The Arizona Diamondbacks announced yesterday that Mark Haley will return next year for a ninth consecutive season as manager of the South Bend Silver Hawks. This is welcome news, considering his medical situation at this time last year and his respected stature in the South Bend community.

Haley led the Silver Hawks to the Midwest League championship in 2005, his first year on the job. His record over the past eight seasons is 554-552. He’s been named Midwest League Manager of the Year twice, and in 2010 his number 51 was retired by the Silver Hawks.

Wellington Cepeda also will return to the Silver Hawks for a fourth season as their pitching coach. Before becoming a coach, Cepeda spent four years as a pitcher in the Diamondbacks organization, including the 1998 and 2000 seasons with the Silver Hawks. He pitched in 66 games for South Bend, going 6-5 with a 4.80 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 110.2 IP.

Jason Camilli, who played nine seasons in the minor leagues (mostly in the Montreal Expos organization), will be South Bend’s new hitting coach.

Christmas party at The Cove

The Silver Hawks hosted a public Christmas party at Coveleski Stadium today, which sounded like a lot of fun for families. During the free event, attendees could play on the snow-covered field, roast marshmallows on the fire pit near the team store, take pictures with mascot Swoop and watch the movie “A Christmas Story” on the scoreboard.

Judging by tweets from the team, the event was a success, and the Silver Hawks may have found themselves a new centerfielder.

Covey the Snowman patrols center field for the Silver Hawks.