NORTHWOODS LEAGUE ANNOUNCES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: November 18, 2008

Two More Players Set to Join Bombers in 2009
Wofford and Florida Southern Represented

(BATTLE CREEK, MI) The Battle Creek Bombers announced the signing of two more players to their 2009 roster, infielder/outfielder Kyle Behrendt and left handed pitcher Eddie Sipple.

Behrendt, 6’1” and 190 pounds, is currently playing at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The junior batted .291 in 58 games for the Terriers last spring with 60 hits and a team-high three triples.

“Kyle is a versatile left-handed hitter that will play multiple positions for us. He has already proven that he can swing the wood as he hit .340 in the Coastal Plain League last summer,” said Tom Fleenor, new Bombers skipper for 2009.

Sipple, also 6’1” and 190 pounds, is a pitcher for the Florida Southern Moccasins (Lakeland, FL). The sophomore appeared in 15 games for the Mocs as a freshman and registered 12 strikeouts in 13 innings pitched. Sipple is teammates at Florida Southern with Colin Kaline, an infielder who was limited to 10 games with the Bombers in 2008.

“Eddie is a quality left-hander playing for one of the best Division II teams in the country. If the coaches at Florida Southern think he will contribute to their success, it's apparent that he has the potential to help the Bombers win as well," said Fleenor.

Bullfrogs Add Sellers to Front Office
New Assistant GM Has Variety of Baseball Experience

(GREEN BAY, WI) The Green Bay Bullfrogs announced the hiring of Jody Sellers as the franchise's new Assistant General Manager of Ticketing and Group Sales. Sellers replaces Casey Ausloos who spent two years with the Bullfrogs before accepting a position with the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame after the conclusion of the 2008 season this past fall.

Sellers earned a Masters Degree in Sports Management from Western Illinois University in 2001. He brings a vast amount of professional baseball experience with him to Green Bay. His baseball career began with the Schaumburg Flyers of the professional Northern League in 2000 and from there an internship with the Lowell Spinners, a Class A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox in 2001. In 2002 he was named the Director of Sales for the Idaho Falls Padres and in 2003 was named Director of Sales for the New Jersey Cardinals. In 2004, Sellers was named Assistant General Manager of the Tri-City Dust Devils, a Class A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies and in 2007 was named the General Manager of the Anderson Joe’s (SC) for the upstart professional South Coast League.

"Wags" Will Return to Honkers in 2009
Season will be Radio Broadcaster's 3rd in NWL

(ROCHESTER, MN) The Rochester Honkers Baseball Club announced that Mike “Wags” Wagenheim will return next summer as the official radio voice of the Rochester Honkers. Wags is currently the Director of Broadcasting at the University of New Orleans and the 2008 Sun Belt Conference Broadcaster of the Year.

"This past season in Rochester was a fantastic experience with a first-class organization, a terrific, loyal fan base and a wonderful city,” said Wagenheim. “I am thrilled about the opportunity to return to the Honkers in 2009!"

Wags began his Northwoods League career in 2007 as the voice of the Battle Creek Bombers. When the Bombers did not have a radio contract for 2008, that opened the microphone for Wags to come to Rochester.

“We were extremely fortunate to find someone of Wags’ caliber and professionalism to be our radio voice last summer,” said Rochester Honkers general manager Dan Litzinger. “In just a few short days we realized we had someone special behind the microphone. He is one of the best!”

Since 1999, Wags has been calling games from West Virginia to California and points in between. In 2002 he served as the play-by-play announcer for the West Virginia University men’s and women’s soccer teams on WVU’s radio network. He was the first student announcer in the 56-year history of the network. Wags began calling professional games in 2004 as the Assistant Director of Broadcasting for the Inland Empire 66ers, the Seattle Mariners’ affiliate in the California League. In 2005 he was the Director of Broadcasting for the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays affiliate in the Midwest League. The following year the Devil Rays pulled out of Michigan which landed him the job with the Battle Creek Bombers.

"I'm pleased that Mike Wagenheim is returning as play-by-play voice of the Honkers,” said Brent Ackerman, Operations Manager for Cumulus Radio-Rochester. “Wags does a great job describing the action on the field and his preparation, knowledge and passion for the game is second-to-none. Plus he's a heckuva nice guy too.”

Former Woodchuck Nominated for Pitcher of the Year
Venditte Listed with Minor League Baseball's Elite

(WAUSAU, WI) Former Wisconsin Woodchucks pitcher Pat Venditte is up for Minor League Baseball’s Reliever of the Year Award. Fans are urged to visit www.milb.com and vote for the Reliever of the Year. Voting ends Friday, November 21st.

Venditte, an ambidextrous pitcher for the Staten Island Yankees, was perfect in save opportunities this summer (23-for-23) and finished with a miniscule 0.83 ERA. He made national sports headlines in June, including ESPN SportsCenter highlights, when a switch-hitter came to the plate to face the switch-pitching Venditte. After many “switcheroos” by both the hitter and pitcher, Venditte won the advantage and faced the right-handed batter as a right-handed pitcher. Venditte went on to strike out the hitter which ended the game.

As a member of the 2007 Woodchucks, Venditte played for the south division in the NWL All-Star Game. On the season he made 26 relief appearances and led the Woodchucks with nine saves. He finished the year with a 1.76 ERA in 41 innings pitched. His solid performances in the Northwoods League and at Creighton University led Venditte to being selected in the 20th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft. The New York Yankees selected him with the 620th pick overall this past June.

Express Add to Front Office Staff
Two-Year Intern Neborak Brought Onboard

(EAU CLAIRE, WI) The Eau Claire Express announced the hiring of Andy Neborak to the front office staff. Andy will focus his off-season efforts on corporate sales, ticketing and marketing. During the season, he will also assist with game day operations including staffing, concessions, inventory control and fan relations.

Neborak had spent the last two seasons as the stadium operations intern for the Express. As intern, he handled many of the summer duties he will be taking over full-time. The Waconia, Minn. native received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire this past May.

“We are very pleased to be able to hire Andy to our full-time staff,” said General Manager Brett Schroedel. “He has a great work ethic, is an enthusiastic learner, and has a strong handle on what we try to accomplish in our organization.”

Neborak will also handle the staffing and operations of the stadium for the spring high school season and the other amateur teams who use Carson Park in the summer.

“Andy was very involved in all aspects of the organization as an intern and we are confident he will do well in his new role,” added Schroedel. “With Andy, we hope to be able to build more relationships with sponsors and create an even better environment at Express baseball games.”

Bombers Ink Two Broncos
WMU Pair to Suit up for Battle Creek

(BATTLE CREEK, MI) The Battle Creek Bombers are pleased to announce the signing of two players from Western Michigan University to their 2009 roster, outfielder Chris Lewis and pitcher Tim Mowry.

The pair of Broncos, set to join the Bombers next summer, are the first players to sign with the third-year club. “It is exciting to recruit and sign talented local players like Chris and Tim to compete for us,” said Rick Lindau, Bombers General Manager. “Their commitment continues a strong relationship that we currently enjoy with Western Michigan Baseball.”

Lewis, a junior from Ada, Michigan, is an outfielder coming off a fine season at Western last spring. The 6’1” 205 pound switch-hitter was a First team All-MAC and Academic All-MAC selection in 2008. He finished 2nd in the MAC (Mid American Conference) with a .390 batting average while leading the conference in on-base percentage (.488). In 50 games for the Broncos, Lewis collected 71 hits including 13 doubles, 8 home runs and 49 RBI while finishing with an impressive .593 slugging percentage. Amazingly, Lewis struck out only eight times in 182 at bats ranking him the ninth toughest strikeout in NCAA Division One play.

The impressive numbers didn’t end there as Lewis continued his torrid hitting in summer league play as well. He compiled a .397 average with four home runs while being selected to the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League All-Star team while playing in Columbus, OH. He led the team in nearly every offensive category including runs, hits, doubles, total bases, and slugging percentage.

Mowry, a junior from nearby Portage, MI, worked primarily out of the Broncos bullpen last season. The big (6’5”) right hander finished with a 2-3 record in 22 appearances for WMU along with 32 strikeouts in 36 2/3 innings. The 22 appearances are the third most in a single season in Broncos history. A former three-sport star at Portage Central, Mowry also played for Columbus (OH) in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League in 2008.

"We are extremely excited to have signed a couple of local guys that can really help us,” said Tom Fleenor, new Bombers field manager. “Mowry should be a key contributor out of the pen for Western and Lewis' numbers so far in his college career speak for themselves."

Lewis and Mowry join fellow Broncos alum Drew Mahan as members of the Bombers. Mahan pitched for Battle Creek in their inaugural season in 2007 and his 34 appearances that season remain a team record.

Thieleke Returns to Lead Mallards
Madison Field Manager Back for 5th Season

(MADISON, WI) The Madison Mallards announced that Manager C.J. Thieleke will return for a fifth season to coach the team in 2009. Thieleke, the Mallards winningest manager with a career record of 157-127, guided the Mallards to a First-Half South Division Championship and appearance in the Northwoods League Championship Series a year ago. He has made the playoffs three times (’05, ’06, ’08) during his tenure in Madison. Thieleke needs seven more regular season victories to pass former Waterloo Bucks Manager Eric Snider for the fourth most wins in Northwoods League managerial history.

Prior to being promoted to manager, Thieleke was an assistant coach with the Mallards for two seasons, including the 2004 Championship season. He is also an assistant coach at MATC in Madison. Thieleke was the 1994 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and played at the University of Iowa for three seasons before spending two seasons in the Minnesota Twins organization.

“I’m obviously thrilled to have the opportunity to return for another season and I can’t wait to take the field and try to bring a Northwoods League Championship back to the great city of Madison,” said Thieleke.

“It’s always a pleasure in sharpening these young athletes’ skills both on-and-off the field and seeing how each individual piece of the puzzle fits in trying to accomplish the ultimate team goal—winning a championship.”

Mallards General Manager Vern Stenman believes Thieleke’s diligent work in recruiting players each year has paved the way for the team’s success over the past four seasons.

“In terms of recruiting, the reputation that C.J. has built in Madison continues to put us in a position to sign the most talented players in the country,” said Stenman. “I echo C.J.’s statement in that we can’t wait to get the 2009 season underway because we feel like next year’s team is the most talented young group of athletes we’ve ever had coming to Madison.”

Scherzer to Return to La Crosse Nov. 23
Diamondbacks Hurler Will Headline "Hot Stove" Event

(LA CROSSE, WI) The 7th Annual Winter Baseball BBQ is set to return to the Best Western Midway Hotel on Sunday, November 23 and La Crosse Logger fans will be in for quite a treat this year. Highlighting the “hot stove” event will be former Logger hurler and current member of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Max Scherzer.

Scherzer broke onto the national scene in the summer of 2004 as a member of the Loggers when he earned “All-Star” status in the Northwoods League with his electric arm. It’s been onward and upward since then. After a stint with Team USA in the summer of 2005, Scherzer became the second highest pick in NWL history in 2006 when the D-backs selected him 11th overall in the MLB draft. In just two years, the St. Louis, Missouri native worked his way to the big leagues and became a member of the Arizona pitching staff for a good portion of the 2008 season.

Scherzer’s debut season in the big leagues was an impressive one as the right-hander logged 56 innings over 16 appearances (7 starts) while posting an 0-4 record with a 3.05 ERA. The former Missouri Tiger also struck out 66 batters, featuring a fastball that regularly registered in the 96-98 MPH range.

Tickets for the November 23 event are on sale now at the Loggers retail store/business office on Caledonia Street in La Crosse. $5 for adults and kids 12 & under get in for free. Doors will open at the Best Western Midway Hotel at 5:00 p.m. for a social hour with a Logger Dog-style meal and beverages available. The program will then commence at 6:00 p.m. featuring addresses from Logger team representatives and featured speaker Max Scherzer.

Attendees will also be treated to special guest appearances from former Logger and current Chicago Cubs farmhand Jon Mueller, as well as Central High Alum and Milwaukee Brewers farmhand R.J. Seidel.

Meier Re-Hired by Border Cats for 2009
Original 2008 Manager Helped Build Champion

(THUNDER BAY, ONT) The Thunder Bay Border Cats announced that Bobby Meier (Paradise Valley Community College/Atlanta Braves Scout), original Field Manager in 2008, will be returning for the 2009 season. He will replace Devin McIntosh who has accepted a full time position with the University of Buffalo and is regrettably unable to stay on with the Cats.

Bobby is extremely excited for the opportunity to continue what he started in Thunder Bay. In signing a number of players in 2008 he feels a small part of the championship but would like to earn his own ring and be the first Northwoods League team to repeat.

“Obviously there is a very good core of players who are eligible to return," Meier said.  "We need to solidify that base and build from there.”

Mallards Hire Former Bullfrogs GM Then
Then to Lead Madison's Marketing Department

(MADISON, WI) The Mallards are excited to announce that former Green Bay Bullfrogs General Manager Mike Then has been hired to help lead the team's Marketing efforts for the 2009 season. Mike spent the past two seasons in Green Bay after working for the Mankato MoonDogs for four seasons -- one as a Media Relations Intern and three as an Assistant GM. A 2003 graduate of Minnesota State University - Mankato, Then is originally from St. Paul, MN.

"I'm really excited to join the Mallards staff. Having spent the past six years working in the Northwoods League, I know how great of an organization this really is and I hope I can add to it," said Then.

"Each year the Mallards push the envelope with unique promotions and set new benchmarks that every team tries to follow. Being a part of that is a tremendous opportunity and something I'm greatly looking forward to."

Said Mallards General Manager Vern Stenman, “Mike brings a vast array of knowledge in Northwoods League baseball operations to our organization so it’s exciting to bring in a person with such an interesting and unique perspective.”

“He played a big part in the Bullfrogs being the first expansion team in NWL history to make the playoffs in 2007 and their organization increasing per-game attendance by 27 percent in year two,” added Stenman.

Lauritson Back With Bucks For Third Year
Field Manager Looks to Improve on Solid Season

(WATERLOO, IA) The Waterloo Bucks have announced the return of Pete Lauritson as their field manager for the 2009 season. Lauritson enters into his second year as leader of the Bucks after finishing 32-34 and a game shy of being crowned Second Half South Division Champions.

A native of Mason City, Iowa, Lauritson was an assistant with the Bucks in 2007, began his field manager duties for Waterloo in 2008, and is entering his sixth season as the hitting and outfield coach for the North Iowa Area Community College baseball program.

According to Bucks general manager Dan Corbin, Lauritson is the man for the managerial position.

"Pete did a tremendous job with our team last season," said Bucks General Manager Dan Corbin. "His interaction with the players in 2008 as our manager and two years ago as a coach has been second-to-none and Pete is one of the hardest working coaches I have been around. His commitment to this team and making each ballplayer in our clubhouse better is remarkable. With all of the obstacles thrown in front of him this past summer, Pete did a good job taking the reigns of the club, allowing the front office to worry about the flooding issues, while he took care of the on-field activities. Put in a difficult spot, Pete and his staff were able to keep us in the hunt for a South Division title until the very end. I'm excited for him to return to Waterloo for another season."

Lauritson is looking forward to returning.

"I am excited for the opportunity to come back and be a part of the Bucks in 2009," said Lauritson. "I have a lot of passion for the Northwoods League and the Waterloo Bucks. Nothing motivates me more right now than getting ready for next summer and leading the Bucks to an NWL championship."

Under Lauritson's tutelage in '08, the Bucks showed a four game improvement in the win column, placed two players on Baseball America's Top 10 Major League Prospects of the NWL list, had four players participate in the NWL All-Star game, and one player named to the post season All-Star team.

The seventh manager in Bucks history, Lauritson succeeded Dan Fitzgerald (2007), Corey Allen (2006), Jason Shockey (2005), Andy Haines (2003-'04), Darrell Handelsman (1999-2002), and Eric Snider (1995-'98).

Zobrist to Play in World Series
Former Woodchuck Will Suit Up for Tampa Bay

(WAUSAU, WI) Ben Zobrist, a current member of the Tampa Bay Rays and former Wisconsin Woodchuck, will be suiting up for the Rays as they open up against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday in game one of Major League Baseball’s World Series. The Rays clinched the American League pennant on Sunday with a 3-1 game seven victory over the Boston Red Sox.

Zobrist, a 6’3” utility player, appeared in three games of the ALCS. He pinch-hit for outfielder Gabe Gross in game two and had a crucial at-bat in the bottom of the 11th inning. Zobrist drew a walk with no outs and three batters later B.J. Upton hit the game-winning sacrifice fly. Zobrist played both shortstop and right-field during the series.

The Eureka, Illinois native was on a hot streak going into the 2008 MLB Playoffs. Zobrist was named the American League Co-Player of the Week during the final week of the regular season. He hit .455 with a double, triple, four home runs, and seven runs batted in. His late hot streak bumped his batting average up to .253 for the season. Zobrist, a switch-hitter from Dallas Baptist University, finished the regular season with 198 at-bats in 62 games.

Zobrist was the starting shortstop for the 2003 Northwoods League Champion Wisconsin Woodchucks. The Houston Astros drafted him in the 6th round of the 2004 MLB Amateur Draft. In July 2006 he was involved in a trade that sent him to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, where he made his Major League debut on August 1st, 2006.

McKay to Return as Loggers Skipper
La Crosse Set Franchise Win Record in 2008

(LA CROSSE, WI) The La Crosse Loggers baseball club announced that Andy McKay will return as their field manager for the 2009 season.

McKay, the head coach at the storied Sacramento Community College program in California, made quite an impression in his first year at the helm of the Lumbermen. The Loggers broke 26 team and/or individual records in 2008 including a franchise best 39 wins.

McKay has served as the field general at Sacramento City College for the past ten seasons where he has amassed a 332-132 record (.716) which includes seven conference championships, 14 post-season regionals and six State Final Four qualifiers. During this ten-year reign Sacramento City College has also won more post-season games than any other program in the state of California and over 140 student athletes have either transferred to four-year schools or signed professional contracts.

Coach McKay was honored as the 1999 Community College Coach of the Year and the Panther Baseball program was tabbed as the 1990's Team of the Decade by Baseball America.

McKay is no stranger to summer collegiate ball either, having served as the head coach for the Anchorage Glacier Pilots of the Alaskan League in 2005 and as the pitching coach for the Chatham A's of the Cape Cod League in 1996.

Joining McKay may be a large contingent of players off of the 2008 club as the team sported only four juniors and numerous players are eligible to return again in 2009.

Senne, Vaughn Each Named Top Prospect
MVP Ramirez Slated at Number Four

(ROCHESTER, MN) La Crosse Loggers outfielder Cory Vaughn [left] (San Diego State) and Rochester Honkers outfielder Aaron Senne [center] (Missouri) each recently earned the honor of top prospect in the Northwoods League according to a pair of national baseball publications. Baseball America released its top 10 list led by Vaughn, and Perfect Game Crosschecker announced their top 25 headed by Senne. Mankato MoonDogs catcher Carlos Ramirez [right] (Arizona State), the 2008 Northwoods League Most Valuable Player, was rated at number four in each list.

Vaughn came to the La Crosse Loggers following his freshman season at San Diego State. Vaughn put his big game ability on display in July when he earned the Stars of Stars award at the Northwoods League All-Star Game for going 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, an RBI, and a run scored. Cory’s father Greg, a former Major League All-Star, spent part of the season coaching the Loggers team that Cory led in games (68), home runs (8), and stolen bases (26). Vaughn batted .251 for the season while driving in 41 runs and scoring 35. He did show a tendency to strike out leading the League with 82 punch outs in 255 at bats. Defensively, he collected nine outfield assists that tied him for second in the League. Vaughn was drafted out of high school by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 43rd round of the 2007 MLB Draft.

Senne, a Rochester, MN native, played less than half of the season for the hometown Honkers. It was his second year with Rochester, joining the club this summer only after suffering an injury that likely kept him off of Team USA’s roster. Senne had a below average season with the Honkers hitting .226 with no home runs and 10 RBI in 26 games. This followed a 2007 summer where he shared the Northwoods League-lead with nine home runs. Senne returns to Missouri this spring after leading the team with a .347 average and 67 RBI as a sophomore. He also launched 13 home runs, good for second on the team. The Minnesota Twins drafted Senne out of high school in the 13th round in 2006.

Ramirez has transferred to Arizona State after a two-year stint at Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Arizona. He played a major role in the Mankato MoonDogs clinching their first postseason appearance this past season. He was among the League leaders in batting average (.315), doubles (19), RBI (44), and on-base percentage (.433) while leading the League in home runs (10), extra-base hits (29), and slugging percentage (.560).

The complete prospect lists can be found below:

PGCrosschecker.com top 25

1) Aaron Senne, OF, Rochester (Missouri)
2) Cory Vaughn, OF, La Crosse (San Diego State)
3) Josh Prince, SS, Green Bay (Tulane)
4) Carlos Ramirez, C, Mankato (Arizona State)
5) James Jones, LHP/OF, Waterloo (Long Island)
6) Derek McCallum, 2B, St. Cloud (Minnesota)
7) Xavier Esquivel, RHP, St. Cloud (Loyola Marymount)
8) Mike Nesseth, RHP, Duluth (Nebraska)
9) Cole Green, RHP, La Crosse (Texas)
10) Brendan Lafferty, LHP, Mankato (UCLA)
11) Brian Pearl, RHP/3B, Green Bay (Washington)
12) Chris Sale, LHP, La Crosse (Florida Gulf Coast)
13) Ryan Goins, SS, Waterloo (Dallas Baptist)
14) Eric Stephens, 1B/OF, Rochester (Cal State Chico)
15) Rob Lyerly, OF, Madison (Charlotte)
16) Nate Woods, RHP, Thunder Bay (Belmont)
17) Jimmy Reyes, LHP, Mankato (Elon)
18) R.J. Hively, RHP, Battle Creek (Cal State Fullerton)
19) Mitch Mormann, RHP, Duluth (Des Moines Area CC)
20) Andy Burns, INF, Duluth (Kentucky)
21) Moises Montero, C, Duluth (SIGNED/Cleveland)
22) Aaron Dott, LHP, La Crosse (Wisconsin-Whitewater)
23) Zach Robertson, LHP, Rochester (Iowa)
24) Michael Rockett, OF, Mankato (Texas-San Antonio)
25) Gabriel Shaw, RHP, Madison (Louisville)

Baseball America top 10

1) Cory Vaughn, OF, La Crosse (San Diego State)
2) Mike Nesseth, RHP, Duluth (Nebraska)
3) James Jones, LHP/OF, Waterloo (Long Island)
4) Carlos Ramirez, C, Mankato (Arizona State)
5) Rob Lyerly, OF, Madison (Charlotte)
6) Aaron Barrett, RHP, Duluth (Mississippi)
7) Derek McCallum, 2B, St. Cloud (Minnesota)
8) Ryan Goins, SS, Waterloo (Dallas Baptist)
9) Andy Burns, INF, Duluth (Kentucky)
10) Nick Gaudi, RHP, Alexandria (Pepperdine)

NWL Announces Rawlings Finest in the Field
League Champion Border Cats Place Three

(ROCHESTER, MN) The Northwoods League has announced the recipients of the 2008 Rawlings Finest in the Field Award. The annual award recognizes the top fielders at each position.

The 2008 Northwoods League Champion Thunder Bay Border Cats had three players earn the award. The tandem of middle-infielders Connor Lind (Furman) at second base and Josh Ashenbrenner (Lewis-Clark) at shortstop combined to commit just 14 errors during Thunder Bay’s championship season to allow each to have the top fielding percentage at their position. Border Cats left-handed pitcher Dan Zehr [left] (Northeastern) not only led the NWL in earned run average but also had the most fielding opportunities on the mound without committing an error. Zehr and St. Cloud River Bats third baseman Brian Hernandez (Canyons) each were second-year NWL players that picked up their first Finest in the Field Award. Hernandez’s River Bats teammate Kevin Johnson (Cincinnati) earned the award at first base. Battle Creek Bomber teammates Parker Berberet (Cypress) and Dusty Harvard (Oklahoma State) also claimed the hardware at catcher and outfielder, respectively. Curt Restko [center] (Eastern Illinois) of Brainerd and Alex Sofranac [right] (San Jose State) of Waterloo were perfect defensively in the outfield to earn the final two awards.

The winners are selected based on final official fielding statistics compiled by league statistician Sports Ticker, a Cheshire, Connecticut based sports statistical service company. The honorees receive a special Rawlings baseball glove mounted on an engraved trophy base. The 2008 Rawlings Finest in the Field Award recipients and their field percentages are below.

C  Parker Berberet, Battle Creek Bombers, Cypress College, .990
1B Kevin Johnson, St. Cloud River Bats, University of Cincinnati, .991
2B Connor Lind, Thunder Bay Border Cats, Furman University, .987
3B Brian Hernandez, St. Cloud River Bats, College of the Canyons, .949
SS Josh Ashenbrenner, Thunder Bay Border Cats, Lewis-Clark State College, .969
OF Curt Restko, Brainerd Blue Thunder, Eastern Illinois University, 1.000
OF Alex Sofranac, Waterloo Bucks, San Jose State University, 1.000
OF Dusty Harvard, Battle Creek Bombers, Oklahoma State University, .993
P   Dan Zehr, Thunder Bay Border Cats, Northeastern University, 1.000

NWL Announces Recipients of Rawlings Big Stick Award
Award Goes to Top Hitter at Each Position

(ROCHESTER, MN) The Northwoods League is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2008 Rawlings Big Stick Award, formerly known as the Offensive Player of the Year. This award is given to the player at each position who had the best batting average.

To be eligible a player would’ve needed to have enough plate appearances to qualify for a batting title. In 2008 it took at least 184 plate appearances to be listed among the league leaders. Those players that saw time at more than one position qualify at the position they played most often.

It’s no surprise that the 2008 Northwoods League Batting Champion, Madison’s Rob Lyerly [left] (Charlotte), earned the award for outfielders. Lyerly finished the season with a .342 average playing most of his games as the Mallards right fielder. Duluth’s Tim Jobe [center] (Indian River CC) finished a close second in the batting race and takes home a Rawlings Big Stick as the top hitting first baseman in the NWL with a .338 average. St. Cloud’s Derek McCallum [right] (Minnesota), the NWL’s third best hitter, picks up the Big Stick at second base hitting .328 for the River Bats. McCallum and Wisconsin outfielder Matt Gantner (High Point) both earned their first Big Stick while playing their second summer in the Northwoods League.

To honor their achievement the eight award winners will receive an engraved bat from Rawlings. The complete list of 2008 Rawlings Big Stick Award Winners is below.

C  Carlos Ramirez, Mankato MoonDogs, Chandler-Gilbert Community College, .315
1B Tim Jobe, Duluth Huskies, Indian River Community College, .338
2B Derek McCallum, St. Cloud River Bats, University of Minnesota, .328
3B Joe Bonfe, Eau Claire Express, Creighton University, .326
SS Josh Prince, Green Bay Bullfrogs, Tulane University, .312
OF Rob Lyerly, Madison Mallards, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, .342
OF Matt Gantner, Wisconsin Woodchucks, High Point University, .316
OF Cameron Satterwhite, Green Bay Bullfrogs, University of Cincinnati, .310

Arnerich To Return To River Bats
Field Manager Back For Fourth Season

(ST. CLOUD, MN) The St. Cloud River Bats announced that Tony Arnerich will return as Field Manager for his fourth season in 2009.

Arnerich, who already owns the record for wins as a Bats field manager (109) and has a 2007 Northwoods League Championship, looks to direct his team back into the playoffs in 2009. The Bats ended the 2008 season with their best overall record in five seasons but missed the playoffs for only the third time in 12 seasons.

Arnerich is currently entering his second season as an assistant coach at the University of California-Berkeley. He played his college baseball at Santa Rosa JC and Texas Tech University before signing a professional contract with the Kansas City Royals ('01) where he played four years with the Royals and Florida Marlins organizations. He was also a former catcher for the River Bats and is a member of the Northwoods League All-Decade Team. In 2001, he hit .355 (1st NWL) along with a .450 on base percentage (1st NWL) and was named the Northwoods League Most Valuable Player.

The River Bats will also be seeking to hire a pitching coach and assistant coach to complete the field staff for the 2009 season. For further information please contact the River Bats office at 320-240-9798 or visit www.riverbats.com.

Corbin Named NWL Executive of the Year
Waterloo GM Earns Honor After Unforgettable Season

(ROCHESTER, MN) The Northwoods League announced that Dan Corbin, General Manager of the Waterloo Bucks, has been named 2008 NWL Executive of the Year. The award, which was decided by a vote of team officials at the League's annual fall meetings last week in Alexandria, MN, is given annually to the League's outstanding executive.

Corbin has been with the Bucks for seven seasons including the past three as GM. This summer he and the Bucks staff persevered through one of the most difficult challenges to ever a face a Northwoods League franchise. The Bucks were homeless for over a month when Waterloo’s Riverfront Stadium was flooded and left heavily damaged due to the devastating floods of Iowa’s Cedar River in mid-June.

“I’m personally pleased for Dan, in that, his peers recognized his professionalism in a very adverse situation in 2008,” said Northwoods League President Dick Radatz, Jr. “He is certainly worthy of this award having been a good operator for many years.”

The Bucks were scheduled to play 16 home games, nearly half of their 34-game home schedule, in the 33 days they weren’t able to play at Riverfront Stadium. Of the 16 displaced scheduled contests, two were cancelled, eight were played at the opposing team’s venue, and six were held at a Waterloo area high school field. The Bucks returned to Riverfront on July 11th and played in front of 4,541 fans, the fourth largest crowd in the club’s 14-year history. In their remaining 12 home games the Bucks entertained crowds of over 2,000 five different times.

"I am sincerely flattered to receive this award from the Northwoods League after a season that no one will soon forget," said Corbin. "This honor reflects the hard work of the entire Waterloo Bucks organization including Assistant General Manager Charlie Boeckenheuer. Everybody affiliated with Bucks Baseball had a part in this and I'm proud to accept it on behalf of the team."

The Northwoods League plays more games than, draws more fans than, and plays in venues superior to any Summer Collegiate Baseball League in North America. The Northwoods League completed its 15th season of play in August.

McNamara Hired to Guide Honkers
UC Riverside Coach Has Plenty of Pro Experience

(ROCHESTER, MN) The Rochester Honkers Baseball Club announced Rusty McNamara, Assistant Coach at the University of California-Riverside, as their Field Manager for the 2009 season. McNamara brings over 10 years of professional baseball playing experience to the Honkers coaching staff this summer and is the team’s 8th field manager since their inaugural season of 1994.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to work for a first class organization in the Rochester Honkers,” said McNamara. “Rochester has a rich tradition in the Northwoods League and I'm looking forward to adding to that tradition this summer.”

McNamara finished his collegiate career at Oklahoma State in 1997 where he led the Cowboys that year in home runs (24), RBI (93), hits (109), triples (7), at bats (282) and hit .387. His name is scattered all over OSU’s career record book among such greats as Robin Ventura and Pete Incaviglia. McNamara began his professional career in 1997, when the Philadelphia Phillies drafted him in the 21st round. Over the next four years he worked his way up to the AA level and finally in his 5th year (2001), he made it to the Phillies AAA club in Scranton, PA. During this time, he was named to four all-star teams.

“We are really excited to have such an energetic coach guide our club next season,” said Rochester Honkers General Manager Dan Litzinger. “His collegiate and professional success and strong work ethic is something our team will definitely look up to this summer. Rusty epitomizes what hard work is all about!”

After the Phillies, McNamara spent the 2002 season with the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and was named a Southern League All-Star. The next six seasons, McNamara spent time in the Atlantic and Northern independent leagues and also spent three years in Italy playing in San Marino and Nettuno, where he was an all star all three seasons. McNamara served last summer as Head Assistant Coach for the Anchorage Glacier Pilots of the Alaska Baseball League, guiding them to the 2008 ABL Championship.

“The Honkers have put their trust in me and I will do everything I can to return their trust with a final product of a winning team,” added McNamara.

Northwoods League Announces Internship Opportunity
Qualified Individuals Urged to Apply

(ROCHESTER, MN) The Northwoods League announced its inaugural internship program that will begin during the 2009 season.

The person or persons taking part in this unique opportunity will experience the inner-workings of a successful baseball league and assist in the league’s continued growth.

General duties would be determined based on experience and field of study but may include assisting Northwoods League administration with duties such as:

Website updating
Press release writing
Media relations
Alumni relations
Affiliate relations
Video editing
Photography
Videography
Much more…

The internship is designed to take place during the summer months (May through August), but the right candidate may be afforded other opportunities.

The Northwoods League office is based in Rochester, MN. The intern’s summer-long presence in Rochester wouldn’t be necessary as many of the duties could be performed remotely. The intern will be paid a yet to be determined stipend.

All applicants should have a desire to work in sports and have knowledge of and a passion for the game of baseball. Previous knowledge of the Northwoods League isn’t necessary but will be very useful.

The main contact for this position is:

Curt Carstensen
Director of Operations
Northwoods League
2900 4th Street SW
Rochester, MN 55902
curt@northwoodsleague.com

Mail or email your resume by October 31, 2008. No calls please.

Bombers Bring Fleenor Back to NWL
Former Rochester and St. Cloud Skipper Joins Battle Creek

(BATTLE CREEK, MI) The Battle Creek Bombers announced the hiring of Tom Fleenor as the team’s new Field Manager.

Fleenor, currently in his second season as the head baseball coach at the University of South Carolina Sumter, takes over for Matt Fonteno, who accepted an assistant coaching position with California State University, Chico late this summer. Fleenor will mark the third head coach for the Bombers in three years since the Bombers inception in the Northwoods League in 2007.

“This is an exciting time for this young franchise,” said Rick Lindau, Bombers general manager. “Tom is an excellent coach with a winning track record who should make an immediate impact on the fortunes of our ball club. He has won at every coaching stop he has made and really knows his way around the Northwoods League. Pure and simple, Tom is a winner and we are thrilled to have him on board with us," added Lindau.

Fleenor guided the first year USC Sumter program to a 37-19 record in 2008. Prior to accepting the challenge of a start-up program and head job with the Fire Ants, the 37-year old was an assistant coach for seven seasons at the University of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg, SC. There he assisted in all phases of the program including coaching hitters and infielders and serving as the recruiting coordinator.

Fleenor’s resume includes a successful tour of duty in the Northwoods League during a seven-year stretch beginning in 1998. As skipper of the Rochester Honkers (1998-2001), Fleenor led the club to playoff appearances in three of those seasons including a Northwoods League championship in 1999. Following a one-year hiatus, Fleenor returned to manage the St. Cloud River Bats (2003-04) and qualified for the playoffs in both seasons. In all, Fleenor-led teams advanced to the Northwoods League playoffs in five of his six seasons.

“I am excited about the opportunity to get back into it,” said Fleenor. “I look forward to helping Battle Creek get into the playoffs next season.”

Fleenor will enter the 2009 season second on the Northwoods League’s all-time wins list for managers with 218.
Fleenor graduated cum laude from Tennessee Wesleyan where he was a three-time All-Conference and two-time All-District player. Born in Battle Creek, Fleenor spent a few years in the Lansing area before moving down South. He maintains family in the Southwest Michigan area and looks forward to returning to the Cereal City in 2009.

“It is a great opportunity for me to mix my love for baseball with my love for my family,” stated Fleenor. Currently, he and his wife Laura make their home in Sumter, SC with their two children, Bradley and Anna Grayce. The entire family will join Fleenor in Battle Creek next summer.

Two assistants on Fleenor’s staff at USC Sumter, Greg Keaton and John Ryan Steele, will join him on the Bombers coaching staff in 2009.

NORTHWOODS LEAGUE ANNOUNCES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: September 15, 2008

Express Assist in Local Fundraising
Eau Claire Area Organizations Received Over $12,000

(EAU CLAIRE, WI) With the assistance of local businesses, the Eau Claire Express were able to raise $6,871 and personally donated another $5,816 during the 2008 season to benefit several organizations. The Marshfield Clinic and FS Appliance-TV-Audio worked with the Express to benefit the YMCA, Eau Claire Babe Ruth, and the American, National and Lowes Creek Little Leagues. In addition, the Express donated money to the Eau Claire Fire Fighters, the Mehara Shrine Circus and St. Francis Food Pantry.

The Marshfield Clinic sponsored a season-long promotion where every extra base hit by Express players resulted in a $25 to $250 donation to the local Eau Claire Babe Ruth, American Little League, National Little League and Lowes Creek Little League organizations. The 43 doubles, three triples and 13 home runs hit by the Express resulted in a total donation of $3,650. In the two years they have sponsored this promotion, the Marshfield Clinic has donated over $7,500 to local youth baseball programs.

This season, FS Appliance-TV-Audio also helped raise funds by donating a flat-screen HD television for the YMCA Tennis Ball Toss. Nightly contest winners were entered into the end-of-the-season drawing with the TV as the grand prize. The YMCA Tennis Ball Toss generated $2,780 to benefit YMCA programs. In 2006, FS Appliance-TV-Audio used Eau Claire Express baseball as a vehicle to raise over $1,500 for the Feed My People food shelter.

The Eau Claire Express donated their portion of ticket sales and a portion of the concession revenues generated during the Packer Celebrity Softball Game on May 18 to the Eau Claire Fire Fighters Local 487. A total of $2,719 was presented to the firefighters on June 5 at Carson Park during pre-game ceremonies.

Four the fourth consecutive year, the Express donated a portion of concession revenues to the Mehara Shrine Circus that visits Carson Park each June. This year’s donation of $3,097 brings total contributions to the Mehara Shrine Circus to just under $10,000.

Finally, the Express ended the season with a $441 dollar donation to the St. Francis Food Pantry of Eau Claire. This money was raised when a portion of ticket sales from Fan Appreciation Night on August 11 went to benefit the food pantry.

The Express wish to thank everyone involved in these efforts to raise money for worthy causes during the 2008 season. For donation information, please visit our website at www.eauclaireexpress.com.

Obama Visits Bombers Park
Presidential Candidate Makes Stop in Battle Creek

(BATTLE CREEK, MI) Illinois Senator and Presidential hopeful Barack Obama made a visit to Battle Creek’s C.O. Brown Stadium on Sunday, August 31 as part of a three state campaign tour. Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, along with his running mate, Delaware Senator Joe Biden, appeared in front of an enthusiastic crowd at venerable C.O. Brown Stadium, home to the Battle Creek Bombers.

Fans from all over Michigan and the entire Midwest arrived several hours early for a chance to hear both Obama and Biden discuss their views and outline their candidacy for the White House in 2009. The rally began when gates opened at 5 P.M. (EST) and concluded with the appearance of Obama and Biden on stage shortly after 8 P.M.

The rally was the first of its kind at C.O. Brown since current President George W. Bush visited Battle Creek in 2004.
Senator Obama’s visit garnered local and national exposure for both the ballpark and city of Battle Creek, as major news outlets including CNN, FOX, ABC, NBC and CBS were on site to cover the event.

NORTHWOODS LEAGUE ANNOUNCES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: September 4, 2008

Jennifer Holubar Joins Honkers Front Office

(ROCHESTER, MN) The Rochester Honkers Baseball Club announced today that Rochester, MN native Jennifer Holubar has joined their front office. She will focus on public relations, marketing and sales.

Holubar, 22, joins the front office after spending an intense three month internship with the Honkers this past summer. She focused on merchandise and corporate relations.

“I am very grateful to be given the opportunity to become a part of the Honkers front office,” said Holubar. “I get the chance to build on my experiences from this summer as an intern, and have been given the opportunity of bringing innovative ideas and new opportunities to the organization.”

Holubar earned a Bachelor’s of Arts and Sciences degree in Mass Communications-Public Relations with a minor in Marketing from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (May, 2008). She was a member of the American Marketing Association (AMA) and the Director of Public Relations for the AMA from 2007-2008.

“We are extremely excited to have Jennifer join us full time as part of our front office team,” said Honkers Owner Kim Archer. “Jenny brings a strong work ethic, creativity and enthusiasm that works well in our environment. We are lucky to have her.”

Holubar spent her first two years of college at Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) where she was on the Dean’s List for both years and also was the Varsity Dance Team Captain for the RCTC Yellow Jackets. Holubar graduated from John Marshall High School in 2004.

Former River Bat McGehee Makes MLB Debut
Cubs Infielder is 50th NWL Alum to Wear Big League Uniform

(ROCHESTER, MN) Former St. Cloud River Bats third baseman Casey McGehee (pronounced McGee) made his Major League debut Tuesday night for the Chicago Cubs in a pinch-hitting appearance against Houston. The 25-year old was added to the Cubs roster as a September call up on Monday to become the 50th Northwoods League alumnus to be called up to the Major Leagues.

McGehee had just the one at bat in his debut, a strike out against Astros lefty Wesley Wright with one out in the 9th inning. Houston eventually beat Chicago 9-7 in 11 innings at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The Cubs maintain a 4 ½ game lead over second place Milwaukee in the National League Central Division.

McGehee played for the River Bats during the summer of 2001. He batted .237 with 12 doubles, two home runs, and 27 RBI in 60 games that season. Most of his time was spent in the outfield but he also played third base and first base for St. Cloud. McGehee, originally from Santa Cruz, California, played his college ball at Fresno State University. The Cubs drafted him in the 10th round of the 2003 MLB First-Year Player Draft. He was hitting .296 with 30 doubles, 12 home runs and 92 RBI in 133 games with Triple-A Iowa prior to being called up. With the Iowa Cubs he usually played third base but also saw time at catcher and first base.

McGehee becomes the seventh St. Cloud River Bats player to play in the Major Leagues and second to debut this season. Sean Kazmar, a 2003 River Bat, debuted for San Diego in August. McGehee is one of six NWL alumni to join the Major League ranks in 2008.

The Northwoods League plays more games than, draws more fans than, and plays in venues superior to any Summer Collegiate Baseball League in North America. The Northwoods League completed its 15th season of play in August.

Former NWL Ump Colon Spending Time in Big Leagues

(ROCHESTER, MN) On Monday, July 28, the Northwoods League had it's first umpire alumnus work a regular season Major League game.

Delfin Colon, a member of the NWL's 2000 umpire corps, worked second base in Houston's 5-4 win over Cincinnati. Appropriately, the game was played in Houston, which has been home to Colon since 1991. He was filling in for Major League umpire, Marty Foster, and worked along side Angel Hernandez, Eric Cooper and Derryl Cousins.

Colon has been on MLB's Minor League call-up list for 2 seasons and has worked a number of Major League Spring Training games, but had not been called up to date. The call-up list is comprised of the top 22 Triple A umpires, who fill in for Major League umpires when they go on vacation or in the event of an injury.

Colon is still up in the Big Leagues, working home plate as recent as Sunday's A's-Mariners game in Seattle along side MLB umpires Dale Scott, Bill Hohn and Dan Iassogna.

Below, Colon is pictured to the right with two of his minor league umpiring partners including former NWL umpire from 2001 Chris Bakke, who is on the left.

Former River Bat Kazmar Makes MLB Debut
Double-A Shortstop Gets Call to Padres

(ROCHESTER, MN) Former St. Cloud River Bats shortstop Sean Kazmar made his Major League debut Wednesday night for the San Diego Padres starting at shortstop against Milwaukee. The 24-year old was called up Tuesday being promoted from Double-A San Antonio.

Kazmar batted twice in his Major League Debut, singling against Brewers starter CC Sabathia in his first at bat. He lined out to second base his second time up. Kazmar was taken out of the game in fifth inning as part of a double switch defensively.

Kazmar played for the River Bats briefly during the summer of 2003. He batted .259 with three RBI in seven games that season. He joined the Bats fresh off winning a national championship with the Community College of Southern Nevada competing at the Division One Junior College level. Sean, originally from Valdosta, GA, was a fifth round selection by the Padres in the 2004 MLB draft. He was hitting .264 with three home runs and 39 RBI in 111 games with Double-A San Antonio prior to being called up. Kazmar becomes the sixth St. Cloud River Bats player to advance to the Major Leagues. He’s now a teammate of Nick Hundley with the Pardes. Hundley, a former Alexandria Beetles catcher, had been the most recent call up of NWL alumni with his promotion in July.

The Northwoods League plays more games than, draws more fans than, and plays in venues superior to any Summer Collegiate Baseball League in North America. A total of 49 Northwoods League alumni have advanced to the Major Leagues. The NWL’s 15th season concludes this weekend with the Championship Series between the Madison Mallards and the Thunder Bay Border Cats.

Northwoods League Names Postseason All-Star Team
Mankato Catcher Ramirez Earns League MVP

(ROCHESTER, MN) The Northwoods League announced its 2008 Postseason All-Star Team on Monday. In addition to the 25 players that were selected to the honorary team, Mankato catcher Carlos Ramirez was named as the Most Valuable Player as voted by the League’s coaches and members of the media. Alexandria, Mankato, Rochester, and St. Cloud, all from the North Division, led all teams with three players selected. Alexandria outfielder Josh UpChurch was named as a postseason all-star for his second consecutive season.

Mankato MoonDogs catcher Carlos Ramirez (Chandler-Gilbert CC) brought home the NWL’s top honor as League MVP. Ramirez dominated the offensive leader board in the first half of the season and is still a presence in most significant categories. Heading into the final day of the regular season he leads the League in home runs (10), slugging percentage (.560), and extra-base hits (29). He also places in batting average (.315), runs batted in (44), doubles (19), and on-base percentage (.433). Ramirez received 41 percent of the MVP votes edging St. Cloud River Bats second baseman Derek McCallum (Minnesota) who finished second in the balloting with 24 percent. Duluth Huskies first baseman Tim Jobe (Indian River CC) received seven percent of the votes to finish third.

Alexandria Beetles outfielder Josh UpChurch is the only two-time postseason all-star on this year’s list. He’s currently tied for second in the League in stolen bases with 26 and is hitting .281 for the third place Beetles.

Relief pitchers Dan Zehr (Northeastern) and Xavier Esquivel (Loyola Marymount) were the leading vote getters for the 12 hurlers named to the team. Both pitchers have a dominating ERA and were selected on 73 percent of the ballots. Zehr has pitched out of the bullpen for the Thunder Bay Border Cats for the entire season and still managed to qualify as the ERA champion. Zehr holds a Northwoods League-best 1.15 ERA in 23 games where he’s thrown 55 innings. He’s 4-0 with two saves and a 46 to 8 strikeout to walk ratio. Esquivel is the closer for the St. Cloud River Bats and has allowed just one earned run all season. In addition to his 0.33 ERA, Esquivel is 2-0 with 12 saves and a 32 to 11 strikeout to walk ratio in 27.2 innings.

Mankato’s Jason Nell (Iowa Lakes CC) is the 2008 Manager of the Year after leading the MoonDogs to their first playoff berth in team history. It’s his third season at the helm in Mankato. Wisconsin’s Brandon Steele (Tusculum) was selected as Coach of the Year with his Woodchucks earning a playoff spot in the South Division. It’s his second year on Jim Gantner’s staff in Wausau.

Below is a complete list of the 2008 NWL Postseason All-Stars and award winners listed alphabetically by team:

Player                       Position       Year          NWL Team                      College

Nick Gaudi                    RHP             JR            Alexandria                Pepperdine (CA)

Chris Odegaard            RHP            SO            Eau Claire     Minnesota State-Mankato

Matt Lange                   RHP             JR            Green Bay                  Portland (OR)

Cole Green                   RHP             FR             La Crosse                         Texas

Jimmy Reyes                 LHP             FR             Mankato                       Elon (NC)

Peter Burg                    LHP             JR             Rochester             St. Scholastica (MN)

Zach Robertson            LHP             SO            Rochester                Iowa Central CC

Xavier Esquivel             RHP            SO             St. Cloud           Loyola Marymount (CA)

Ryan Sheldon                RHP             JR              St. Cloud                Nebraska-Kearney

Jimmy Stanley              RHP             JR           Thunder Bay                 Belmont (TN)

Dan Zehr                       LHP             SO          Thunder Bay            Northeastern (MA)

Bobby Pritchett            RHP            SO            Wisconsin                Central Arkansas

Keith Castillo                  C               SO            Alexandria             Southern California

Carlos Ramirez               C               SO             Mankato        Chandler-Gilbert CC (AZ)

Tim Jobe                        1B              SO               Duluth                Indian River CC (FL)

Derek McCallum           2B              SO             St. Cloud                      Minnesota

Josh Prince                     SS              SO            Green Bay                    Tulane (LA)

Joe Bonfe                       3B              FR            Eau Claire                 Creighton (NE)

Jeff Cowan                   X-INF            JR             Wisconsin                 High Point (NC)

Josh UpChurch               OF              JR            Alexandria              Florida Gulf Coast

Cory Vaughn                  OF              FR             La Crosse                 San Diego State

Rob Lyerly                     OF              SO             Madison                       Charlotte

Michael Rockett            OF              JR              Mankato                Texas-San Antonio
Joey Register                 OF              JR             Waterloo                     Texas A&M

Eric Stephens                DH              JR             Rochester              Cal State-Fullerton