12/02/2003 10:11 AM - Kansas City, KS—The Kansas City T-Bones Baseball Club has announced that Rick Muntean will assume the role of baseball general manager effective immediately.

Muntean is a 23-year baseball veteran, and joins the T-Bones after seven years as general manager of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons in the AAA International League.

Muntean’s addition to the Northern League baseball team coincides with the transition of Adam Ehlert to vice president of Ehlert Development Corp., the owner of CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

In announcing the front office expansion T-Bones owner John Ehlert said: “Not only does Muntean bring solid experience at the highest level of minor league baseball, he also brings an abiding interest in the Kansas City area since he has lived here, his wife grew up here and his in-laws reside in the market.”

“I believe the T-Bones are a tremendous opportunity,” said Muntean. “I’m attracted by the great ownership group that created such an outstanding atmosphere in the first season, but also to be part of the Northern League, the most prosperous and solid independent league in all of baseball.”

“My wife Helen, daughter Sarah and I are really looking forward to returning to the Kansas City area. Helen graduated from Platte County High School before attending Colorado State University,” said Muntean. “And my father-in-law, Dave Cutting, who lives on a farm in northern Kansas City, was a prominent businessman before retirement in 1987. They told us last summer about the success of the T-Bones as great baseball and great family entertainment in a beautiful ballpark.”

John Ehlert said the office expansion was enacted in response to the successful first T-Bones season which saw the team finish in the top third of the league in attendance, and feature the league’s Most Valuable Player in Eddie Pearson. “Manager Al Gallagher has strongly integrated into the community, we have a solid nucleus of players returning, and we have a strong coaching staff in Darryl Motley and Danny Jackson. We’re poised for a great 2004 season.”

He continued that Adam Ehlert will now focus on events other than baseball at Community America Ballpark. “This is too good a facility to be utilized only 48 baseball days per year. Adam will put his focus on other entertainment, community and business events to put CommunityAmerica Ballpark and its amenities at the forefront of activity in the area.”

Adam Ehlert noted the “Nights of a Million Lights” festival currently being hosted as an example of the type of additional family entertainment activity the area can expect to see at the facility.

Muntean’s baseball experience includes being an award-winning general manager at every level of organized baseball including service in Walla Walla, WA, Kenosha, WI and Williamsport, PA as well as Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He is a communications graduate of Ohio University in Athens, OH.

After a successful inaugural campaign, the Kansas City T-Bones of the Northern League are eagerly preparing for their second season. For information about creative sponsorship packages, season tickets, and group outings, please call the T-Bones front office at 913/328-BALL, or visit the T-Bones web site at www.tbonesbaseball.com. The Kansas City T-Bones… Fun Well Done!