Baseball: Hot Stove Banquet a Hit As Flying Squirrels Prepare for Second Year

After a year without baseball, fans enthusiastically welcomed the new team to Richmond last season, despite the disappointing departure of the Richmond Braves.

Led by the management team of Chuck Domino and Todd “Parny” Parnell, the new organization won over local baseball fans with a clever nickname, a plethora of promotions and renovations to the Diamond.

This past weekend, the Flying Squirrels held their inaugural Hot Stove Banquet at the Downtown Richmond Marriott.  More than 500 baseball fans attended the event, which also benefited three local charities. On hand were several past and present baseball dignitaries, local celebrities and new manager Dave Machemer.

Parent club wins World Series 

Now in his 38th season in professional baseball, Machemer has spent the last six in the World Champion San Francisco Giants organization, managing in Augusta (Single-A) the last two seasons.   

“I’m so proud to be a part of the San Francisco Giants organization,” he told the crowd.

“This organization believes in the minor leagues. We believe in player development,” he added. “Many of the guys you see playing on television have come right from the bottom to the top.”

Belt could start for Giants

In fact, one of last year’s Flying Squirrels has a great shot of starting the season in the major leagues. Brandon Belt, who played 46 games with Richmond in 2010, has already been penciled in to a starting role with San Francisco. A left-handed hitter, Belt could open the season at either first base or in left field.

Look for a pair of prospects possibly playing at Richmond this season, who are following a path similar to Belt.

Second baseman Charlie Culberson and catcher Johnny Monell, who both played in San Jose last season, are both expected to have bright futures.

It seems the love affair with between the fans and the Flying Squirrels is solidly intact. Now is the time for the Squirrels to improve on their 68-73 record. Machemer, of course, is ready to get the job done.