Two More 2008 Bombers Return
May 22, 2009 - The Dubois County Bombers of the Prospect League (formerly the CICL) are bringing back two pitchers in Joe Ochs and Chad Edwards for the 2009 season.

Ochs, the 6'5" lefty from Noblesville, Indiana spent 2008 demolishing his opposition at Butler University. He finished as the team's leader with three wins. He also ran a streak of 27 consecutive innings spanning nine games without allowing an earned run. He posted a 1.67 ERA in 16 appearances for the Bombers in 2008. Ochs was redshirted in 2009, allowing him to return to the Bombers for a second season.  

"Joe is a big lefty who was dominant out of the bullpen in 2008," said assistant general manager Jace Gonnerman. "He suffered an injury early on this year but should be at 100% for the summer."  

Chad Edwards re-joins the Bombers after a solid season for Middle Tennessee State University. He boasts a 7-1 record in 12 games, including a complete game shutout in 2009 and is among the team leaders in strikeouts with 34. Edwards looks to improve upon a great 2008 season for the Bombers, where he went 3-1 in 9 starts with an impressive 2.83 ERA.  

"By the numbers, Chad was our best starter in 2008," said Gonnerman. "After enjoying a strong season at MTS he will be an anchor in our rotation in 2009."

 The Dubois County Bombers play a 55-game schedule with 28 home games at  League Stadium in Huntingburg. The 2009 home opener is an exhibition game against the Jasper Reds on Wednesday, June 3 at 7:05pm. The Bombers first Prospect League home game is on Friday, June 5 at 7:05pm against the Danville Dans.

Bombers Bolster Pitching Staff
May 19, 2009 - The Dubois County Bombers of the Prospect League (formerly the CICL) have strengthened their pitching staff for the 2009 season with the signing of pitchers Travis Lamar and Darin Worman.

Lamar, from Evansville, Ind., is back for his third season with the Bombers. In 29 career appearances, the 6-foot-6, 230-pound right-hander has a 5-6 record and a 4.30 ERA. Lamar has a 3-4 record in 19 games, including nine starts, this spring at Wright State University. He spent his first two collegiate baseball seasons at Olney Central Community College. In 2008, Lamar went 7-3 with a 1.94 ERA for the Blue Knights. He was a 44^th round draft pick of the Baltimore Orioles in 2006.

Worman, from Dieterich, Ill., makes his Bombers debut this summer. The 6-foot-4, 180-pound left-hander is 3-1 with a 3.79 ERA in 13 games this spring at Parkland College. He also has two saves. Worman did not allow an earned run in 46 innings pitched during his senior season at Dieterich High School.

"We're adding two quality pitchers in Travis and Darin," said Assistant General Manager Jace Gonnerman. "Travis has been steady throughout his entire Bombers career. He was a huge factor during our championship run in 2007, picking up the win in the championship-clinching game. He's a leader and he's experienced. We are so glad Travis is back for another season in Dubois County. Darin was unbelievable his senior season in high school and has also been very impressive in his first year at Parkland. He has a fastball in the high 80s and two good off-speed pitches. Darin will contribute right away."
Bombers Sign Two Pitchers
May 11, 2009 - The Dubois County Bombers of the Prospect League (formerly the CICL) have signed right-handed pitchers
Matt Antos and James Page . 

Antos returns for his second season with the Bombers. The LaPorte, Ind. native went 1-3 with a 5.79 ERA in 13 appearances for the Bombers in 2008. He struck out 25 batters in 28 innings pitched. A junior at IPFW, Antos has appeared in 56 career games for the Mastodons. He has a 1-4 record this season.

This will be Page's first season in Dubois County. Also a junior, the Weymouth, Mass. native just finished an outstanding season at Curry College. He went 5-0 with a 3.66 ERA in 14 games, including five starts, to help lead the Colonels to a school record 34-win season. Page had three saves to tie for the team lead. 

"The addition of Matt and James is really going to strengthen our pitching staff," said Assistant General Manager Jace Gonnerman. "Matt got some big outs for us last year coming out of the bullpen. We anticipate great things from him in his second season. James is coming off a super season at Curry College. He throws in the mid to high 80s and has command of four pitches. James should throw a lot of innings this summer."

Outfielder Hotta Joins Bombers
May 5, 2009 - The Dubois County Bombers of the Prospect League (formerly the CICL) have signed outfielder Jon Hotta from the University of San Diego. A switch-hitter, Hotta is batting .291 in 41 games, including 18 starts, for the Toreros this spring. The freshman has two doubles, two triples and 20 RBI in only 86 at-bats.

Hotta had a stellar career at Oceanside High School in Oceanside, Calif. As a senior, the 5-foot-9, 170 pound Hotta hit .360 with 24 stolen bases to lead the Pirates to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Finals. He batted .290 with 27 stolen bases as a junior.

"To be able to get a player of Jon's caliber so close to the start of our season is unbelievable," said Assistant General Manager Jace Gonnerman. "He's at a top-notch San Diego program and has been very impressive even as only a freshman. He's got speed, he can hit from both sides of the plate, and he can play anywhere in the outfield. He's a great find for us."

Bombers Re-Sign Infielders Fink and Konnoff
April 30, 2009 - The Dubois County Bombers of the Prospect League have re-signed infielders Wes Fink and Sam Konnoff.

Fink returns for his fourth season with the Bombers in 2009. The Clarksville, Tenn. native is the Bombers' all-time leader in games played (124), at-bats (459), hits (116) and RBI (55). Last season, Fink had 49 hits, nine doubles and 26 RBI, all team highs. His two homeruns and 20 runs scored tied for the team lead. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Fink is a junior at the University of Southern Indiana. He is batting .303 with three homeruns and 31 RBI in 46 games this spring for the Screaming Eagles.

Konnoff, from San Bernardino, Calif., is back for his second season with the Bombers. He hit .254 with four doubles and 11 RBI in 39 games for the team in 2008. Konnoff led the Bombers in on-base percentage (.409) and walks (30). A sophomore at San Bernardino Valley College, Konnoff is batting .321 this season for the Wolverines. He has two homeruns and 32 RBI in 35 games.

"These guys are so important to our team," said Assistant General Manager Jace Gonnerman. "Wes is Mr. Bomber. This is our fifth season coming up in Dubois County, and this will be his fourth. Each year, he's improved. The 2008 season was his best; he was our top offensive player. We expect him to be just as good this season. Sam came in last year and made an immediate
impact. He was an on-base machine and also played great defense at first base and in right field. With a year in the league under his belt, we think the sky is the limit for him in year two."

Bombers Release Baseball Camp Information
April 26, 2009 - The Dubois County Bombers have released information about their 2009 summer baseball camps. The team will hold two basic developmental camps (ages 5-12) and one advanced skills camp (ages 8-18).

The first developmental camp is on June 9, 10 and 11.

The Bombers will have another developmental camp on June 24, 25 and 26.

 The skills camp is on June 17, 18 and 19. Run by the Bombers' coaching staff and several players, the camps will focus on hitting, pitching, base running, sportsmanship, fielding and more.

Each camp session is from 9:00am-12:00pm. The cost for the 3-day camp is $60 per camper with a $5 off coupon printed from the Bombers' website (www.dcbombers.com). The coupon must be included with the registration form and payment to receive the discount. All camps are $65 without the coupon. All campers receive a camp t-shirt and a ticket to a game where they can run out on the field before the game with the Bombers. For more information and to receive a registration form, please call the Dubois County Bombers at (812)-683-3700 or stop by the Bombers' office at League Stadium.

Bombers Sign Utah Standout Gavin Green
April 21, 2009 - The Dubois County Bombers of the Prospect League have signed outfielder Gavin Green from the University of Utah. The 6-foot, 185- pound freshman is coming off a career game over the weekend. In the second game of a doubleheader against Brigham Young University on April 18, Green made his eighth start of the season and went 4-for-4, including his first career triple. For the season, Green has appeared in 25 games for the Utes and is batting .302 with eight runs, three doubles, a triple and an RBI.

Before Utah, Green was a three-year starter on the baseball team at Layton High School in Layton, Utah. As a senior, he hit .500 with 34 RBI to earn first-team all-state honors. Green also played football and basketball in high school.

"To be able to come in as a freshman and make an impact for a Division I college baseball program is not easy, but don't tell that to Gavin," said Assistant General Manager Jace Gonnerman. "When he's been in the lineup this spring at Utah, he's made the most of it. Gavin has a great future ahead of him for the Utes and we know he also has a great future ahead of him on the 2009 Bombers. He may be the best athlete on our roster."

Bombers Bring Back Talented Lefty Marquardt
April 13, 2009 - The Dubois County Bombers of the Prospect League (formerly the CICL) have announced that southpaw pitcher Shawn Marquardt will return for his second season with the team this summer. In 2008, the left-hander finished with a 2-3 record and a 2.97 ERA in eight games, seven of which were starts. Marquardt held opposing hitters to only a .239 batting average against him, second- best on the Bombers. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Marquardt really hit his stride late in the season. He went 2-0 with a 1.41 ERA over his final three starts.

The Carmel, Ind. native has a team-leading six wins this spring at Northwest Florida State College (formerly Okaloosa-Walton College). He has 38 strikeouts and a 4.66 ERA in 36.2 innings pitched for the Raiders.

"Good left-handed pitching is really hard to find, but we've definitely found a good one in Shawn," said Assistant General Manager Jace Gonnerman. "We saw his potential a year ago and knew he was one of the guys that we had to have back with us this summer. Shawn was our best starting pitcher down the stretch last year, no question."

Bombers Sign Versatile Miller
April 6, 2009 - The Dubois County Bombers of the Prospect League (formerly the CICL) have signed infielder Justin Miller from Middle Tennessee State. In 22 games for the Blue Raiders this spring, Miller is batting .291 with 2 homers and 14 RBI. The sophomore also has four stolen bases.

Last summer, Miller played for the Union City Greyhounds in the Kentucky- Illinois-Tennessee (KIT) League. The Knoxville, Tenn. native had a league- leading 60 hits and belted five homeruns, tied for the most in the league. Miller scored 39 runs and had 26 RBI to go with a .303 batting average in 50 games for the Greyhounds.

"We saw Justin firsthand last July at the KIT/CICL All-Star Game at League Stadium," said Assistant General Manager Jace Gonnerman. "Not only was he impressive in the homerun derby, but then he also went out and hit a 2-run
homer in the game. We were convinced at that point that we wanted him on the 2009 Bombers. He can really hit and his versatility will be great to have. Middle Tennessee State has played him mostly at shortstop, but Justin is
very capable at second base, third base and left field, too."

Nation's Leading Juco Hitter Joins Bombers
April 2, 2009 - The Dubois County Bombers of the Prospect League (formerly the CICL) have announced that infielder Brennan Malham, currently the leading hitter in National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II, has been signed to the roster for this summer. Malham is batting an unbelievable .559 in 19 games this spring at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Ill. He has a .898 slugging percentage, 33 hits, 30 RBI, seven doubles and two triples for the Loggers, all team highs. Malham, a sophomore, is tied for the team lead with three homeruns.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Malham hit .331 with a team-leading nine homeruns and 55 RBI in 46 games during his freshman season at Lincoln Land.

"Brennan is on an absolute tear for Lincoln Land right now," said Assistant General Manager Jace Gonnerman. "His numbers are so good it's almost hard to believe. We can't wait to have him in our lineup. Prospect League pitchers, look out!"

Bomber News Archive
April 2009 - May 2009