The Potomac Nationals 13th annual Hot Stove Banquet and Silent Auction will be held on Sunday, January 13, 2008, at the Hyatt Fair Lakes in Fairfax, Va. from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The silent auction and cocktail hour will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by a seated dinner and program featuring keynote speaker Stan Kasten, President of the Washington Nationals.
The Potomac Nationals will also welcome the teams 2007 manager, Randy Knorr, and Player of the Year Matt Rogelstad as special guests. Additionally, the club will be presenting the annual Fan and Employee of the Year awards and honor the Prince William County High School Baseball and Softball Players of the Year.
Every year, the Potomac Nationals receive donations for the silent auction from minor league and major league baseball teams, NFL, NBA and MLS organizations and various Potomac Nationals sponsors. All proceeds from the silent auction will benefit the American Cancer Society.
Keynote speaker Stan Kasten was named President of the Washington Nationals on May 3, 2006 after simultaneously serving in the same capacity with the Atlanta Braves, the NBAs Atlanta Hawks, and the NHLs Atlanta Thrashers becoming the first person to do so. Now entering his second full season with the Washington organization, Kasten has already made an impact as the club prepares to open Nationals Park in April. The Lakewood,N.J., native has set out to build the Nationals franchise using Three Pillars: scouting and player development, enhancing the fan experience, and community outreach.
Bobby Williams enters his fourth season with the Washington Nationals organization and his second as Director of Player Development. Under Williams, the Nationals had the top rated draft in Major League Baseball in 2007 that included first round pick and former P-Nat Ross Detwiler. Prior to being named Director of Player Development on March 8, 2007, the Rollins (FL) College alum spent two seasons managing in Short Season Vermont and Low-A Savannah. Before joining the Nationals organization, Williams spent four seasons working in the Cincinnati Reds minor league system.
Randy Knorr recently completed his second season as manager of the Potomac Nationals and his third season overall as a minor league manager. The 39-year-old led the P-Nats to a 69-68 record in 2007, becoming the first Potomac club since 1998 to finish with a winning record and record 40 wins in a half after going 40-29 in the second half of the season. The team also became just the second full-season Nationals affiliate in the organizations brief three-year history to finish with a winning record joining the 2006 Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs (72-71).
Randy Tomlin returns for his second season with the P-Nats after joining the Washington Nationals organization from his Alma mater, Liberty University, where he spent the previous nine seasons as the pitching coach. He joined the Flames coaching staff in 1997 after a nine-year professional career that included five seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1990-1994).
Matt Rogelstad was named the Potomac Nationals 2007 Player of the Year after batting .302 and hitting a career-high four home runs with 50 RBI. Acquired from the Seattle Mariners on March 26, the 25-year-old led the team in hits with 122 and was second in games played with 113 in his first season with the Washington Nationals organization. The Canadian finished the season with a 10-game hit streak and played five different positions including all four spots on the infield.