The Weyburn Senior Beavers executive approved Rocco Mossuto, assistant coach of the Dominican University baseball staff in Chicago, to be the new head coach for the 2008 season.

"I am really excited for this opportunity and am looking forward to it," said Mossuto. It will be his first time in Canada and his first time as a head coach at this level.

Mossuto has been either playing or coaching baseball for the last 20 years. On the field, he played at a high level in the United States and also professional baseball in Lodi, Italy in 2003 for the Federizone Italian Baseball Sportivo.

On the bench, Mossuto has been an assistant coach for the Dominican University since 2006, where he was in charge of pitching staff and recruiting. During his time there, he made numerous contacts at the college level to further his recruiting experience.

To prepare for coaching the Senior Beavers, Mossuto has been in contact with some of the players from last year who are returning, as well as looking at statistics from last year and keeping in contact with the executive. "We have a nice mix for a team this year, with eight or nine returning players and 14 new players to the field. We are looking at a new start for the team this season and I will be encouraging the guys to go out there and really play the game."

One of the advantages Mossuto adds is that he has been a pitching coach, which might be an asset to the Senior Beavers. "I noticed that last year, the statistics showed the pitchers giving away a lot of walks. I really want our pitchers to challenge the batters and keep a more up-tempo game so there is more field play. I think this will work well this year, as we have more experienced pitchers returning to the mound."

Mossuto is also looking forward to more community involvement from the Senior Beavers this season. "We will be in Weyburn for baseball and that will also touch on teaching younger kids the aspects of the game at baseball camps. I think that experience will help improve the team as well as help create more experience in Weyburn youth in the sport; it will be a great experience for the Beavers."