LITTLE ROCK — Bogar, Hampton join Travs’ staff
The Los Angeles Angels went outside of their system to fill two spots on the Arkansas Travelers coaching staff, the Class AA affiliate announced Tuesday.
Tim Bogar will be the Travelers’ manager in 2013 and Mike Hampton will be the team’s pitching coach. A hitting coach has not yet been announced.
Bogar, 46, spent last season as the Boston Red Sox bench coach and two years before that as the team’s first-base coach.
“This is a great opportunity to do what I love to do, and that’s to work with young prospects teaching and furthering careers,” Bogar said in a team release.
He also was a minor-league manager in the Houston Astros and Cleveland Indians organizations in 2004-2007, during which time he compiled a 289-200 record. He last managed the Akron Aeros, the Indians’ Class AA affiliate, in 2006-2007 and was named by Baseball America as the league’s top managerial prospect.
He interviewed this fall for the Houston Astros managerial job that eventually went to Bo Porter.
“We are excited to welcome Tim and Mike to the Angels family as they bring a wealth of major league experience to our minor league development program,” Angels assistant general manager Scott Servais said in a release. “Tim has a great track record in the minors as a manager and teacher.”
Hampton, 40, will be making his coaching debut with the Travs after a 16-year major-league career with the Seattle Mariners, Astros, New York Mets, Colorado Rockies, Atlanta Braves and Arizona Diamondbacks.
He retired after the 2011 season with a 148-155 record and a 4.06 ERA.
- Troy Schulte FOOTBALL
Coaches honor UA’s Hamilton, Breeding
Arkansas receiver Cobi Hamilton and punter Dylan Breeding were named to the SEC coaches’ All-SEC team Tuesday.
Hamilton was named to the first team after breaking school single-season records for receptions and receiving yards. Hamilton had 90 catches for 1,335 yards and 5 touchdowns and averaged 14.8 yards per catch.
Breeding earned second-team recognition for the second consecutive season after averaging 45.58 yards per punt.
Thurmond honored by SWAC, AFCA
Arkansas-Pine Bluff defensive end Brandon Thurmond pulled in several honors Tuesday.
The senior was named first-team NCAA Football Championship Subdivision All-American by the American Football Coaches Assocation on Tuesday. He was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year and to its all-conference first-team.
Thurmond has 15 1/2 sacks this season.
He joined quarterback Ben Anderson, tight end/wide receiver Dezmond Beverly, center Christopher Wilson, linebacker Bill Ross, safety Ryan Shaw and kicker Tyler Strickland as firstteam All-SWAC selections.
Running back Justin Billings, wide receiver Ledarius Eckwood, offensive tackle Terron Armstead, guard Kenny Eagle, defensive lineman Robert Dorsey and linebacker Jer-ryan Harris were named to the second team.
UAPB will play Jackson State for the SWAC Championship Game at noon Saturday in Birmingham, Ala.
BASKETBALL
Williams Baptist thumps Morthland
Kimberly Wise scored 8 points while Jasmine Ford added 6 points and 11 rebounds as Williams Baptist (6-2) rolled to a 67-29 victory over visiting Morthland (Ill.) College on Tuesday night.
Sports, Pages 21 on 12/05/2012