FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nov. 12, 2013

RIVER CATS COACHING STAFF REMAINS INTACT FOR 2014

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The entire Sacramento River Cats coaching staff-manager Steve Scarsone, hitting coach Greg Sparks, pitching coach Rick Rodriguez, and athletic trainer Brad LaRosa-will return for the 2014 season, the Oakland Athletics announced Tuesday.

Scarsone returns as skipper after piloting the River Cats to a 79-65 record in 2013-his first season in Sacramento. Though the team missed the playoffs last year for the first time since 2006, its regular season record was the third-best in the Pacific Coast League. In seven seasons as a minor league manager, Scarsone has a 489-489 (.500) record, including stints with Double-A Midland from 2011-12, Single-A Advanced Stockton in 2010, and Single-A Kane County in 2009.

2014 will be Sparks' third consecutive season as Sacramento's hitting coach after spending the previous eight seasons as Oakland's roving hitting instructor. Prior to that, Sparks managed in the A's minor league system for six seasons, compiling a 359-352-1 (.505) record between Double-A Midland (2003), Single-A Modesto (2000-02) and Single-A Southern Oregon (1998-99). He earned Northwest League Co-Manager of the Year honors in 1999 while with Southern Oregon.

Rodriguez-a Folsom, Calif. resident-returns for his 12th season as pitching coach for the River Cats. He held the position from 2000-02, and again from 2004-10. From 2011-12, he served as the A's bullpen coach before returning to Sacramento in 2013. Drafted by Oakland in the second round of the 1981 first-year player draft, Rodriguez spent seven years in the A's organization as a player, including two in the majors. He also spent time in the big leagues with Cleveland (1988) and San Francisco (1990).

LaRosa has served as Sacramento's athletic trainer since 2008 and was named the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) PCL Trainer of the Year in 2012. Prior to joining the A's organization, LaRosa spent five seasons as an athletic trainer at the Double-A level (three years with the St. Louis Cardinals organization, two years with the Florida Marlins). He was named the Texas League Trainer of the Year in 2006 and 2007, and was also named the PBATS Minor League Athletic Trainer of the Year in 2007.

Sacramento's 2014 campaign begins on the road on April 3, with the home opener coming on Friday, April 11 at Raley Field as the team looks to win its 12th division championship in its 15th season.

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River Cats Season Tickets, Mini-Plans, and Flex Plans can now be renewed for the 2014 season by calling the River Cats Ticket Hotline at (916) 371-HITS (4487) or visiting www.rivercatshomegrown.com. For more information about the River Cats, visit www.rivercats.com. For information on other events at Raley Field, visit www.raleyfield.com.

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