Martha’s Vineyard Sharks hire new head coach

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The Martha’s Vineyard Sharks, the local entry in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, have hired John Toffey as the team’s new head coach, replacing Mike Miller, who resigned last month to become head coach at Division 2 Davis and Elkins College in Elkins, West Virginia.

Last year, Mr. Miller, in his only season as head coach, guided the Sharks to a first-ever league championship and a first-place regular season finish with a 35-18 record. After accepting the job at Davis and Elkins, Mr. Miller was unable to continue coaching the Sharks this summer due to conflicts with the school.

With the new season set to begin June 4, the departure of Miller, the 2013 FCBL manager of the year, hit the organization hard.

On the Sharks website, team vice president of baseball operations Bob Tankard said, “Losing Mike will be a major blow to the organization. Mike’s best skill was relating to today’s ballplayer and earning his respect.”

Mr. Toffey, the new Sharks coach, comes to the team with impressive results at the high school level, compiling a 46-1 record over the past two seasons as head coach at the Salisbury School in Salisbury, Connecticut. In four years at the helm, Mr. Toffey led the Crimson Knights to two Western New England Prep Baseball League championships.

Sharks general manager Jerry Murphy announced the hiring of Mr. Toffey and said on the team’s website, “We were looking for someone like Mike Miller who can relate to today’s ballplayer and has established a winning tradition at the school where he currently coaches.”

The Sharks begin their fourth FCBL season Wednesday, June 4 (7 pm) at the Shark Tank in Oak Bluffs against the North Shore Navigators of Lynn.

For more information on the Sharks, visit www.mvsharks.com.