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Ventura County GCCL Bucs Assistant Coach Jayson Newman – With the endorsement of the Ventura County Pirates Baseball Club – has left the team to fulfill an opportunity to play in the Prospect League in Indiana.
“This was a situation where a ballplayer had an opportunity to continue playing, and I encourage that one thousand percent.” Pirates GM George Vranau said.
Newman joined his new team, the Lafayette Aviators, in time for the start of the second half of the Prospect League season on July 1st after coaching the Bucs to a win over the LA Mission Eagles the day before.
“They won the first half of the season so I’m excited to go play.” Newman said.
Vranau and Bucs head coach Spiro Psaltis encouraged Newman to pursue any future playing opportunities as part of his hiring process prior to the start of the Bucs season.
Even though the departure was not a complete surprise, it is certainly a loss given Newman’s contributions to the Bucs this season.
“We would have loved to keep Jayson for the entire season,” Vranau said. “He made a tremendous impact on the players on the GCCL Bucs team."
Newman helped coach the Bucs to a 7-4-1 overall record during his 12 games in the Ventura dugout. The accomplishment is particularly impressive given that the Bucs were the first team he had ever coached in an official capacity, although Newman was quick to give the credit to his players.
“The growth of the players and their commitment to getting better every day that they were on the field, and even at home, was really impressive.” Newman said. “I’m very excited to see where the team’s going to go.