 summer season. He came in at No. 196 on the prospects list.
Meyer plays his college ball at the University of Minnesota Duluth.
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Rochester's John Dubeand Kasson-Mantorville grad Drake Matuskaare members of the St. John's football team.
Dube, a junior defensive lineman, is a Lourdes grad. Matuska is a sophomore linebacker. Matuska is third on the team with 33 tackles through five games and has one sack.
St. John's is currently 4-1.
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Red Wing's Cole Kellyand Wabasha-Kellogg grad Mack Flanaganare members of the St. Thomas football team that is ranked sixth in the nation in Division III. Kelly is a junior tight end and Flanagan is a freshman fullback.
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Kelly does not have any receptions and Flanagan does not have any carries.
The Tommies are currently 3-1 with their only loss being a 20-18 setback to St. John's.
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Five area men are members of the Luther College men's cross country team. They include Mayo grads Clare Brandt, a sophomore, and junior Andrew Johnson, Century grad Aaron Weckwerth, a junior, sophomore Shane O'Learyof Byron and junior Gabe Dornof Lake City.
• The Luther women's cross country team also feature three area runners: Century grad Stephanie Murrayand John Marshall grad Sarah Owens, both freshman, and sophomore Sydney Gehrtof Byron.
