THE PLAYERS

Brian Chambers

POSITION: Pitcher
HEIGHT: 6-3
WEIGHT: 225
BIRTHDATE: Aug. 14, 1983
THROWS: Right
BATS: Right
COLLEGE: Florida State
HIGH SCHOOL: Jefferson (Tampa, Fla.)
NOTABLE: Signed as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Angels in 2007. Played for the Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League last season. As a pro pitcher, has a 6-5 record in 61 appearances, has posted a 3.90 ERA with 62 strikeouts and 40 walks.

Jordan Craft

POSITION: Starting pitcher
HEIGHT: 6-2
WEIGHT: 200
BIRTHDATE: June 5, 1985
THROWS: Right
BATS: Right
COLLEGE: Pepperdine/Dallas Baptist
HIGH SCHOOL: Serrano (Phelan, Calif.)
NOTABLE: Selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 13th round of the 2006 draft. Split time between the Lowell Spinners of the New York Penn League and the Greenville Drive of the South Atlantic League over the past two seasons. In 1391/3 professional innings, he struck out 128 and allowed 66 walks.

Brad Davidson

POSITION: Pitcher
HEIGHT: 6-1
WEIGHT: 195
BIRTHDATE: Nov. 31, 1985
THROWS: Left
BATS: Switch
COLLEGE: Florida Southern/Indiana/Garden City CC
HIGH SCHOOL: West Geauga (Novelty, Ohio)
NOTABLE: Graduated from Florida Southern in May with a degree in advertising. During his senior season at Florida Southern, he went 5-4 in 14 starts, with two complete games. In 73 innings, he posted a 3.58 ERA, struck out 60 and walked 31.

Steven DeFratus

POSITION: Relief pitcher
HEIGHT: 6-1
WEIGHT: 190
BIRTHDATE: Feb. 20, 1985
THROWS: Right
BATS: Right
COLLEGE: Texas Wesleyan/Cal State Northridge
HIGH SCHOOL: Rio Mesa (Oxnard, Calif.)
NOTABLE: Earned Golden Glove award and named Red River Conference pitcher of the year during senior season at Texas Wesleyan. Played with Crushers pitcher Hayden Lackey at Texas Wesleyan. Played for the Bay Area Toros of the independent Continental Baseball League last season.

Darwin DeLeon

POSITION: Pitcher
HEIGHT: 6-0
WEIGHT: 165
BIRTHDATE: Sept. 15, 1985
THROWS: Left
BATS: Left
COLLEGE: None
HIGH SCHOOL: Juan Bent (Villa Isabella, Dominican Republic)
NOTABLE: Played three seasons in the Detroit Tigers minor league system (2006-08). In 2006, he earned a spot on the
All-Star team and won the Pitcher of the Year award while playing in the Dominican Summer League.

Paul Fagan

POSITION: Starting pitcher
HEIGHT: 6-5
WEIGHT: 195
BIRTHDATE: April 13, 1985
THROWS: Left
BATS: Left
COLLEGE: None
HIGH SCHOOL: Bartram Trail (Jacksonville, Fla.)
NOTABLE: Selected by the Seattle Mariners in the fourth round of the 2003 draft. Went 6-2 with a 3.50 ERA for the Single-A Everett AquaSox of the Northwest League, earning team MVP honors, in 2005.

Josh Faiola

POSITION: Pitcher
HEIGHT: 6-2
WEIGHT: 190
BIRTHDATE: Oct. 3, 1983
THROWS: Right
BATS: Right
COLLEGE: Dartmouth
HIGH SCHOOL: Pueblo County (Pueblo, Colo.)
NOTABLE: Selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 24th round of the 2006 draft. Named Dartmouth’s pitcher of the year and team MVP in 2006. Has gained national attention for living at the Belvedere assisted living facility in Westlake for the Crushers inaugural season.

Jacinto Gonell

POSITION: Relief pitcher
HEIGHT: 6-1
WEIGHT: 170
BIRTHDATE: Sept. 9, 1983
THROWS: Right
BATS: Right
COLLEGE: None
HIGH SCHOOLS: Juan Pablo Duarte High and Dominican High
NOTABLE: Signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Yankees in 2004. In the last four years with the Yankees organization, has gone 12-8 with a 3.08 ERA in 74 games played. Born in Mao, Dominican Republic.

Brent Lysander

POSITION: Pitcher
HEIGHT: 6-7
WEIGHT: 210
BIRTHDATE: April 5, 1985
THROWS: Right
BATS: Right
COLLEGE: Sonoma State
HIGH SCHOOL: Rancho Bernardo (San Diego)
NOTABLE: Selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 16th round of the 2007 draft. Played for the Athletics’ Single-A team in Vancouver in 2007, and played for the Kane County Cougars of the Midwest League last season. Sister Kelsey is a goalkeeper for the Notre Dame soccer team.

Cristobal Mata

POSITION: Pitcher
HEIGHT: 5-11
WEIGHT: 195
BIRTHDATE: June 19, 1986
THROWS: Right
BATS: Right
COLLEGE: None
HIGH SCHOOL: U.E. Jesus Lopez Castro (El Tigre, Venezuela)
NOTABLE: Mata was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Cleveland Indians in 2003, played two years (2004-05) in the Dominican Summer League and spent two seasons in the Philadelphia Phillies organization (2007-08). He plays professionally in Venezuela on Navegantes del Magallanes during the winters.

Kevin Skogley

POSITION: Starting pitcher
HEIGHT: 6-6
WEIGHT: 230
BIRTHDATE: Sept. 24, 1984
THROWS: Left
BATS: Left
COLLEGE: UNLV
HIGH SCHOOL: Hermiston (Hermiston, Ore.)
NOTABLE: Selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 12th round of the 2007 draft. Split time between the bullpen and the starting rotation in 2007 with the Great Falls Voyagers of the Pioneer League. In 2008, was a starter for the Kannapolis Intimidators of the South Atlantic League.

Nick Tisone

POSITION: Starting pitcher
HEIGHT: 6-0
WEIGHT: 190
BIRTHDATE: Aug. 2, 1983
THROWS: Right
BATS: Right
COLLEGE: McNeese State/Tallahassee CC/Pearl River CC
HIGH SCHOOL: Mandeville (Covington, La.)
NOTABLE: Selected by the Houston Aeros in the 2002 draft and by the Kansas City Royals in the 2003 draft, but didn’t sign with either team. Pitched two seasons in the Atlanta Braves system, and played for the Southern Illinois Miners of the Frontier League in 2007. Graduated from Tallahassee Community College in May with a degree in general studies.

Brad Griffiths

POSITION: Catcher
HEIGHT: 6-3
WEIGHT: 215
BIRTHDATE: Jan. 2, 1987
THROWS: Right
BATS: Right
COLLEGE: Lee University (Cleveland, Tenn.)
HIGH SCHOOL: Canal Winchester (Canal Winchester, Ohio)
NOTABLE: In his senior season at Lee University, he hit .323 in 45 games and had 53 runs, 71 hits, 15 doubles, nine home runs and 35 RBIs.

Nick Maragas

POSITION: Catcher
HEIGHT: 5-11
WEIGHT: 215
BIRTHDATE: Jan. 27, 1985
THROWS: Right
BATS: Right
COLLEGE: University of Louisiana-Monroe/Cincinnati/Gulf Coast CC
HIGH SCHOOL: Massillon Jackson
NOTABLE: Earned
All-Ohio honors during his senior year at Massillon Jackson. Graduated from ULM in 2007 with a degree in criminal justice. Named to the Big East academic All-Star team in 2006 at Cincinnati, and was recognized as a Topcat Scholar and Bearcat Scholar.

Levi Cheshire

POSITION: Shortstop
HEIGHT: 5-10
WEIGHT: 175
BIRTHDATE: Feb. 11, 1986
THROWS: Right
BATS: Switch
COLLEGE: Madonna/Austin Peay/Wabash Valley JC
HIGH SCHOOL: Troy (Troy, Mich.)
NOTABLE: Led Madonna (Livonia, Mich.) in on-base percentage (.495), runs scored (47), triples (4), walks (38) and sacrifice bunts (5) last season. Played in the Nashville Regional of the College World Series with Austin Peay in 2007. Majored in computer science-Internet and Web technology.

Andrew Davis

POSITION: Third baseman
HEIGHT: 5-11
WEIGHT: 210
BIRTHDATE: Feb. 11, 1984
THROWS: Right
BATS: Switch
COLLEGE: Kent State
HIGH SCHOOL: Zane Trace (Chillicothe, Ohio)
NOTABLE: An undrafted free agent, signed with the San Francisco Giants in 2007. Earned championships in 2007 with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes of the Northwest League and in 2008 with the Augusta GreenJackets of the South Atlantic League. In 2006, made 16 appearances as a relief pitcher for Kent State — leading the team with six saves, and going 2-1 with a 3.60 ERA.

Jesse Gibson

POSITION: Utility infielder
HEIGHT: 5-8
WEIGHT: 175
BIRTHDATE: April 9, 1986
THROWS: Right
BATS: Right
COLLEGE: Missouri Western/Lower Columbia CC/Linfield
HIGH SCHOOL: Huntsville Metro (Huntsville, Ala.)
NOTABLE: Played professionally last season for the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the independent Northern League. Won a national championship in football as a freshman at Linfield College. Was an NWCNC All-American first-team selection in 2005 at Lower Columbia Community College.

Gordon Gronkowski

POSITION: First baseman
HEIGHT: 6-6
WEIGHT: 250
BIRTHDATE: June 26, 1983
THROWS: Right
BATS: Right
COLLEGE: Jacksonville University
HIGH SCHOOL: Williamsville North (Williamsville, N.Y.)
NOTABLE: Selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the 49th round of the 2006 draft. Played all three seasons with the Angels’ Single-A teams. Works in the offseason for family business — G&G Fitness Equipment, which has three of its 18 stores in the Cleveland area. Brother Dan was selected in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.

Arden McWilliams

POSITION: Third baseman
HEIGHT: 6-0
WEIGHT: 205
BIRTHDATE: Oct. 14, 1986
THROWS: Right
BATS: Right
COLLEGE: Florida Southern/Indiana
HIGH SCHOOL: Shaker Heights (Ohio)
NOTABLE: Played 13 games for the Pensacola Penguins of the independent American Association last year. Was an All-Ohio selection in baseball and football during his senior year at Shaker Heights. Has a bachelor’s degree in psychology. His paintings were published in this year’s Cantilever’s Art Magazine.

Jodam Rivera

POSITION: Shortstop
HEIGHT: 5-10
WEIGHT: 190
BIRTHDATE: Feb. 4, 1986
BATS: Right
COLLEGE: None
HIGH SCHOOL: Puerto Rico Baseball Academy (Gurabo, Puerto Rico)
NOTABLE: Selected by the San Diego Padres in the 24th round of the 2004 draft. Climbed as high as the Padres’ Double-A team in Mobile, Ala. Born in Santurce, Puerto Rico.

Andrew Saylor

POSITION: Second baseman
HEIGHT: 6-0
WEIGHT: 190
BIRTHDATE: Jan. 9, 1984
THROWS: Right
BATS: Right
COLLEGE: Kent State/Cincinnati
HIGH SCHOOL: Wadsworth (Ohio)
NOTABLE: Selected by the Florida Marlins in the 13th round of the 2006 draft. Signed with the Houston Astros in 2007 and with the Chillicothe Paints — a former Frontier League team — in 2008. Engaged to Amanda Fisher.

Tim Binkoski

POSITION: Left fielder
HEIGHT: 6-0
WEIGHT: 200
BIRTHDATE: Feb. 2, 1984
THROWS: Left
BATS: Left
COLLEGE: Quinnipiac University
HIGH SCHOOL: North Haven (North Haven, Conn.)
NOTABLE: Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2007. He played last season for the Willliamsport Crosscutters, the Phillies’ Class A affiliate in Pennsylvania. In 33 games with the Crosscutters, he batted .270 with eight doubles and 10 RBIs.

Wayne Bond

POSITION: Right fielder
HEIGHT: 5-10
WEIGHT: 165
BIRTHDATE: Dec. 21, 1985
THROWS: Right
BATS: Right
COLLEGE: Ball State/Lincoln Trail
HIGH SCHOOL: Pendleton Heights (Pendleton, Ind.)
NOTABLE: Not selected in MLB Draft — “Size may have gotten him overlooked by major league scouts,” said Crushers manager John Massarelli. Majored in sports administration. Born in Slidell, La. Brother Ryan plays baseball at Indiana State.

Luke Hetherington

POSITION: Center fielder
HEIGHT: 6-1
WEIGHT: 205
BIRTHDATE: April 13, 1983
THROWS: Right
BATS: Right
COLLEGE: None
HIGH SCHOOL: Kentwood (Kent, Wash.)
NOTABLE: Selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the ninth round of the 2001 draft. Spent all seven seasons with the Blue Jays in Single-A clubs. Played for the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League last season, and was the first-ever player to be traded to the Crushers during the offseason.

FRONTIER LEAGUE CAPSULES

EAST DIVISION

Florence Freedom

CITY: Florence, Ky.
FOUNDED: 1994
MASCOTS: Liberty and Belle (Eagles)
GENERAL MANAGER: Kari Rumfield
MANAGER: Toby Rumfield
STADIUM: Champion Window Field
CAPACITY: 4,500
AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: 1,976
2008 RECORD: 47-49 (4th in East)
TOP HITTER: Angel Molina — .327
TOP PITCHER: Andy Clark — 3.36
NOTABLE: The Freedom replaced its grass field with field turf during the offseason. The franchise got its first former player to make his major league debut when Chris Jakubauskas pitched for the Seattle Mariners this season.

Kalamazoo Kings

CITY: Kalamazoo, Mich.
FOUNDED: 2001
MASCOTS: King Louie and Queen Lulu (Lions)
GENERAL MANAGER: Joe Rosenhagen
MANAGER: Fran Riordan
STADIUM: Homer Stryker Field
CAPACITY: 4,000
AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: 1,631
2008 RECORD: 60-36 (1st in East)
TOP HITTER: Brendan Murphy — .332
TOP PITCHER: Joe DiPietro — 3.28
NOTABLE: The Kings are the second Frontier League team the city has had. From 1996-98, the Kalamazoo Kodiacs were based in the city before moving to London, Ontario, Canada, and becoming the London Werewolves.

Lake Erie Crushers

CITY: Avon, Ohio
FOUNDED: 2009
MASCOT: Stomper (Bear)
GENERAL MANAGER: Ryan Gates
MANAGER: John Massarelli
STADIUM: All Pro Freight Stadium
CAPACITY: 5,000
AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: Inaugural season
2008 RECORD: N/A
TOP HITTER: N/A
TOP PITCHER: N/A
NOTABLE: An expansion franchise taking the place of the Chillicothe Paints, who moved to the collegiate Prospect League — where the North Coast Knights of Lorain compete — this season.

Midwest Sliders

CITY: Waterford, Mich.
FOUNDED: 2007
MASCOT: N/A
GENERAL MANAGER: Rob Hilliard
MANAGER: Eric Coleman
STADIUM: Oestrike Stadium
CAPACITY: 1,200
AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: N/A
2008 RECORD: 29-67 (6th in East)
TOP HITTER: Sean Snell — .272
TOP PITCHER: Ryan MacFarlane — 2.92
NOTABLE: The Sliders will have a temporary home on the campus of Eastern Michigan this season, after playing on the road all last season. The team will be known as the Oakland County Cruisers next season when it finally has its stadium built in Waterford.

Traverse City Beach Bums

CITY: Traverse City, Mich.
FOUNDED: 1995
MASCOTS: Suntan and Sunburn (Bears)
OWNERS: John and Leslye Wuerfel
MANAGER: Gregg Langbehn
STADIUM: Wuerfel Park
CAPACITY: 4,660
AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: 3,587
2008 RECORD: 50-46 (2nd in East)
TOP HITTER: Mike Goetz — .314
TOP PITCHER: David Nathanson — 2.28
NOTABLE: The team got its nickname from the tourists who flock to the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, which lies on the beaches of Grand Traverse Bay — a branch of Lake Michigan.

Washington Wild Things

CITY: Washington, Pa.
FOUNDED: 1997
MASCOT: The Wild Thing (Wildcat)
GENERAL MANAGER: Ross Vecchio
MANAGER: Mark Mason
STADIUM: CONSOL Energy Park
CAPACITY: 5,000
AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: 2,970
2008 RECORD: 48-48 (3rd in East)
TOP HITTER: Chris Sidick — .311
TOP PITCHER: Brooks Dunn — 3.32
NOTABLE: The Wild Things were originally located in Canton and known as the Crocodiles from 1997-2001. After winning the Frontier League championship in ’97, they were the subject of the book, “Crocodiles Rock!”

WEST DIVISION

Evansville Otters

CITY: Evansville, Ind.
FOUNDED: 1993
MASCOTS: Evan and Eva (Otters)
GENERAL MANAGER: Liam Miller
MANAGER: Wayne Krenchicki
STADIUM: Bosse Field
CAPACITY: 5,181
AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: 2,393
2008 RECORD: 39-57 (6th in West)
TOP HITTER: Gered Mochizuki — .314
TOP PITCHER: Bradley Blanks — 2.18
NOTABLE: George Sherrill — the left-handed closer and 2008 MLB All-Star for the Baltimore Orioles — began his professional career with the Otters in 1999.

Gateway Grizzlies

CITY: Sauget, Ill.
FOUNDED: 2001
MASCOT: Izzy (Bear)
GENERAL MANAGER: Steve Gomric
MANAGER: Phil Warren
STADIUM: GCS Ballpark
CAPACITY: 6,000
AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: 3,818
2008 RECORD: 51-45 (3rd in West)
TOP HITTER: Charlie Lisk — .313
TOP PITCHER: Zack Gray — 1.94
NOTABLE: The Grizzlies made national news during the 2005-06 season for introducing “Baseball’s Best Burger” — which was a bacon cheeseburger using a halved Krispy Kreme doughnut as a bun. It was later named the world’s unhealthiest burger.

River City Rascals

CITY: O’Fallon, Mo.
FOUNDED: 1993
MASCOTS: Ruffy and Buffy (Dogs), and
Rascal (Monster)
GENERAL MANAGER: Steve Malliet
MANAGER: Chad Parker
STADIUM: T.R. Hughes Ballpark
CAPACITY: 3,491
AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: 2,122
2008 RECORD: 47-49 (5th in West)
TOP HITTER: Andrew Sweet — .316
TOP PITCHER: Patrick Evers — 1.50
NOTABLE: The Rascals boast one of the only former Frontier League players to become a world champion. Josh Kinney, who played with the Rascals in 2001, was a reliever for the St. Louis Cardinals when they won the 2006 World Series.

Rockford Riverhawks

CITY: Loves Park, Ill.
FOUNDED: 1993
MASCOT: Rocko (Hawk)
GENERAL MANAGER: Josh Olerud
MANAGER: Bob Koopmann
STADIUM: Road Ranger Stadium
CAPACITY: 4,246
AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: 2,765
2008 RECORD: 48-48 (4th in West)
TOP HITTER: Joe Anthonsen — .352
TOP PITCHER: Garrett Bauer — 2.98
NOTABLE: The Riverhawks, which host this year’s league All-Star game, have moved twice since the Frontier League began in 1993. The franchise began as the Portsmouth (Ohio) Explorers and then became the Springfield (Ill.) Capitals.

Southern Illinois Miners

CITY: Marion, Ill.
FOUNDED: 2007
MASCOTS: Grounder and Dyn-O-Mite
GENERAL MANAGER: Tim Arseneau
MANAGER: Mike Pinto
STADIUM: Rent One Park
CAPACITY: 7,000
AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: 4,278
2008 RECORD: 58-38 (2nd in West)
TOP HITTER: Joey Metropoulos — .315
TOP PITCHER: Ryan Bird — 2.48
NOTABLE: The Miners play their games in the largest stadium in the league, and in 2007 set the league attendance record with 259,392 fans.

Windy City ThunderBolts

CITY: Crestwood, Ill.
FOUNDED: 1999
MASCOT: Boomer (Monster)
GENERAL MANAGER: Steve Tahsler
MANAGER: Tommy Thompson
STADIUM: Standard Bank Stadium
CAPACITY: 3,200
AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: 1,777
2008 RECORD: 60-36 (1st in West)
TOP HITTER: Wesley Long — .331
TOP PITCHER: Ross Stout — 2.57
NOTABLE: The ThunderBolts have won the last two league titles, becoming just the fourth team in league history to win multiple titles.
— Compiled by Shaun Bennett

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