October 9, 2014 – AP

Following another disappointing first round exit by the Crystal Lake Sandgnats in this year’s PEBA playoffs, team owner Larry Ellison moved quickly to replace Robbie Brown with new General Manager Brian Hazelwood.  Despite Brown’s affiliation with the revered Dean Giesey, he fell victim to the same issue which ultimately led to Giesey’s abrupt and unexpected retirement following the 2013 PEBA campaign: playoff futility.

Choosing to move in a new direction with this hire, Ellison has promised that Crystal Lake will no longer be the PEBA’s poster boy for regular season success and postseason failure. “Times are changing in Crystal Lake.  October 9^th marks an important day in Sandgnats history, one we hope to look back on with great pride in the years to come,” Ellison stated at Hazelwood’s introductory press conference.

Hazelwood becomes the third GM in Crystal Lake’s history, and its first hire from outside the organization, as he spent the previous three seasons as an Assistant GM with the San Cristóbal Cajeros de Fortuna in the Liga Dominicana de Béisbol Invernal.  A surprise choice for the top spot in Crystal Lake, Hazelwood showed a keen eye for spotting talent in San Cristóbal and was thought to be the driving force behind the Cajeros de Fortuna’s recent success, which included two Serie de Dominicana Final championships in the previous three seasons.  Responding to a question regarding his scouting pedigree, Hazelwood stated, “Spotting talent in America is no different than identifying a ballplayer anywhere else in the world.  I was lucky to have been given the opportunity I had in San Cristóbal and look forward to bringing that experience to bear here in Crystal Lake.”

Commenting on the Sandgnats lack of postseason success, Hazelwood added, “Two Sovereign League pennants, while nice, isn’t what my staff and I are aiming for here.  I think the Sandgnats are a model PEBA franchise, and our goal – right up front – is to bring a championship to this town.  That process begins today. I expect everyone, from myself on down, to be held accountable for succeeding in that regard.”  When asked about his expectations for the 2015 season, Hazelwood bluntly stated, “I think it’s fair to say that I expect a Rodgriguez Cup to be hoisted in Crystal Lake – and I expect it to happen soon.”

As part of his initial shake-up in the Crystal Lake front office, Hazelwood also accepted the resignations of several long-time Gnats executives, including Assistant GM Martin Acheson, promising to instill a renewed sense of pride and accountability in the executive offices. “I have nothing but respect for the work that Mr. Brown and Mr. Giesey did here.  I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank them for the significant time and energy they’ve put in to this franchise.  They’ve left the pieces in place to build this team in to a champion in the near term.  Hopefully, I’m the last piece of that puzzle.”

As Ellison sat beside his new front man at the podium, he beamed – possibly from the shock caused in the press by the hire of a little-known baseball executive from the Dominican, but more likely in the confident display that Hazelwood put on in talking about the Gnats immediate future. “This is truly a new day in Sandgnats’ history,” Ellison said.  “We’ve been building towards this for some time.  No more will people associate Crystal Lake with unfulfilled promises and ridiculous curses; today we turn the page and look to join the ranks of Rodriguez Cup winners.”