Steve and Sabrina Bengel combine enthusiasm, entrepreneurship and the love of baseball in bringing baseball back to New Bern with the River Rats. Sabrina serves as Chairman of the Tourism Development Authority, and the New Bern Firemen’s Museum. Steve serves as Chairman of the New Bern/JT Barber High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the local BB &T Bank board and is immediate past Chairman of the YMCA Board. Together they are active in the Chamber of Commerce, Breakfast Rotary Club and Downtown Business Council.

 

Buddy’s award-winning business plan for a CPL franchise in New Bern became reality in 2005. In the team’s second season he will continue to be involved with both operations and player development. In 2005, Buddy played his second professional season with the Elmira (NY) Pioneers. He was a four-year varsity letter winner at Quinnipiac University.

 

Michael joins the River Rats for his first season as the team’s GM in 2006 and will manage all day-to-day operations of the organization. His experience includes eight seasons in the front offices of minor league baseball teams ranging from A to AAA levels. His areas of expertise include promotions, community outreach, customer service, and the ballpark experience.