OLD ORCHARD BEACH — George Reidy, the head baseball coach at Assumption College in Worcester, Mass., was named manager of the Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League.

“I’m very excited,” said Reidy.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to join a great organization,” Reidy said. “I believe in the mission of the FCBL which is to promote New England baseball and perform at a high level. It’s a chance for New England players to join other players from around the country with a similar skill set. I couldn’t pass it up.”

The Raging Tide played in the New England Collegiate Baseball League last season. In the NECBL, the Raging Tide were 9-33 – last in the Eastern Division.

The FCBL has grown from four to nine teams this season.

Reidy, who has been Assumption’s coach since 2006, was named Northeast 10 Conference Coach of the Year in 2009 after the Greyhounds went 33-21-1 and made their first NCAA regional tournament appearance in 27 seasons. Assumption recently returned from a 4-5 Florida trip.

Reidy was captain at Brandeis in 1999 when it set a single-season record with 33 wins. He was named all-conference.

Reidy heard of the Raging Tide’s opening through FCBL Commissioner Chris Hall. Hall and Reidy are Brandeis University alumni and played baseball for the Judges, though they were never teammates.

Reidy said he then contacted Taylor McCarthy, the team’s general manager. “It all happened within the past 10 days. It kind of snowballed,” said Reidy.

The Raging Tide, under new management, play their home games at The Ballpark in Old Orchard Beach. Their 54-game season opens June 7 at home against the North Shore Navigators.

“We’re going to have the depth to be able to handle a 54-game schedule,” Reidy said. “If you’re passionate about baseball and these players are or they wouldn’t be here, 54 games isn’t a lot.

“Some of the players have been acquired. Taylor McCarthy has done a good job getting players. I know we have three players from Bowdoin and four players from St. Joseph’s.”

Assumption had six players in the FCBL last season, but college coaches are prohibited from coaching their own players. Reidy hasn’t seen The Ballpark, but that will change when he arrives in late May.

“I’ve seen it online and it looks like they’ve done a great job in the renovation,” he said.

Half of an FCBL team’s roster must include players who are from New England or are playing at a New England school.

“We have a lot of Maine kids already,” said McCarthy. “We’re trying to become one of the top summer college baseball leagues in the country.”

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at: tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: TomChardPPH