BUDDY BENGEL
CHIEF BREAKING BALL OFFICER

For Buddy Bengel, the Morehead City Marlins are more than just a baseball team. They are the realization of a dream that began long before the first pitch was ever thrown at Big Rock Stadium. A New Bern, North Carolina native, Buddy's passion for baseball began as a player. His career took him from collegiate baseball to professional baseball in the United States and internationally in Italy. While attending Quinnipiac University, Buddy developed a business plan for owning and operating a summer collegiate baseball franchise as his senior thesis. That vision eventually became reality with the founding of the Morehead City Marlins in 2010. Since the team's inception, Buddy has helped establish the Marlins as one of the premier organizations in the Coastal Plain League. Under his leadership, the Marlins captured back-to-back Coastal Plain League Championships in 2018 and 2019, along with numerous division titles and organizational accolades. Most recently, the Marlins finished the 2026 regular season with the league's best record while capturing the East Division Championship. Beyond wins and losses, Buddy has focused on creating an organization that combines competitive baseball with an exceptional fan experience. From innovative promotions and community partnerships to expanding the team's scouting operations and advocating for improvements to Big Rock Stadium, his vision continues to center on making the Marlins a source of pride for Morehead and the entire Crystal Coast. Buddy's commitment to leadership and public service extends well beyond the baseball diamond. He has served on the Board of the North Carolina Education Lottery, the Carteret Health Care Foundation Board of Directors, and The Independence Fund's Advisory Board, supporting initiatives focused on education, healthcare, and improving the lives of veterans and their families. In 2018, Buddy was selected as a Presidential Leadership Scholar, joining a distinguished group of leaders from across the country in a prestigious leadership development program built upon the experiences and legacies of former U.S. Presidents. The program emphasizes leadership, collaboration, and creating meaningful, positive change in communities across America. Away from the ballpark, Buddy is an entrepreneur and restaurateur with business interests spanning hospitality, sports marketing, and consulting. He is involved in several successful New Bern businesses, including Baker's Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery and Poppy's on Pollock, and has worked with national sports brands through his consulting ventures. Despite his various business endeavors, Buddy's greatest pride is his family. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Anella, and their two children, Ella and Cutter. For Buddy, the mission remains simple: build a championship-caliber organization, create unforgettable experiences for fans, give back to the communities that have supported him, and ensure the Morehead City Marlins remain a special part of the Crystal Coast for generations to come.