Mobile's Turner Ward Honored By Southern League

Baybears skipper Turner was named Southern League Manager of the Year today.

With just four contests remaining in the regular season, the BayBears have been led to the league's best record under Ward with 82 victories which is the second-most in franchise history. This year is Ward's first as the manager of the BayBears and his third overall as a field general. He was the skipper with the Bradenton Pirates in 2006 and State College Spikes in 2007.

Ward, 46, joined his hometown team, the BayBears, in 2008 as the club's hitting coach, a role he filled for three seasons until he took over as the team's manager prior to the start of this year. The BayBears finished second under Ward's guidance in the first half before running away with the second half South Division title to advance to the Southern League Playoffs for the second consecutive year.