Tuesday, December 11, 2007 For Immediate Release

Contact: Jim Tocco (334) 323-0363

Biscuits announce 2008 coaching staff Manager Gardner back; Allen returns as pitching coach

MONTGOMERY -- Billy Gardner, Jr., the manager who guided the Montgomery Biscuits to a Southern League championship in his first year at the helm, will return for a second season, the Tampa Bay Rays announced today.

Pitching coach Neil Allen and trainer Jimmy Southard will also return to Montgomery, while 16-year major league veteran Ben Oglivie will take over Hector Torres' spot as coach.

In his first year with the Rays organization, Gardner led the Biscuits to a league-best 81-59 record and their second consecutive Southern League championship. The club won 15 out of its last 16 games in the regular season and outlasted the Mississippi Braves and Huntsville Stars in the playoffs. It was Gardner's winningest season in his 13 years as a minor league manager. It was also his second league title (in 1999, the 69-70 Augusta Greenjackets surprised the South Atlantic League by claiming the league championship).

Gardner, 41, has compiled a 846-833 (.504) record as a manager, making the postseason seven times in his 13 seasons. His father, former major league manager Billy Gardner, Sr., managed the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals. Senior also managed the Jacksonville Suns in 1973, winning Southern League Manager of the Year honors in that season.

Allen, 49, returns to lead a pitching staff that under his tutelage in 2007 led the Southern League in shutouts (12). Allen's 2007 Biscuits finished fifth in the Southern League with a 4.00 ERA, while starter Chris Mason and closer Dale Thayer each made the Topps Double-A All-Star Team.

Allen is a former bench coach for the New York Yankees and is entering his 28th year of professional baseball. During his 11-year major league career, he pitched 434 games and accumulated a 58-70 record with a 3.88 ERA for the Mets, Cardinals, Yankees, White Sox and Indians.

Oglivie, 58, spent last season a coach with the Vero Beach Devil Rays (A-Advanced) in his first season as in the Rays' organization. His hitters ranked fourth in the 12-team Florida State League with a .270 batting average. The club finished with the best overall record in the league but failed to make the playoffs.

Oglivie is a veteran of 37 years, 18 in the coaching ranks, including a season as the Padres Hitting Coach (2000). During his 16-year career as a left fielder, he batted .273 and blasted 235 home runs. In 1980, he tied Reggie Jackson for the American League lead in homers with 41. He was the first non-American-born American Leaguer to do so.

Southard returns for his second year as the Biscuits' Athletic Trainer. The Arizona native is entering his sixth season in the Rays' organization. In 2006, he was named Minor League Athletic Trainer of the Year and California League Athletic Trainer of the Year.

The Biscuits open their second consecutive title defense on April 3 at 7:05 p.m., when they face the Chattanooga Lookouts at Riverwalk Stadium. Season tickets and group tickets are on sale now at www.biscuitsbaseball.com.

The Biscuits' 2008 Opening Day roster will not be announced until April.