Baxter steps down, Kennedy steps up into Oilers GM position

Mike Baxter is stepping down as general manager of baseball operations for the Peninsula Oilers, and the organization has found a familiar replacement.

Former Oilers player and assistant coach John Kennedy — a 1978 Kenai Central high graduate who has been an Oilers fan since the birth of the team — will be taking over the daily management of the team.

“(The Oilers) approached me about a month ago and said let’s talk about it,” Kennedy said. “It worked out, and for me it’s exciting. It puts me around the park every day.”

Baxter, a longtime member of the Oilers operations committee in the Alaska Baseball League, will be continuing his role as chairman of baseball operations, but said the decision to leave his GM role was based on his focus on the team.

“I’ve got a business and wasn’t doing good enough with both jobs,” Baxter said. “We’ve got a good board of directors and just good people.”

Baxter owns and operates Unique Bus Charters in Kenai, which plays a large role in transporting the Oilers and other ABL teams in the Kenai Peninsula and Anchorage areas.

“I felt that I couldn’t do as good a job with my GM duties, and I feel like I was letting them down by not giving 100 percent to them,” Baxter said. “Fortunately, there are some good office people, and some board members have stepped in.”

The Oilers were established in 1974 and joined the ABL to promote America’s pastime on the peninsula, and it wasn’t long before Baxter showed up. The Kenai native joined the Oilers in 1977 and served as the GM from 1995 through 2004. Since then, Baxter has served as a board member and twice filled in as interim GM.

Kennedy said he was an Oilers fan right from the start, when the team formed 42 years ago. Kennedy was about 13 or 14 years old then, and just eight years later, found himself catching for the team in 1982. Kennedy played at Arizona University for one season before heading to Bemidji State for three years in Minnesota.

After his college years, Kennedy decided to return home and take up a career in teaching, where he was hired at Soldotna High School. His coaching career began when his kids were old enough to swing a bat, as he took up a tee ball coaching position in 1992.

Following a six-year coaching stint with the American Legion Twins in Kenai, Kennedy joined the Oilers as an assistant coach from 2011 through 2014. That was the same year that Kennedy played an integral role in forming the Kenai Central baseball team, which he continues to coach today. Kennedy retired from the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District last year.

“It’s one of those things I wasn’t planning on doing,” Kennedy said. “I’ll be communicating with the board and make sure I know what’s going on.”

Reflecting on his prouder moments with the team, Baxter pointed to the 10 straight seasons the Oilers finished fourth or higher at the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kansas.

“Seeing as many players go on to the major leagues, that always excites me too,” Baxter said.

Baxter added that while he still plans on being involved with the Oilers organization, the lack of time he was able to devote to the team was one thing he wishes he could have.

“There’s mixed emotions about it,” he said. “After all the years, I feel real close to them, but I can also recognize when I’m not doing as good as I could.”

More in Sports

Ninilchik's Kade McCorison moves to shoot over attempted blocks by Aniak's William and Troy Morgan during a basketball game at Ninilchik School in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Ninilchik’s Kade McCorison, CIA’s Ian McGarry make all-state first teams

The Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches sent out its all-state basketball teams… Continue reading

Roope Tuomioksa of the Kenai River Brown Bears attacks Payton Nelson and goalie Nick Erickson of the Minnesota Wilderness on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Saturday: Brown Bears finish sweep of Wilderness

The Kenai River Brown Bears completed a two-game sweep of the Minnesota… Continue reading

tease
Friday: Brown Bears win 2nd straight

The Kenai River Brown Bears defeated the Minnesota Wilderness 4-1 on Friday… Continue reading

tease
Friday: Seward boys fall to Barrow in 4th-place game

The Seward boys basketball team lost the fourth-place game 66-42 to Barrow… Continue reading

Me working in the Alaska House of Representatives on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 in Juneau, Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)
Out of the Office: Juneau

It was kind of happenstance that I spent the last month living… Continue reading

Greg Fallon, Kenai, receives his gold medal for his team’s 4x400m relay 2005 or later mix effort from Mat-Su Borough Mayor Edna DeVries. (J. David McChesney/Frontiersman)
Peninsula athletes compete, win at Arctic Winter Games

23 athletes from the Kenai Peninsula, representing Kenai, Soldotna, Nikiski, Sterling and Homer, brought home 31 Ulus

tease
Thursday: Seward boys hold off Houston to make 4th-place game

The Seward boys basketball team defeated Houston 51-43 on Thursday to advance… Continue reading

tease
Thursday: Sitka girls knock Homer from Class 3A state tourney

The Homer girls basketball team was eliminated from the Class 3A state… Continue reading

tease
Wednesday: Grace Christian defeats Seward in 1st round

The No. 3-seeded Grace Christian boys basketball team defeated No. 6 Seward… Continue reading

Most Read