The Manager:

Chris Cunningham of the Southland Vikings will manage the South All Star Team. Chris is currently an Assistant Coach for South Suburban College in South Holland Illinois. Chris is the hitting coach and also works with outfielders. Coach Cunningham played for Coach Steve Ruzich at South Suburban College in the 2003-2004 seasons. He was a first team All American in 2003 as he batted .506 for the season and was named by Rawlings as the 2003 Midwest Top Hitter. Chris continued his outstanding play in 2004 by being named second team All American. In 2004, Chris was drafted in the 12th round by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and played for five years in the minors. The two-time All American holds many Bulldog records which include best batting average for a season (.506), best batting average in a career (.435), most runs scored in a career (135) and most walks in a career (73). Chris is finishing is degree this Spring at South Suburban College.

The Coaches:

Vern Hasty of the Will County CrackerJacks will assist him. Hasty began his managerial career when he took over the College of DuPage baseball program in 1994, where he served as the head coach until 1998. From 2003-05, Hasty managed the Harper College baseball team before taking over Division I Chicago State’s baseball program for two seasons (2006-07). Most recently, he has managed in Europe with Slovakia’s Trnava Angels.
Former big leaguer Marvin Freeman will be the pitching coach of the South All-Star team. Freeman played in the Big Leagues from 1986-1997. Freeman’s career win loss record in the MLB was 35-28. He most notably went with a 10-2 record and a 2.80 ERA. In that strike shortened season he finished 4th in the Cy Young Voting.