LYNN – The North Shore Navigators took a big step toward the 2018 season as they have announced the hiring of Todd Alford as the new Field Manager. Alford takes over for Interim Field Manager Pete Gonski, who managed the Navigators for the second half of the 2017 season.
“Todd is a baseball lifer and we are excited for him to join the organization,” said General Manager Bill Terlecky. “Todd has already begun to use his many baseball contacts to put together a strong 2018 team.”
Alford, who comes to the Navigators with more than 25 years of baseball experience, currently serves as an assistant coach at Gordon College and associate area scout for the Miami Marlins. He coached at Division III regional power Tufts University during the 2015 season and has also won the Louisville Slugger Junior College Coach of the Year and Alabama Junior and Community College Coach of the Year awards during his career.
“I’m very excited to coming on board with the Navigators,” said Alford. “I look at what Pat (Salvi) and Bill (Terlecky) have built here and want to do everything I can to make sure the team lives up to the standard these guys have set. I am looking forward putting a team on the field that can not only entertain but be a source of pride for all North Shore baseball fans.”
It was a strong season for the Navigators off the field as they set a franchise record for attendance, but Alford will inherit a team that was unable to overcome a slow start and a significant amount of injuries, and ultimately fell short of the playoffs for just the second time in franchise history.
“We put ourselves in a little bit of a hole to start the season, but to our players’ credit, the level of dedication never wavered,” said Terlecky. “We, as an organization, feel like that Todd is a great choice to lead us back to a playoff spot.”
The playoffs, and even the 2018 season, may be far from the minds of Navs Nation, but for Alford the season has already begun. Players are beginning to sign contracts and the roster is beginning to fill.
“It all begins now,” said Alford. “Even though we are so far away from the season, if we want to compete for a FCBL Championship, we have to begin signing our players now.”
Alford currently resides in Marblehead with his wife Sue and daughter Raechel.
The Navigators are slated to start the home part of the 2018 schedule on Saturday, June 2. Stay tuned to the Navigators social media and website for up-to-the-minute news on player signings and other important news.
