By Philip Rucker
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, September 30, 2007

As construction on Southern Maryland's minor league baseball stadium continues on pace to open in the spring, the Blue Crabs announced Thursday that they have opened a team office in Waldorf, appointed top business staff members and started selling team merchandise.

The Blue Crabs' headquarters will be in an office building at 3200 Crain Hwy., until the Regency Furniture Stadium opens on Piney Church Road in the St. Charles area. Fans can visit the Waldorf office 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays to order season tickets, purchase team merchandise and meet the business staff. The team is selling logo hats and T-shirts and will soon sell pennants and other memorabilia.

The team also announced the appointments of three top corporate staff. Mark Viniard is the senior director of business operations; Andy Frankel is the senior director of marketing; and Bill Snitcher is the director of corporate partnerships.

Brad Sims, senior vice president of team owner Opening Day Partners, will serve as the Blue Crabs' acting general manager while the club searches for a permanent manager. Sims also oversees the business operations of the company's teams in Camden, N.J.; York, Pa.; and Lancaster, Pa.

"With the opening of our offices and the addition of Mark, Andy and Bill to our staff, we are truly off and running as we gear up for opening day in Southern Maryland next May," Sims said in a statement. "Not only do all three have great experience in minor league baseball, but they have great knowledge of the Southern Maryland region and communities."

Viniard will oversee day-to-day business operations of the Blue Crabs, including ticket sales, group sales, corporate partnerships and marketing. A Missouri native, Viniard, 39, has worked in minor league baseball since 1991, holding positions that have ranged from intern to general manager for six teams.

Frankel will oversee the team's marketing department, including community outreach, public and media relations and print and online publications. He also will help the club establish corporate partnerships with area businesses. Frankel, 31, worked as communications director for the Bowie Baysox from 2001 to 2004 and most recently helped develop Opening Day Partners teams in Lancaster and York.

Snitcher, 52, is returning to the Blue Crabs after being involved in planning for the team last year. He was the sponsorship sales manager for the Bowie Baysox from 1999 to 2005 and later served in that same capacity for the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.