After helping to start and guide the Gaithersburg Post 295 American Legion baseball team since the program's inception in 1984, Rick Price, the owner of three Maryland State American Legion titles, has decided to hand the team over to junior legion coach Steve Cononie.

Price plans to continue to manage next summer but this time leading the Rockville Express, a member of the Cal Ripken Baseball League, which plays on the same field as his Montgomery College-Rockville program.

“They asked me to do it and I thought it might be helpful for the college team,” said Price, who has won 11 Montgomery Division titles, including four straight. “I felt that if we could get some players that could transition over to the Express after they've already done two years at MC; that could get us a better level of players at [MC-] Rockville.

“I thought it would be something that might be attractive. We have lights now and they can stay on the same field.”

The job offer came after the departure of Express coach Angelo Nicolosi following this past season that saw Rockville compile a 17-24 record, placing it sixth out of nine teams. Hoping to land Price for a long time, Express president/general manager Jim Kazunas said he was thrilled when Price accepted.

“We're very excited,” Kazunas said. “It's something very good for the organization … and for the college. Rick is an incredible coach [and] it was one of those things that the timing was right for Rick to come on board.”

Kazunas added that Price's arrival will also bring in local talent from his coaching days at Post 295 and his current Montgomery College position that he took on last year along with another former long-time county coach, Bill Wright. Rockville experienced a similar situation when former MC-Rockville coach Tom Shaffer ran the Express.

“Everybody is excited about him,” Kazunas said. “He relates very well with the college players. There's a buzz in the area.”

Looking to keep Post 295 atop the Montgomery Division standings will be Cononie, whose son Charlie pitches for the Tampa Bay Rays organization. Cononie helped set up the Gaithersburg Post 295 junior legion team and served as the manager all four years of its existence.

“It is a great honor to be named Post 295 Senior Legion manager,” said Cononie, who guided the junior legion team to the semifinals of the National Amateur Baseball Federation World Series in Tennessee last month and a 26-11 record overall. “This team has an annual tradition of putting out great teams and I will hope to continue the tradition and bring home a few more county and state titles to Post 295.

“I really enjoyed working for him, and getting the Post 295 junior team up and running and developing players to move up to the senior team. Coach Price always found a way to bring out the best in players when it came down to winning the big games. We will miss that.”

Both Price and Cononie said a new junior legion coach is still being sought. Many members of this year's junior team will likely man spots on the senior legion team that went 2-2 at the state tournament held at Municipal Stadium in Hagerstown. Post 295 finished the 2011 season with a 22-10 record.

“If this was my last year at 295, this year's group of kids was a wonderful way to go,” said Price, whose mostly new squad breezed through the Montgomery Division tournament after finishing second to Damascus Post 171 in the regular season standings. “I can't think of a better group of kids. It was a wonderful experience for me.

jpeters@gazette.net