Mac Seibert, Rick Sofield and Jim Spooner join Baseball Factory team

Columbia, MD, August 30, 2005 – Baseball Factory, the leader in player development and college placement, is proud to announce that Mac Seibert, Rick Sofield and Jim Spooner have been hired full time.  All three bring impressive resumes to an already impressive full time staff.  The announcement was made by Baseball Factory president Rob Naddelman.

“We are very excited for the new hires and believe that we have built the strongest amateur baseball organization in the nation,” said Naddelman

A start date for Mac Seibert has yet to be determined, but once on board he will serve as the Vice President of Player Development and College Placement.  He will be the point person for all Team One and Baseball Factory consulting players and parents and will work with the Exclusive Team to help service Baseball Factory Exclusive players.  In addition, Seibert will continue to help on the staffing, scouting, and player development side of the business.  His contacts, baseball experience, and reputation will continue to be huge assets for both Baseball Factory and Team One.

Seibert played his collegiate baseball at the University of Miami and Jacksonville State University. He was drafted out of high school and then again out of college. After completing his professional career Seibert coached at the collegiate level and then turned to scouting. Seibert became the Area Scouting Supervisor for the Atlanta Braves before becoming the National Crosschecker for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Matt Richter will be stepping down as the Exclusive Program Personal Recruiting Director for the West Coast.  Richter will stay on board in a part time capacity, doing some lessons out of Santa Barbara for our California players. 

We are pleased to announce that Rick Sofield has been hired as the Vice President of the Exclusive Program and Player Personnel and will serve as the full time replacement for Richter.  Sofield served as the field coordinator for the New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Dodgers and Montreal Expos and is a former AAA Manager for the Colorado Rockies.  Sofield also coached at the college level, serving as the Head Coach for the University of Utah and the Assistant Coach at the University of South Carolina.  Sofield is a former first round pick in the major league draft for the Minnesota Twins with three years of big league playing experience. 

Sofield will continue to reside in Florida and will travel to the West Coast on a scheduled basis for Exclusive filming dates and workouts.  He will also continue to work select Baseball Factory and Team One player developments events throughout the year.
 
Jim Spooner has been hired to serve as the Assistant Personal Recruiting Director for Underclass Exclusive Players.  Jim will work under Buddy Custer, the Underclassmen Exclusive Program Director and will communicate on the phone with underclass Exclusive Players on a continual basis.  Jim is the former Head Coach at the University of West Florida where he won over 600 games in 22 years taking them to the NAIA World Series before they became a Division II powerhouse.  Spooner also coached at Edison Community College where he played his college ball before transferring and playing at Florida State University.  He will be a tremendous asset to the Exclusive Program.  Spooner currently resides in Pensacola, Florida and will attend select player development events on a scheduled basis.

In addition, Steve Bernhardt has been promoted to Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations.  “Bernie has continued to demonstrate his leadership over the years and we are excited to name him as the first Executive Vice President of the company,” said Steve Sclafani, CEO and Founder.
 
Kelly Kulina has been promoted to Senior Vice President of the Exclusive Program.  “Kelly has been an invaluable leader of our company and continues to do a wonderful job servicing parents and players in the Exclusive Program,” said Sclafani.

The Baseball Factory and Team One staff is unmatched in the industry, boasting over 35 full time employees with over 50 years of professional and college coaching experience.

To learn more about our staff visit www.baseballfactory.com/aboutus/staff.asp

To contact our staff visit www.baseballfactory.com/contactus/