(GREAT FALLS) November 12, 2009

The Board of Directors for the Great Falls Electrics and the Great Falls Stallions American Legion Baseball Programs met Wednesday night and agreed upon the merger of the two programs into one AA Team and two A Teams for the upcoming 2010 American Legion Baseball season.

"Our goal is to strengthen American Legion baseball here in Great Falls and create a competitive AA and A program that will provide the greatest opportunity for our kids to be successful," Bill Preston, president of the Electrics, said.

Over the past three years both organizations have experienced fewer kids coming into the programs which has made it more difficult to compete against other AA and A teams. Currently in Montana, there are no other programs fielding two AA team with the exception of Billings.

While the decision was not an easy one, both boards realized that the merger was best for the kids and the programs.

"We have deep commitment to fosterin the growth of baseball in Great Falls and believe this is the first step in that process," Preston said.

While many details of the merge are still being finalized, the new board members will be moving quickly to prepare for the upcoming season.

Names have yet been determined for the new teams and hiring of coaches has begun. Stallions manager Mike Ferradas stepped down after the 2009 season due to other professional obligations. Electrics manager Aaron Johnson will apply.

Preston and Stallions board president Todd Knowles both agreed everything during the process will be re-evaluated. "We need to start with a clean slate," Knowles said.