THUNDER BAY -- Mitch Feller is the Thunder Bay Border Cats’ new field boss.
The Northwoods League team on Monday announced the South Dakota State University product will take over managerial duties of a team that won just 21 games in 2015.
I am excited to get things going and arrive in Thunder Bay. I look forward to working with (GM) Dan (Grant) and the rest of the organization to build something great in Thunder Bay for the fans,” Feller said in a release.
“It is an honour to be the new Border Cats head coach, and in one of the premier league's in the country that the Northwoods League has become. I look forward to trying to bring a championship back to Thunder Bay."
Feller is a volunteer assistant at South Dakota State.
Grant said the team wanted someone with baseball skills and understood the need for the team to have an impact in the community.
“We weren’t looking necessarily for what schools they are at or have been at. We were looking for someone who has proven they can manage through adversity and be a professional. Mitchell was that guy.”
Former player Danny Benedetti held the reins of the team for most of the 2016 campaign, but left the team late in the season to pursue full-time employment opportunities.
He was replaced by coach Cole Mahoney-Bruer, who finished out the rest of the season.
Team president Kyle Smith said Feller was an easy choice.
“During the interview process it quickly became clear that Mitch was the right choice to lead the Cats. His passion for winning while improving the career prospects for his players is a characteristic that fans will appreciate."
Feller spent several seasons as an assistant coach with the Georgia College Bobcats, where he coached first base, helped with recruiting and worked with the team’s catchers.
Prior to that he was with Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa.
Fller also coached summer league baseball in the West Coast League with Neptune Beach in 2012 and Klamath Falls in 2013. He played his college ball at Iowa’s Buena Vista University.
