Rox Open Season May 26, Ceremonies To Mark 10th Anniversary

By Lisa E. Crowley
BrocktonPost
BROCKTON—The Brockton Rox head into its 10th anniversary season sporting a new logo, new uniforms and new management as the Can-Am League baseball team looks to expand on a modest uptick in attendance last season.
“We’re heading into a new decade—new management, new uniforms. Every team has to reinvent itself. We’re hoping to keep growing and if the weather holds out, we’re looking toward a good season,” said new Chief Executive Officer Chris Carmunicci, who after two seasons as manager has shed that title and taken the lead in overall operations.
The Rox open the season Thursday night May 26 with a four-game home stand against the Worcester Tornadoes with special ceremonies that will celebrate the team’s milestones, most notably the team’s 10th anniversary.
Ceremonies begin at about 6:15 p.m. and first pitch around 7:05.
The team heads to Pittsfield Saturday May 21 for 2:05 p.m. exhibition game with the Colonials and wraps up exhibition weekend with home-on-home games against Worcester.
Carmunicci said because of the good weather last summer attendance averaged about 2,500 visitors per game at Campanelli Stadium’s about 5,000-seat facility—which equated into higher ticket and food and beverage sales from the year before--a modest rise that leaves room for guarded optimism.
“Our product has been good, we have great promotions, it’s a fun place to be for a game, and we’re looking at ways to increase revenues,” Carmunicci said.
"As long as we're profitable it's a good thing, because we haven't been in about the past 5 or 6 years, so a profit is a good thing," he said.
The front office is looking into ways to increase revenues, including greater use of the stadium, including the possibility of outdoor winter college hockey games or tournaments at the stadium.
Carmunicci has passed his head coaching duties to former Major League Baseball star and former Boston Red Sox slugger Billy Buckner. (Pictured at right, middle)
Buckner’s arrival was announced over the winter and topped with a Hot Stove Banquet in January that featured the new skipper, and Boston Red Sox greats Jimy Williams and Brockton favorite Bill “The Spaceman” Lee, who had the 400-plus audience rolling with laughter with his hard-core, unabashed hatred of the Yankees.
The Hot Stove event created a winter buzz around low-keyed Buckner that is expected—and hoped—to leave its mark on the field.
“From Bill’s standpoint he’s going to be able to talk about baseball—pro-baseball and all that comes with it,” Carmunicci said. “It’s been an instant respect. An instant rapport, an instant synergy,” he said.
In the last two years, the Rox have made it into the playoffs but fell short behind poor-pitching in key situations and teams that were hot at the right time.
“We’ve been close,” Carmunicci said.
Outfielder Chris Valencia, a 24-year-old California native who won the Can-Am League’s Rookie of the League award in 2009, shook his head at his performance last year and hung his head in what appeared to be shame because he didn’t repeat his .309batting average in 2009, although in 2010 he averaged .280, tied for second in the league with 24 doubles and popped more than 100 hits in each of his two seasons as a Can-Am player.
Valencia said under Buckner’s tutelage and with hard work and sweat, he and the team are eyeing that elusive championship.
“That was last year,” Valencia said. (Pictured, right)
Pictured top, pitcher Jake Hale)



For more Rox info and to purchase tickets visit the Brockton Rox website.