PRESS RELEASE – Hawaii Baseball, LLC, owners and operators of Hawaii’s only professional sports teams, Na Koa Ikaika Maui (www.mauiprobaseball.com) and the Hawaii Stars (www.hawaiistarsprobaseball.com), announced today that the appointment of key marketing executives to its Board of Directors.
Bob Young, Managing Member of the Company, announced that Larry P. Sloven, of Naples, Florida, and Gary Sterling, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, will join the Board of Directors. Sloven, who lived in Hong Kong for over 23 years, was the Far East buying agent for Dicks Sporting Goods and later for the Sports Authority, where he was responsible for sourcing and product development of private branded products. He presently sits on the Board of Directors of Farell Sports Concepts, a leading company in high-end patented protection gear for all sports. Sterling was the Senior Vice- President and Chief Merchandising Officer who helped build Dick’s Sporting Goods into its present empire of prominence in the retail sporting goods market. Mr. Sterling also sits on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Louisville Bedding, the U.S. leading manufacturer of basic bedding (bed pillows, mattress pads and fiber fill) and The National Inventors Hall of Fame Board of Directors.
“These talented executives bring to Hawaii Baseball a familiarity and an unparalleled wealth of experience. As we become more involved in Asia with the World Independent Baseball League and expand our business operations in the state, these new Board Members are incomparable resources and professionals who will bring their proven acumen and successes to enrich Hawaii Baseball”, said Young. Sloven and Sterling also have become equity participants in Hawaii Baseball, LLC.
Hawaii Baseball, LLC, established in 2010, owned and headed by Los Angeles attorney Young, continues to expand the envelope of independent professional baseball. Entering its fourth season, Na Koa Ikaika Maui,and it sister team on the Big Island of Hawaii, the Hawaii Stars, are set to have international inter-league play with the Japan Baseball Challenge League and has its eyes set on bringing pro baseball to Oahu. Just back from an international exhibition series in Japan in September with the Ishikawa Million Stars, Young is laying the groundwork for its expansion in Hawaii and the Pacific Rim.
“Baseball speaks a common language and our goal is to have our 50th State as the center of independent pro baseball in the Pacific Rim”, explained the owner. “Our 50th state combines its uncontested beauty with the deepest passions for the game from its great fans and its international communities, evident as we have become firmly entrenched in Maui and the Big Island. With Eri Yoshida, our burgeoning female pitching star, helping us with the introduction to professional independent baseball in Japan, we are extremely pleased to have these renowned executives in their field take us to the next level of our expansion in the Islands and beyond.”
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