The Spire City Ghost Hounds are an inactive professional baseball team based in Frederick, Maryland, that played in 2023. The franchise competed in the South Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and played home games at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium, sharing the ballpark with the Frederick Keys. Following the 2023 season, the team has been on hiatus.
| Spire City Ghost Hounds | |||||
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| Information | |||||
| League | Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (South Division) | ||||
| Location | Frederick, Maryland | ||||
| Ballpark | Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium | ||||
| Founded | 2023 | ||||
| Former name(s) | Frederick ALPB (2023) | ||||
| Colors | Teal, light teal, black, metallic copper[1] | ||||
| Mascot | Freddie the Ghost Hound[2] | ||||
| Ownership | Attain Sports and Entertainment[3] | ||||
| Management |
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| Manager | Mark Minicozzi[3] | ||||
| Website | goghosthounds | ||||
History
editThe team's creation was announced in November 2022.[5] The team held a name-the-team contest in January and February 2023, with the name to be announced in June 2023 from the choices of Bone Shakers, Ghost Hounds, Rail Frogs, Sawbones, and Screaming Alpacas.[4][6] Until then, the team's hats and jerseys featured question marks in place of a name.[6] The team name was announced as Spire City Ghost Hounds on June 24.[1]
The team lost its inaugural game 10–4 on April 28, 2023, at CaroMont Health Park in Gastonia, North Carolina, to the Gastonia Honey Hunters.[7][8] Their first home game was a 4–2 loss on May 2, 2023, to the Lexington Counter Clocks.[7][9][10]
In September 2023, the team announced they would go on hiatus for the 2024 season, sitting out one season until the Atlantic League expands to 12 teams.[11][12] However, the Ghost Hounds were not listed on the 2025 season schedule.[13]
Roster
edit| Active (25-man) roster | Coaches/Other | |||
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Pitchers
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Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
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Manager
Coaches
Disabled list | ||
Management
editThe team is owned by Attain Sports and Entertainment, which also owns the Bowie Baysox and the Frederick Keys.[3] Attain is led by Greg Baroni, CEO and Managing General Partner, and Richard Roberts, President and General Partner.[5] The team's announced front office staff consists of Chuck Domino, Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations, and Mary Nixon, executive director of Baseball Operations.[4] The team's announced coaching staff consists of manager Mark Minicozzi, hitting coach Aharon Eggleston, and pitching coach Elih Villanueva, who also pitches for the team as a player-coach.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b Lewis, Gabrielle (June 24, 2023). "Meet the Ghost Hounds: Frederick's baseball team officially renamed". Frederick News-Post. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ Zentz, Katina (June 24, 2023). "New Team Name". Frederick News-Post. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Minicozzi names Frederick coaching staff". atlanticleague.com (Press release). Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. February 17, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ a b c Reichard, Kevin (January 13, 2023). "New Frederick Atlantic League team adds Domino, Nixon to front office". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ a b Reichard, Kevin (November 16, 2022). "Frederick Atlantic League team added for 2023". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ a b "Finalists unveiled for new Frederick Atlantic League team". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. February 8, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ a b "New Frederick Baseball Team Asks Fans For Name Ideas | WFMD-AM". WFMD. January 10, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
- ^ "Gastonia Wins 10-4 on Opening Night". OurSports Central (Press release). Gastonia Honey Hunters. April 29, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
- ^ "New Frederick baseball team announces inaugural schedule". Frederick News-Post. February 14, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ Dacy, Alexander (May 2, 2023). "Still nameless, winless: Amid fanfare, Frederick's new Atlantic League team falls in home debut". Frederick News-Post. Retrieved May 3, 2023 – via Yahoo! News.
- ^ Shaw, Kayla (September 22, 2023). "Spire City Ghost Hounds to Take Hiatus for 2024 Season". Spire City GhostHounds. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
- ^ Reichard, Kevin (September 23, 2023). "Ghost Hounds to sit out 2024 season". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
- ^ "Atlantic League announces 2025 schedule". atlanticleague.com. October 8, 2024. Retrieved October 10, 2024.