Recap of Wadsworth and Hubner's first season

Recap of Robin Wadsworth and Rita Hubner's first season as co-owners of the Torrington Twisters from Aug. 7:

A tough year on the field for the Torrington Twisters had a silver lining as it was a year of progress off the field, the team's owner said Wednesday.

Robin Wadsworth and Rita Hubner, both of whom live outside of Boston, took over ownership of the Torrington Twisters in April, just two months before the 2008 season was set to begin.

"I think it was a successful experience," Wadsworth, the team's chairman, said Wednesday. "It was more than anticipated from just a sheer amount of effort that it takes to put it together."

As for rumors about the team's move, Wadsworth and Twisters General Manager Kirk Fredriksson said the team is not going anywhere.

"That's never been a question," Fredriksson said. "That's never even been a question. It's not even an issue. They (the owners) plan on doing everything they can to be here not only this year, but for years to come."

Wadsworth said fans approached her at the end of the season and told her they looked forward to seeing them and coming back next season.

"The facts are that back in July, I personally reached out to (Mayor Ryan Bingham's) office," Wadsworth said.

The purpose of the conversation was a lease for the 2009 season, which Wadsworth wants to be see completed by the end of August. Wadsworth said she wants the development of the lease done in concert with the related organizations in the city, including the Parks and Recreation Commission, the City Council, the Fuessenich Park Steering Committee and the Mayor's Office.

Wadsworth said the rumors about issues with the team or about them moving away are disconcerting.

"It's deflating and it's disheartening because you're trying to do something that you have such incredible passion about," Wadsworth said. "You're trying to do the right thing."

Wadsworth said some of the rumors have come from people who have never taken the time to meet with her.

"They don't know what our long-term plans, strategies or desires are," Wadsworth said.

Wadsworth said there was not much difference between the work she did in Torrington compared to her stint with the Double-AA minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs from 1985-87. Looking back on her first season with the Twisters, she said she would not have done anything differently.

"I'm not sure that there is," Wadsworth said. "We really didn't have enough time to do everything that we needed to do."

There are some things that she will do differently next year, Wadsworth said without going into detail. With the new ownership in place, the team is expected to lose $12,000 to $13,000, a major change over 2007, when it lost $70,000, Wadsworth said.

"We saw some incredible growth in 2008," she said.

On the field was a different story, where the Twisters finished 14-27 and missed the playoffs.

"I think that from the most holistic perspective, the guys that were here were a great group of guys," Wadsworth said. "I was disappointed with what happened on the field. You get disappointed when you don't make the playoffs and you finish out of contention."

Wadsworth, without naming players, said she was concerned with the effort on display during some games, especially considering some of them have visions of playing in the major leagues.

"You're not going to get there if you're not giving 100 percent 100 percent of the time," she said.

Wadsworth praised the die-hard fans who came to every game.

"There's not a doubt in my mind that they welcomed us with open arms," she said.

The raising of ticket prices from $3 to $6 for general admission and $5 to $8 for box seats did not hurt the team's attendance, Wadsworth said.

"Do I think ticket prices hurt it? Absolutely not," she said.

Wadsworth pointed to special nights such as the Dominican all-star team game, the NECBL All-Star Game and United Way's Night at the Twisters as success stories. She said that all of the exhibition games and other items, including the team's financial system, were set up in a short amount of time.

"We should not lose money next year," Wadsworth said. "There would be no excuse for it."

She said the team would not have lost money had the new ownership come sooner than two months before the season began.

"In two short months, we did it all from scratch," Wadsworth said.

Fredriksson has already been looking at players for next season, he said, while organization of other events is also beginning.

"He's got a pretty strong bead on a bunch of guys," Wadsworth said.

Wadsworth and Fredriksson are working on getting international teams to come to Torrington for an exhibition series.

"I personally am working directly with Major League Baseball," Wadsworth said. "Kirk is working with other countries. We're looking to put together a series that makes this year pale in comparison."

Wadsworth and Hubner brought in David and Paula Tedham of Vancouver, British Columbia, as minority owners in late July. The Tedhams will bring in further organizational experience, Wadsworth said.