Salem-Keizer, Oregon - The managers have been named as the four founding members of the Mavericks Independent League begin to take shape in anticipation of the 2021 inaugural season. All four skippers come with a wealth of professional and major college experience and are already focused on building a strong roster for their respective teams this coming season.
The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes will have a familiar face at their helm of the ballclub. Tony Torcato, a 1st round pick of the San Francisco Giants, becomes the 13th manager in Volcanoes history. Torcato appeared in 59 games for the 1998 edition of the ballclub, hitting .291 with 15 doubles, 2 triples, 3 homers and 43 rbis. After advancing through the Giants' system, Torcato made his major league debut with San Francisco in 2002, appearing in 5 games. The native of Woodland, California saw time with the Giants in 2003, 2004 and 2005, totalling 43 big league games with 3 rbis and a batting average of .298. Torcato is no stranger to independent ball, finishing his
Longtime big leaguer Alan Embree is the manager of the re-born Portland Mavericks. Embree, a native of The Dalles, Oregon, was a three-sport letterman at Prairie High School in Vancouver and was picked in the 5th round of the 1989 amateur draft by the Cleveland Indians. Over 16 years and 882 appearances, Embree pitched for Cleveland, Atlanta, Arizona, San Francisco, the White Sox, San Diego, Boston, the Yankees, San Diego, Oakland and Colorado. Embree was the second big leaguer to win a game without throwing a pitch and finished his big league career with a record of 39-45, with 25 saves and a 4.59 era.
A name familiar to local fans, has been picked as manager of the reborn Salem Senators. Dave Wong, a baseball and football player for Willamette University and a member of the school's Hall of Fame, will take charge of the Senators. After pitching for the Bearcats, Wong was picked by Kansas City in the 19th round of the 1980 draft, was 22-19 with 37 saves in 190 games over 5 seasons. Wong then joined the coaching ranks, serving as an assistant at both Willamette and University of Portland, before serving as head coach at Willamette from 1991 to 2003. Wong was the pitching coach at Oregon State from 2006 to 2008, helping the Beavers to their first two national championships in 2006 and 2007. Among Wong's pitchers were Kevin Gunderson, Jonah Nickerson and Jorge Reyes. His son Joey played for the Beavers and was a 46th round of the 2009 MLB draft.
Another former Beaver has been chosen to manage the Campesinos de Salem-Keizer. Daniel Robertson, who played for Oregon State in 2008, was a 33rd round draft pick by San Diego that same year. He made 148 big league appearances over 4 years with Texas, the Angels, Seattle and Cleveland, batting .262, with 1 home run and 36 rbis. Robertson then returned to Oregon State as a graduate assistant in 2019.
Tickets for the inaugural season of the Mavericks Independent League are available now, by calling the Volcanoes at 503-390-2225 or emailing mavericksleague2021@gmail.com. Those players wishing to be considered for a roster spot can send their information to mavericksleague2021@gmail.com. For advertising or sponsorship opportunities, contact Mickey Walker in the Volcanoes office, by calling 503-779-3389 or emailing m.walker@volcanoes.com.
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