The say that former New York Yankee will return as manager for the 2012 season of the Can-Am League professional baseball team.
In 2011, the Boulders first season of play, LaPoint managed the team as it went 40-52, finishing in 5th place.
“This season we will be more prepared when it comes to putting the team on the field.” LaPoint said. “We have acquired some pretty good players in the offseason and are looking to add some more before the season starts. We have a beautiful stadium with great fans. It is our duty to improve on last year by quite a margin and we will do that,” he said.
This season will also be the second season at the new Provident Bank Park in Pomona. In 2011, the Boulders had to play an extended opening-season road trip because the the new stadium was still being completed.
LaPoint, 51, a 10th round draft pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in the 1977 Major League Baseball amateur entry draft, played for the Yankees from 1988-1991 and was their Opening Day pitcher in 1990 against the Cleveland Indians. The lefthander went 13-19 with a 4.87 ERA in 48 career games for New York. He made his major league debut on September 10, 1980 with the Brewers and went on to win a World Series in 1982 as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. He registered 80 wins and had a 4.02 career ERA with 227 starts at the Major League level.
This is LaPoint’s 11th season with an independent-based organization. From 2002-2005, he was the pitching coach for the Long Island Ducks, and then went on to manage the Bridgeport Bluefish, also in the Atlantic League. In 2006, with Bridgeport, he was selected one of the Atlantic League’s All-Star Game managers and named Atlantic League Manager of the Year.
LaPoint returned to Long Island in 2007 as manager. After serving as their pitching coach in 2008, he once again took over the managerial duties for the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
“We do not anticipate a sophomore slump," said Ken Lehner, president of the Boulders. "We anticipate sophomore success!"
The Rockland Boulders will start play in the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball on May 17 in Quebec City against the Quebec Capitales.
