Tom Hickey, President and
General Manager of the Cooperstown
Hawkeyes, the New
York State Collegiate Baseball
League team that he is bringing
to Cooperstown, has selected the
team logo and announced his
managerial staff.
Hickey held a ``Name that
Team’’ contest, and selected
``Hawkeyes’’ from dozens of
submissions. ``Hawkeye’’ was the
Delaware name given to Cooper’s
protagonist in ``The Last of the
Mohicans.’’ The logo was the
product of a national contest
circulated through ESPN on-line.
It shows an antique ``C’’ adorned
by two feathers.
``It is simple and it fits the
historical reference in our name.
It was just perfect,’’ said Hickey.
Village resident and long-time
youth baseball coach David
Pearlman has been appointed
the Assistant General Manager
for Operations, and has begun
working closely with Hickey to
prepare for opening day in June.
``We’ve all had some related
experience from which we can
draw, but the learning curve
is pretty steep right now,’’ said
Pearlman. ``Right now, I just try
to cross a few things off the ``to
do’’ list each day, but somehow
the list keeps getting longer.’’
Jesse Coughlan, former catcher
for the State University College
at Oneonta, will be the Director
of Public Relations and Communications.
Coughlan has lived in
the area all his life and graduated
from SUCO in 2001. Following
graduation, he coached the Red
Dragons Varsity Softball team
and was named to the Northeast
Region Coaching Staff of the Year.
He will also play a role in bringing
the best players to Cooperstown.
``I played American Legion
ball on Doubleday Field and it’s a
thrill to have the opportunity to
be involved in the team that will
call Cooperstown its home,’’ said
Coughlan.
Village resident Dr. Ted Peters is
acting as the Government Liaison
for the Hawkeyes, and is looking
forward to seeing the team firmly
established.
``It’s about time that Cooperstown
has a real home team,’’ said
Peters.
Rounding out the managerial
staff is Schuyler Pindar of
Edmeston. Pindar will handle
Marketing and Sales for the team
and is developing an attractive
line of souvenirs and signature
products for fans. In addition, he
will be working with corporate
sponsorship. Pindar feels his
most important task is ``doing
what I can to see the franchise
has substantial local support.’’
The team will be coached by
Jake Denstedt, who follows the
franchise from its former home
in Brockport. Denstedt played
high school ball at Churchville-
Chili and later pitched for The
College at Brockport, where
he was named to the New York
Region First Team as a senior. He
coached the Brockport Riverbats
for two years, winning a league
title in 2008. Denstedt is excited
about coming to the home of
baseball.
``Cooperstown is a great place
to have a baseball team. It will
be an honor to work with the
community and to help make the
first season a memorable one,’’
he said.
Hickey summed up his
feelings about the Hawkeyes by
saying, ``It feels great to be part
of a venture to bring organized
baseball to Cooperstown. This
team will be good for the area
and especially for the kids. We
want this to be the community’s
team and fully intend to provide
an affordable, family-oriented
baseball experience for all our
fans.’’
The team will be seeking
housing for the players and
interested parties should contact
David Pearlman at 547-4186 or
dphawkeye@gmail.com.
The home opener will be held
on June 6 at legendary Doubleday
Field in Cooperstown. The
first pitch for all home games are
scheduled to take place at 5 p.m.
unless otherwise noted in the
schedule.
