THUNDER BAY -- Danny Benedetti is moving on.
The second-year Thunder Bay Border Cats manager has told team officials his search for full-time work means he won’t be able to finish the season behind the Northwoods League team’s bench. Instead that job will be left to coach Cole Mahoney-Bruer, who has taken over the reins of the team after Benedetti’s sudden departure.
Benedetti, who was a volunteer assistant coach at St. John University, plans to leave the city with the full support of team general manager Dan Grant.
“He has some opportunities for some interviews that he really wants to take advantage of and we’re all for that,” said Grant on Friday.
It had nothing to do with the woeful performance of the Border Cats on the field, a team that won just six times in 34 first-half games, turning things around a bit in the second half, winning five times in 14 starts.
“He decided to leave St. John to pursue other coaching opportunities. So this is what’s been going on all summer,” Grant said. “And those opportunities started to pop up.”
Several of the jobs Benedetti – a former catcher with the Border Cats during his playing days – was seeking out required him to interview in person.
That just wasn’t possible to manage while still guiding the Cats through the second half.
Grant said it’s totally understandable.
“In this game you really have to take advantage of opportunities presented to you. As an organization we fully support it. I think the kids are happy for him. And we just hope it works for coach Benedetti because he’s got a bright future in the game,” the first-year GM said.
Grant was unsure where his former manager will wind up.
“He’s got a couple of spots, a couple of teams he’s talking to, so I can’t really say too much until anything’s official,” he said.
Mahoney-Bruer has been managing the team for several games, taking over just before the NWL all-star break.
Grant said Mahoney-Bruer and assistant Steve Dennison will be part of a two-coach system for the final three weeks of the regular season.
