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Bombers Sign Local Talent
The Bombers have signed Dubois County natives Derek Katter and Brett Merkley for the 2009 summer. Katter, a graduate of Jasper High School will man the outfield. Merkley, who spent his high school days at Forest Park, joins the Bombers as a right-handed pitcher. For more information, vist the news tab at the top of the page for the release.
Team Prospectus
The 2009 season is sure to be an exciting one as the Bombers welcome an extremely talented group of players to Dubois County. The Bombers have composed a roster with a good mix of local and national players that should be extremely versatile and athletic. The following is a detailed look at the 2009 roster by position.
Catcher
The Bomber roster currently includes two talented and athletic catchers. Senior Eric Bruns (Creighton University) batted .330 with a team-leading 10 doubles and 32 RBIs as a sophomore at Sauk Valley C.C. Bruns also slugged three home runs. He should come to Dubois County hungry and ready to play.
Chadd Krist , a sophomore at U.C. Berkeley is the other catcher. Krist was a first-team All Sonoma County selection as a senior at Petaluma High School in Petaluma, Calif. Krist received an outstanding 8.5 rating from Perfect Game USA, an amateur scouting service. This spring at Berkeley, Krist received immediate playing time as a freshman and slugged three doubles, two homers, and 10 RBI.
Infield
One name that Bomber fans are sure to be familiar with is University of Southern Indiana standout Wes Fink. Fink returns for his fourth season with the Bombers. Last summer, Fink ranked as one of the best hitters in the entire CICL, finishing with a .292 batting average and nine doubles to lead the Bombers. In 58 games at USI this spring, Fink batted. 286 with 12 doubles, three triples, three homers, and 34 RBI. He will be an anchor in the Bomber infield.
Sean Estand of St. Joseph's College joins the Bombers for the first time. Estand played his freshman year at Eastern Illinois University before transferring to St. Joe's for his sophomore year. As a senior at St. Rita HS, Estand was widely regarded as the best defensive third baseman in the state of Illinois. The 6-foot-2 slugger broke out in a big way this spring for St. Joe's, batting .356 with 10 doubles, 12 homers, and 47 RBI. He also spent some time on the mound, where he touched 91 mph.
Mills Rogers continues the trend of players from Carson-Newman College to play for the Bombers. Rogers follows standouts Steve Cishek (currently in the Florida Marlins farm system), Langdon Potts, and Justin Higdon to Southern Indiana. An athletic shortstop, Rogers emerged as a star in 2009. The 6-foot-1 infielder batted .348 with 13 doubles, four homers, and 48 RBI. He reached base at an outstanding .426 clip.
Justin Miller from Middle Tennessee State University brings a powerful bat to the Bombers' line-up. Miller emerged as the top hitter in the KIT League last summer while playing for the Union City Greyhouds. Miller finished the summer with averages of .303, 11 doubles, five home runs, and 39 RBIs. He starred during the annual KIT/CICL All-Star Game Home Run Derby, held at League Stadium, where he blasted multiple home runs. Miller will spend time at third, short, and second this summer while batting in the heart of the order.
Even with a good crop of defensive players already on board, Kyle Richardson , a senior from Cal-State Bakersfield might be the best of the bunch. As a sophomore at Sierra College, Richardson led the Wolverines to a California Community College State Championship. Along the way he garnered First-Team All Big 8 Conference Honors. Richardson finished the year with a sparkling .972 fielding percentage along with a .346 batting average, seven doubles, two home runs, and 23 stolen bases. This spring at Bakersfield, Richardson led the team with a .298 batting average. He added 10 doubles, five homers, and 28 RBI.
The final Bomber infielder comes courtesy of Lincoln Land Community College. Brennan Malham looks to provide another powerful bat in the middle of the order. As a freshman at Lincoln Land, Malham batted .331 with 13 doubles, nine home runs, and 55 RBIs. This spring, Malham raised his game to a whole other level. In 55 games, the 5-foot-11 infielder batted .453 with 18 doubles, six homers, and 80 RBI. The 80 RBI ranked Malham second in the country. Malham's versatility will allow him to play several positions for the Bombers.
Outfielders
Anton Garcia , a junior from Bellarmine University possesses immense physical tools. A super strong 6' 4", 210-pound athlete, Garcia possesses 6.5 speed in the 60-yard dash and a bat loaded with power. Garcia played his high school ball for the Eastern (Ky.) Eagles and spent his first two collegiate seasons at Texarkana Junior College in Texarkana, Texas. Look for Garcia in left and right field for the Bombers this summer.
Gavin Green joins the Bombers from the University of Utah. Green, who was a three-sport star at Layton High School, is expected to play immediately at Utah this spring. The left-handed hitting Green was ranked the twelfth best player in the state of Utah by rivals.com. A pure center fielder, Green's immense speed (6.6 in the 60-yard dash) should help to make the 2009 outfield potentially the fastest that has ever been assembled by the Bombers.
John Hotta joins the Bombers courtesy of the University of San Diego. The 5-foot-9 center fielder has seen playing time immediately as a true freshman. In 46 appearances, Hotta is batting .287 with two doubles, two triples, and 21 RBI. He's also reaching base at a very strong .378 clip. The Bombers expect big things from the switch-hitting center fielder during his first season in Dubois County.
The first Bomber outfielder is Dubois County native Derek Katter who attended Jasper High School. Katter, a sophomore at Vincennes U., batted .354 as a freshman with 10 doubles, four triples, and 29 RBIs. Katter was part of an ultra-talented Jasper Reds team last summer and was one of the first players the Bombers zeroed in on for this summer. He possesses a talented left-handed bat and the blazing speed needed to run down flyballs at spacious League Stadium.
Daniel Nichols from Wabash Valley College returns for his second season with the Bombers. Nichols gained valuable experience as the everyday left fielder for the Bombers last summer. As a freshman at Wabash Valley, Nichols batted .371 with a team-high seven home runs. After a full summer of adjustment to wood bats, the Bombers expect big things from Daniel this summer as he returns to the team.
Right-Handed Pitchers
Matt Antos , a junior from IPFW, returns to the Bombers for his second summer. The tall, lanky Antos throws from a low arm slot which is very deceiving to opposing batters. Antos appeared in 13 games for the Bombers last summer and struck out 25 batters in 28 innings. The LaPorte, Ind., native has all the tools to be a top level relief pitcher in the Prospect League this summer.
Chad Edwards of Middle Tennessee State compiled the best ERA of any of the Bombers' starting pitchers last summer. In 54 innings spanning nine starts, Edwards posted an outstanding 2.83 ERA. He walked only 14 batters and finished the summer with a 3-1 overall record. This season at MTSU, Edwards is 7-1 and ranks third on the staff with 61.2 innings pitched. The Bombers expect Edwards to be an anchor in the starting rotation this summer.
Travis Lamar returns for his third summer with the Bombers. The 6' 6", 230-pound Evansville, Ind., native was a key cog during the Bombers' 2007 CICL Championship run. Lamar pitched his first two collegiate seasons for Dennis Conley at Olney Central College where he compiled a 7-3 record and 1.94 ERA as a sophomore. Lamar, who is headed to Wright State University for his junior year, was a 44th round draft selection of the Baltimore Orioles in 2006.
The second Dubois County native on the Bomber roster is Brett Merkley . Merkley played his high school baseball at Forest Park in Ferdinand, Ind. The 5' 11", 165-pound fireballer played his freshman season at IPFW before transferring to Indiana State University where he will sit out the 2009 season as a transfer. Despite the redshirt year, Merkley has quickly impressed his coaches at ISU with an 88-92 mph fastball. The fresh-armed Merkley will be used in a variety of roles this summer and could be in line for the vacated closer's spot.
James Page of Curry College joins the Bombers for his first season. Page helped guide Curry College to an outstanding 34-7 record in 2009 including 21-1 in conference. The 6-foot-2 righty compiled a strong junior season for the Colonels. In 46.2 innings, Page finished with a 5-0 record and a 3.66 ERA. He racked up three saves and a complete game along with 45 strikeouts. Page features four reliable pitches and will be a versatile member of the Bomber staff.
Left-Handed Pitchers
Phillip Byrd of the University of South Alabama brings an impressive resume to the Bombers. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound lefty was named a Second-Team All-American by MaxPreps.com after finishing his senior year at East Central High School in Hurley, Miss., with a 14-0 record and 0.97 ERA in 94 innings. He added 165 strikeouts and was named the top pitcher in the state of Mississippi. Phillip currently combines a fastball that sits in the 86-87 mph range with an outstanding curveball and change-up. He is a pitcher with huge potential.
Arguably the top left-hander in the CICL last summer, Michael Bugary returns to Dubois County armed with a 93 mph fastball and a sharp slider. The 6' 4", 220-pound U.C. Berkeley product made 10 appearances for the Bombers in 2008 including eight starts. He compiled a 3.55 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 45 innings pitched. Bugary figures to be a critical part of a very talented Bomber pitching staff and could be the top left-handed pitcher in the Prospect League.
Matt Igel , a Vincennes, Ind., native and Indiana University product is another lefty with great size and potential. The 6' 3", 240-pound freshman dominated opposing hitters during his career at Vincennes Rivet HS. As a senior, Igel went 7-3 with a 0.73 ERA and a whopping 136 strikeouts in 67 1/3 innings. For his efforts, he was named All-Area Player of the Year, All-Blue Chip Conference, and All-Southwestern Indiana. Igel features a fastball that clocks in the 86-88 mph range and should greatly benefit the Bombers in 2009.
Shawn Marquardt , a Carmel, Ind., native returns for his second season with the Bombers. Marquardt redshirted his freshman year before transferring to Northwest Florida State College. The 5' 11", 180-pound lefty starred for the Bombers last summer. In 39 innings pitched, Marquardt allowed only 33 hits and fired a complete game shutout late in the season. He compiled a stellar 2.97 ERA in seven starts. Marquardt should be even better after a full season of pitching this spring.
2009 will mark the second season in Dubois County for 6-foot-5 lefty Joe Ochs. Ochs redshirted this season at Butler, allowing him to return for a second season with the club. In 2008, the Noblesville, Ind., native fired 27 consecutive scoreless innings for the Bulldogs over a nine-game stretch. During the summer of 2008, Ochs emerged as one of the top relief pitchers in the CICL, compiling a 1.61 ERA of 27 innings of work. The Bombers expect Ochs to play a huge role this summer.
The final member of the pitching staff is Darin Worman from Parkland College. Worman, a 6' 4", 185-pound freshman is another tall left-hander that is full of promise.Worman finished his senior year at Dieterich High School with an ERA of 0.00 in 46 innings pitched. No, that is not an error. For his efforts, Worman was named to the All-Area First Team. A talented multi-sport athlete, Worman currently features a fastball that clocks in the 85-87 range with lots of room to grow and two good off-speed pitches. He will play a big role for the Bombers in 2009.
Catcher
The Bomber roster currently includes two talented and athletic catchers. Senior Eric Bruns (Creighton University) batted .330 with a team-leading 10 doubles and 32 RBIs as a sophomore at Sauk Valley C.C. Bruns also slugged three home runs. He should come to Dubois County hungry and ready to play.
Chadd Krist , a sophomore at U.C. Berkeley is the other catcher. Krist was a first-team All Sonoma County selection as a senior at Petaluma High School in Petaluma, Calif. Krist received an outstanding 8.5 rating from Perfect Game USA, an amateur scouting service. This spring at Berkeley, Krist received immediate playing time as a freshman and slugged three doubles, two homers, and 10 RBI.
Infield
One name that Bomber fans are sure to be familiar with is University of Southern Indiana standout Wes Fink. Fink returns for his fourth season with the Bombers. Last summer, Fink ranked as one of the best hitters in the entire CICL, finishing with a .292 batting average and nine doubles to lead the Bombers. In 58 games at USI this spring, Fink batted. 286 with 12 doubles, three triples, three homers, and 34 RBI. He will be an anchor in the Bomber infield.
Sean Estand of St. Joseph's College joins the Bombers for the first time. Estand played his freshman year at Eastern Illinois University before transferring to St. Joe's for his sophomore year. As a senior at St. Rita HS, Estand was widely regarded as the best defensive third baseman in the state of Illinois. The 6-foot-2 slugger broke out in a big way this spring for St. Joe's, batting .356 with 10 doubles, 12 homers, and 47 RBI. He also spent some time on the mound, where he touched 91 mph.
Mills Rogers continues the trend of players from Carson-Newman College to play for the Bombers. Rogers follows standouts Steve Cishek (currently in the Florida Marlins farm system), Langdon Potts, and Justin Higdon to Southern Indiana. An athletic shortstop, Rogers emerged as a star in 2009. The 6-foot-1 infielder batted .348 with 13 doubles, four homers, and 48 RBI. He reached base at an outstanding .426 clip.
Justin Miller from Middle Tennessee State University brings a powerful bat to the Bombers' line-up. Miller emerged as the top hitter in the KIT League last summer while playing for the Union City Greyhouds. Miller finished the summer with averages of .303, 11 doubles, five home runs, and 39 RBIs. He starred during the annual KIT/CICL All-Star Game Home Run Derby, held at League Stadium, where he blasted multiple home runs. Miller will spend time at third, short, and second this summer while batting in the heart of the order.
Even with a good crop of defensive players already on board, Kyle Richardson , a senior from Cal-State Bakersfield might be the best of the bunch. As a sophomore at Sierra College, Richardson led the Wolverines to a California Community College State Championship. Along the way he garnered First-Team All Big 8 Conference Honors. Richardson finished the year with a sparkling .972 fielding percentage along with a .346 batting average, seven doubles, two home runs, and 23 stolen bases. This spring at Bakersfield, Richardson led the team with a .298 batting average. He added 10 doubles, five homers, and 28 RBI.
The final Bomber infielder comes courtesy of Lincoln Land Community College. Brennan Malham looks to provide another powerful bat in the middle of the order. As a freshman at Lincoln Land, Malham batted .331 with 13 doubles, nine home runs, and 55 RBIs. This spring, Malham raised his game to a whole other level. In 55 games, the 5-foot-11 infielder batted .453 with 18 doubles, six homers, and 80 RBI. The 80 RBI ranked Malham second in the country. Malham's versatility will allow him to play several positions for the Bombers.
Outfielders
Anton Garcia , a junior from Bellarmine University possesses immense physical tools. A super strong 6' 4", 210-pound athlete, Garcia possesses 6.5 speed in the 60-yard dash and a bat loaded with power. Garcia played his high school ball for the Eastern (Ky.) Eagles and spent his first two collegiate seasons at Texarkana Junior College in Texarkana, Texas. Look for Garcia in left and right field for the Bombers this summer.
Gavin Green joins the Bombers from the University of Utah. Green, who was a three-sport star at Layton High School, is expected to play immediately at Utah this spring. The left-handed hitting Green was ranked the twelfth best player in the state of Utah by rivals.com. A pure center fielder, Green's immense speed (6.6 in the 60-yard dash) should help to make the 2009 outfield potentially the fastest that has ever been assembled by the Bombers.
John Hotta joins the Bombers courtesy of the University of San Diego. The 5-foot-9 center fielder has seen playing time immediately as a true freshman. In 46 appearances, Hotta is batting .287 with two doubles, two triples, and 21 RBI. He's also reaching base at a very strong .378 clip. The Bombers expect big things from the switch-hitting center fielder during his first season in Dubois County.
The first Bomber outfielder is Dubois County native Derek Katter who attended Jasper High School. Katter, a sophomore at Vincennes U., batted .354 as a freshman with 10 doubles, four triples, and 29 RBIs. Katter was part of an ultra-talented Jasper Reds team last summer and was one of the first players the Bombers zeroed in on for this summer. He possesses a talented left-handed bat and the blazing speed needed to run down flyballs at spacious League Stadium.
Daniel Nichols from Wabash Valley College returns for his second season with the Bombers. Nichols gained valuable experience as the everyday left fielder for the Bombers last summer. As a freshman at Wabash Valley, Nichols batted .371 with a team-high seven home runs. After a full summer of adjustment to wood bats, the Bombers expect big things from Daniel this summer as he returns to the team.
Right-Handed Pitchers
Matt Antos , a junior from IPFW, returns to the Bombers for his second summer. The tall, lanky Antos throws from a low arm slot which is very deceiving to opposing batters. Antos appeared in 13 games for the Bombers last summer and struck out 25 batters in 28 innings. The LaPorte, Ind., native has all the tools to be a top level relief pitcher in the Prospect League this summer.
Chad Edwards of Middle Tennessee State compiled the best ERA of any of the Bombers' starting pitchers last summer. In 54 innings spanning nine starts, Edwards posted an outstanding 2.83 ERA. He walked only 14 batters and finished the summer with a 3-1 overall record. This season at MTSU, Edwards is 7-1 and ranks third on the staff with 61.2 innings pitched. The Bombers expect Edwards to be an anchor in the starting rotation this summer.
Travis Lamar returns for his third summer with the Bombers. The 6' 6", 230-pound Evansville, Ind., native was a key cog during the Bombers' 2007 CICL Championship run. Lamar pitched his first two collegiate seasons for Dennis Conley at Olney Central College where he compiled a 7-3 record and 1.94 ERA as a sophomore. Lamar, who is headed to Wright State University for his junior year, was a 44th round draft selection of the Baltimore Orioles in 2006.
The second Dubois County native on the Bomber roster is Brett Merkley . Merkley played his high school baseball at Forest Park in Ferdinand, Ind. The 5' 11", 165-pound fireballer played his freshman season at IPFW before transferring to Indiana State University where he will sit out the 2009 season as a transfer. Despite the redshirt year, Merkley has quickly impressed his coaches at ISU with an 88-92 mph fastball. The fresh-armed Merkley will be used in a variety of roles this summer and could be in line for the vacated closer's spot.
James Page of Curry College joins the Bombers for his first season. Page helped guide Curry College to an outstanding 34-7 record in 2009 including 21-1 in conference. The 6-foot-2 righty compiled a strong junior season for the Colonels. In 46.2 innings, Page finished with a 5-0 record and a 3.66 ERA. He racked up three saves and a complete game along with 45 strikeouts. Page features four reliable pitches and will be a versatile member of the Bomber staff.
Left-Handed Pitchers
Phillip Byrd of the University of South Alabama brings an impressive resume to the Bombers. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound lefty was named a Second-Team All-American by MaxPreps.com after finishing his senior year at East Central High School in Hurley, Miss., with a 14-0 record and 0.97 ERA in 94 innings. He added 165 strikeouts and was named the top pitcher in the state of Mississippi. Phillip currently combines a fastball that sits in the 86-87 mph range with an outstanding curveball and change-up. He is a pitcher with huge potential.
Arguably the top left-hander in the CICL last summer, Michael Bugary returns to Dubois County armed with a 93 mph fastball and a sharp slider. The 6' 4", 220-pound U.C. Berkeley product made 10 appearances for the Bombers in 2008 including eight starts. He compiled a 3.55 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 45 innings pitched. Bugary figures to be a critical part of a very talented Bomber pitching staff and could be the top left-handed pitcher in the Prospect League.
Matt Igel , a Vincennes, Ind., native and Indiana University product is another lefty with great size and potential. The 6' 3", 240-pound freshman dominated opposing hitters during his career at Vincennes Rivet HS. As a senior, Igel went 7-3 with a 0.73 ERA and a whopping 136 strikeouts in 67 1/3 innings. For his efforts, he was named All-Area Player of the Year, All-Blue Chip Conference, and All-Southwestern Indiana. Igel features a fastball that clocks in the 86-88 mph range and should greatly benefit the Bombers in 2009.
Shawn Marquardt , a Carmel, Ind., native returns for his second season with the Bombers. Marquardt redshirted his freshman year before transferring to Northwest Florida State College. The 5' 11", 180-pound lefty starred for the Bombers last summer. In 39 innings pitched, Marquardt allowed only 33 hits and fired a complete game shutout late in the season. He compiled a stellar 2.97 ERA in seven starts. Marquardt should be even better after a full season of pitching this spring.
2009 will mark the second season in Dubois County for 6-foot-5 lefty Joe Ochs. Ochs redshirted this season at Butler, allowing him to return for a second season with the club. In 2008, the Noblesville, Ind., native fired 27 consecutive scoreless innings for the Bulldogs over a nine-game stretch. During the summer of 2008, Ochs emerged as one of the top relief pitchers in the CICL, compiling a 1.61 ERA of 27 innings of work. The Bombers expect Ochs to play a huge role this summer.
The final member of the pitching staff is Darin Worman from Parkland College. Worman, a 6' 4", 185-pound freshman is another tall left-hander that is full of promise.Worman finished his senior year at Dieterich High School with an ERA of 0.00 in 46 innings pitched. No, that is not an error. For his efforts, Worman was named to the All-Area First Team. A talented multi-sport athlete, Worman currently features a fastball that clocks in the 85-87 range with lots of room to grow and two good off-speed pitches. He will play a big role for the Bombers in 2009.
