SCRAPPERS G.M. leaves for new club

Dave Smith replaces Andy Milovich for Mahoning Valley.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- The Mahoning Valley Scrappers have called on their bullpen and they've motioned for relief.
Andy Milovich's work here is complete. Bring in Dave Smith.
For the first time since its inception in 1999, Mahoning Valley is making a change at the top, with Smith replacing Milovich as general manager.
"The last five years here have been outstanding," Milovich said. "It was a dream come true to see a new stadium built, the successes we had and the relationships we built in the community."
In an industry marked by constant turnover, the Scrappers found stability with their general manager.
"I was a kid when I moved here," laughed Milovich, 34, a South Bend, Ind., native. "I'm an old man now."
Up and running
Under Milovich's leadership, the Scrappers built a strong foundation in the Mahoning Valley and on the New York-Penn League playing field, averaging almost 5,000 fans per game.
But with Palisades Baseball purchasing the Class A full-season Charleston (W. Va.) Alley Cats of the South Atlantic League -- and a new stadium set for 2005 -- a leader was needed.
"I'm ready for the next challenge," said Milovich, also a former GM with the Erie (Pa.) SeaWolves.
A group of West Virginia businessmen partnered with Palisades, which owns the Scrappers, to keep the team in Charleston, Milovich said. But they didn't have much experience with operations, marketing and promotions.
Having been through the construction process at Mahoning Valley, starting from the bottom with Cafaro Field, Milovich was the most viable candidate to oversee the Charleston franchise, a Toronto Blue Jays affiliate.
"Hopefully we'll recreate what we did here in '98 and '99," Milovich said. "We'll get involved in the community as early as we can and try to build the franchise one relationship at a time."
The purchasing process should be complete in the next few months upon approval by the South Atlantic League, the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues and Major League Baseball, Milovich said.
Seasoned for the task
Smith, 31, shouldn't have much trouble stepping into Milovich's position, having been the Scrappers' assistant GM for the past four years. He's also planted himself in the community, recently buying a house in Howland and being promoted to the Warren Rotary Club's board of directors.
"Andy empowered me with a lot of responsibilities," said Smith, a Hershey, Pa., native who also held an assistant GM position with Erie.
"I was his right-hand man for the last four years," he added. "I sat in all the promotional and operational meetings, and I was involved in everything on a day-to-day basis."
Smith said he doesn't plan to make many changes with the Scrappers. Rather, he'd prefer to build on what already has been established here.
"Andy has done a great job laying the foundation. We'll focus on those things that have made us successful," said Smith, citing the organization's promotions, ticket packages and family environment.
Because Palisades owns the Scrappers and, soon, the Alley Cats -- along with franchises in Erie and South Bend, Ind. -- Milovich will show his face at Cafaro Field occasionally, helping to smooth the transition.
"I'm not going to be a stranger," he said. "They can't get rid of me that easily."
richesson@vindy.com