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May 15, 2012

Honkers Add Top ASU Hitter

(Rochester, MN)—The Honkers Baseball Club has added one more infielder to their roster in Arizona State University sophomore Michael Benjamin.

Benjamin, a 6’0”, 200-pound Queen Creek, Arizona native is enjoying a solid season thus far for the Sun Devils. In 31 games, Benjamin is hitting .354, the highest average on an ASU team that is ranked #19 in the nation, and he has also hit three homeruns and collected 21 RBIs.

On Saturday, May 12th against the Gonzaga Bulldogs, Benjamin went 4 for 5 with a homerun and five RBIs to lead the Sun Devils to a 10-1 blowout win.

The former 45^th round pick of the Colorado Rockies in the 2010 Major League Draft played in twelve games last year as a freshman and went 4 for 22 with a homerun and three RBIs.

Benjamin is the son of Mike Benjamin, a 13-year MLB veteran and current Sun Devil assistant coach.

May 9, 2012

Honkers Add Six, Including Hometown Kid!

(Rochester, MN)—The Rochester Honkers have applied the finishing touches to their 2012 roster by adding six temporary players, with local Rochester kid Brandon Zywicki among the new additions.

Zywicki is a 6’0”, 175-pound freshman RHP at Central Arizona College (45-13), who is ranked #20 in the NJCAA Division One standings. Zywicki is enjoying a fantastic season for the Roughriders with a record of 8-1 and a nearly microscopic 1.18 ERA. He also has 72 strikeouts in 91.1 total innings of work and has shown very impressive command with just 22 walks.

The Rochester Mayo High School graduate has only given up an earned run in five of his thirteen total starts, and just nine earned runs for the entire season.

The Honkers also added another backstop in University of Minnesota catcher Matt Halloran. The 5’ 10”, 175-pound sophomore is putting up a successful season so far with a .310 batting average with two homeruns and nineteen RBIs for the Golden Gophers (28-22).

The Eden Prairie, Minnesota native was All-State, All-Area, and All-Conference as a senior at Eden Prairie High School, and was also a candidate for the Minnesota Mr. Baseball award.

Four other players were added including Ellsworth Community College sophomore Jake Ratz, sophomore Merrick McGrady from North Park University, junior Chris Noble from University of Pikeville, and sophomore Trevor Robertson from Three Rivers Community College.

Ratz, a 6’4”, 215-pound 1B/DH is hitting .285 with eight homeruns and 35 RBIs in 44 games for the Ellsworth CC Panthers (25-24).

McGrady is a 5’9”, 170-pound RHP with a 0-1 record in fourteen appearances with a 5.57 ERA for the North Park University Vikings (28-11).

University of Pikeville (10-36) Chris Noble, a 6’2”, 200-pound RHP finished the regular season with a 1-6 record with a 5.54 ERA in 14 games. The reserve senior also finished the year at the plate with a .284 batting average to go along with one homerun and sixteen RBIs.

Trevor Robertson, a 6’1”, 200-pound OF/Utility Player, is hitting .320 in 39 games with three homeruns and 23 RBIs this season for the Three Rivers CC Raiders (23-20).

May 2, 2012

Honkers Voice receives Honorable Awards

(Rochester, MN)—Honker fans are in for a treat this summer when they tune in to hear their favorite baseball team compete in another year of Northwoods League action. The voice of the Honkers, radio broadcaster Michael Broskowski, is taking another step forward in his journey of a lifetime of calling baseball games over the airwaves, and he comes to Rochester with a few accolades already under his belt.

Broskowski, a junior from Western Illinois University, was honored this past weekend for his outstanding broadcasting work done during the 2011-2012 school year. Broskowski received the award for Best Sports Video Play by Play as the television voice for the Fighting Leatherneck football team, and the Best Sports Radio Play by Play for his work as the radio voice of the WIU women’s basketball team.

Broskowski was also honored by the entire state of Illinois as a finalist in the Illinois News Broadcasters Association student competition. The Jefferson, Wisconsin native finished in second place in the radio play by play category, a competition that included every school from the state of Illinois.

“It’s great to see all of your hard work that you put in throughout the year pay off,” Broskowski said of the accomplishment. “There is some great talent in this state, and to be in the top two is pretty special.”

In 2011, Broskowski spent the entire summer in Alaska as an intern with the Alaskan Baseball League. His work was based in Palmer, Alaska; a town located so far north that after the first of August sunlight becomes about as rare as a Wrigley Field World Series.

Only a true fanatic and student of the game would find light in a more or less depressing setting by spending the day at the ballpark, and Michael’s lucrative history of calling games only further highlights that point.

The awards Michael received at WIU are not the only of his broadcasting career. He was also honored in 2009 as a freshman at Kirkwood Community College in Iowa when he finished in second place, again competing against every other college in the state.

Broskowski’s passion for the game of baseball will not be lost on Honker fans this summer when he taps the mic for the first time and calls the opening pitch against the Waterloo Bucks on June 30^th. Michael aspires to be like his hero Cory Provous, and has said before that working in the Northwoods League has always been a goal of his.

In an earlier press release for the Rochester Baseball Club, Michael expressed his excitement for this upcoming season by saying, “It’s a great honor to be part of the Rochester Honkers organization, an organization steeped in history. The Northwoods League has always been a goal of mine and to break in with the best franchise in the league, it’s special.”

April 27, 2012

Anderson Helps Defeat #1 Baylor

(Rochester, MN)—2012 Rochester Honker Justin Anderson was a part of University of Texas at San Antonio history on Tuesday night when he and his fellow Roadrunners defeated the #1 ranked Baylor Bears 4-1.

The victory marked the first win over a #1 ranked team in UTSA baseball history, and also ended Baylor’s 24-game winning streak. The loss was just BU’s eighth of the season to halt their win total at 35.

UTSA struck first in this one, with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Anderson, who was the Roadrunner DH out of the #2 spot in the lineup, walked with one out and was later plated on an RBI single to score the first run of the game. UTSA would pick up two more runs in the frame, which was more than enough to support starting pitcher Jordan Pacheco, who was brilliant over 5.1 innings, giving up just one run on seven hits against the top ranked team in the country.
Anderson picked up a single in the fifth inning and finished the night 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Anderson, just a freshman, is hitting .321 in 30 games with 12 RBIs and 13 runs. His .321 batting average and .402 on-base percentage are both good for third on the team.

The young Houston, Texas native has also pitched in 10 games for the Roadrunners and has a record of 2-2 with a 7.36 ERA.

Anderson and UTSA (18-23) will next travel to Conway, Arkansas on Friday, April 27^th to begin a three-game series with the University of Central Arkansas.

April 26, 2012

Honkers Finalize Roster with Signing of TN Volunteer Pitcher

(Rochester, MN)—The Rochester Honkers have finalized their 2012 roster by adding University of Tennessee sophomore right handed pitcher Nick Williams. The Knoxville, Tennessee native was the team’s closer during his freshman campaign, but has earned a spot in the Volunteer rotation this month.

So far this season, the 6’2”, 230-pound righty has pitched in 17 games, with seven of them coming as starts. Williams is 2-4 with a 3.13 ERA and has 36 strikeouts in 46.0 innings and three saves. He is tied for fourth on the team with 17 total appearances.

In his last start, UT lost in the fourteenth inning 3-2 to Mississippi State, but Williams was solid over six innings, giving up two runs on five hits and striking out threein his seventh start of the season.

As a freshman in 2011, Williams appeared in 23 games, all out of the bullpen, and finished with a record of 2-1 with four saves.

The Tennessee Volunteers (22-19) will begin a weekend series at Auburn on Friday, April 27^th.

April 24, 2012

Honkers Add San Jac Southpaw

(Rochester, MN)—The Honkers have officially added another pitcher to their 2012 roster. Anthony Banda, a freshman left-handed pitcher from San Jacinto College, is the final permanent left-handed pitching addition to this summer’s Rochester staff.

Banda, a 6’3”, 185-pound Sinton, Texas native is enjoying a solid season so far this spring for the San Jac Gators. The young southpaw is 6-1 in ten starts with a low 2.10 ERA. Banda currently holds an 8.41 strikeouts per game ratio.

Banda’s last start on the mound was on April 21^st against Galveston College. The freshman lefty pitched five innings and gave up two earned runs on three hits and four strikeouts to pick up his sixth win of the season.

Banda, who was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 33^rd round of the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft, was voted by Texas sports writers as an honorable mention on the Texas 3A All-State baseball team. Banda was also named the 2011 District 30 Senior of the Year.

April 20, 2012

Honkers Add Two Aggie Freshman

(Rochester, MN)—The Rochester Honkers have updated their 2012 player roster by adding two Texas A&M Aggies. Catcher Cole Lankford and left-handed pitcher Matt Kent, both freshmen, will travel north this summer to make their Northwoods League debuts.

Lankford, a 6’1”, 190-pound Houston, Texas native has played in 16 games this season for the Aggies, with 9 of them as a starter behind the plate. The young left-handed hitting backstop has collected 4 RBIs so far this season and has thrown out 5 potential base stealers.

At Lamar High School in Houston, Lankford earned All-State honors his junior and senior seasons. As a junior in 2010, Cole batted .541 with 10 homeruns and 68 RBIs on his way to earning the Houston 5A Hitter of the Year Award. In 2011, Lankford played summer ball with the Columbia Angels.

Kent, a small 6’0”, 150-pound Waco, Texas native has opted to redshirt this season.

As a senior at Midway High School in 2011, Kent earned THSCA First Team All-State honors and was district MVP after a very impressive season. Matt finished the year with a 10-1 record, 0.63 ERA, and 122 strikeouts in 66.2 innings pitched. Kent also hit .421 at the plate with 24 extra base hits, and the southpaw also threw a staggering 3 no-hitters that season.

The #2 ranked Texas A&M (28-9) will begin a three-game series (1 home, 2 away) with #6 ranked Baylor beginning on Friday, April 20^th

April 18, 2012

Honkers Add Two from the Lone Star State

(Rochester, MN)—The Rochester Honkers Baseball Club has signed St. Mary’s University (TX) junior right hander Carl O’Neal and University of Texas at San Antonio freshman right hander Justin Anderson for the 2012 summer.

Carl O’Neal, a 6’0” San Antonio native, has been nearly unhittable this year for the Division II #1 ranked St. Mary’s. In 11 games started so far this spring, O’Neal is 10-0 with a 1.31 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 68.2 innings of work. The junior hurler has completed 7 games and is holding opponents to a dismal .174 batting average.

O’Neal’s last win came on April 13th against Panhandle State when he tossed his seventh complete-game in a 7-1 victory. The Rattler ace struck out 8 batters and surrendered only 5 hits and 0 earned runs on his way to his 10th^th victory of the season.

As a sophomore in 2011, O’Neal started in 15 games, winning 7 of them, and finished with a very respectable 2.70 ERA. His 93 innings and 77 strikeouts were both good for second on the team.

Anderson, a 6’4”, 190-pound Houston native was recently named the Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week for his performance on Saturday, April 7^th against McNeese State.

Anderson faced just one batter over the minimum and allowed only one hit in a 3-0 complete game victory. The tall hurler needed only 89 pitches (63 strikes) to complete the first shutout of his young college career. Anderson also struck out five batters in the game. Anderson is the first Roadrunner to win conference Pitcher of the Week honors since April 2009.

In 9 games (8 starts) so far this season, Anderson is 2-2 with a 7.99 ERA and has sent down 23 batters on strikes in 41.2 innings. Anderson has also seen time in the outfield and as the team’s designated hitter on games where he is not on the mound. In 25 overall games, he is hitting .313 with 10 RBIs and a .390 on-base percentage, good for third on the team.

April 16, 2012

Jeff McKenzie Return to Honkers Pitching Staff

(Rochester, MN)—The Rochester Honkers will bring back left handed pitcher Jeff McKenzie for another season in the Northwoods League. McKenzie, an El Dorado Hills, California native, is a junior this season at CSU Bakersfield after transferring from San Joaquin Delta College a year ago.

The 6’0”, 170-pound lefty is 2-3 in 8 starts with a 1.92 ERA so far this spring for the Roadrunners (15-16). McKenzie is holding opposing hitters to a .243 batting average and has 38 strikeouts in 56.1 innings of work. He recently struck out 12 batters in a complete game three-hitter as CSU Bakersfield beat Santa Clara 4-0 on April 6^th. The 12 strikes is second best in school history.

In 2011 for the Honkers, McKenzie pitched in 8 games with 7 of them starts. He finished the summer with a 1-3 record and a 3.57 ERA. McKenzie’s best start came on July 13^th against St. Cloud when he pitched 8 innings of 2-hit, 2-run baseball registering his only victory for the season.

As a sophomore at San Joaquin Delta College in 2011, McKenzie was named MVP of the California Community College Athletic Association Tournament after leading his team to the first CCCAA championship since 1959. In the championship game, McKenzie tossed a complete game 7-hitter to earn the victory, while also picking off four base runners.

McKenzie had only pitched in 5 total innings all year before that championship winning start on the mound. As a starting outfielder in 36 of 40 games, McKenzie hit .238 with 1 homerun and 22 RBIs.

CSU Bakersfield will battle USC at home on Tuesday, April 17^th.

April 6, 2012

Honkers Sign Hometown Pitching Star

(Rochester, MN)—The Rochester Honkers have added hometown kid Mitchell Brown to their roster for this summer. Brown, a 6’2”, 205-pound right-handed pitcher will play in his senior season at Rochester Century High School. Brown started the season opener versus Faribault High School on April 5^th, striking out 9 as Century won 6-1.

Brown, who was ranked by Baseball America as the #77 high school prospect in the country for the 2012 season, has committed to the University of San Diego for next year. USD associate head coach, Jay Johnson, who is largely responsible for the Toreros #1 ranked recruiting class for 2008 and the #2 recruiting class in 2010, is very confident in Mitchell’s pitching game.

“Mitch will definitely immerge as a starter for us next year, no question about it,” Johnson said in an interview. “He has great mound presence and great command of his fastball, and a very quick, athletic arm.”

Brown has showcased his pitching arsenal with summer tournament teams over the years including the Minnesota Starz and the Virginia-based Evoshield Canes Baseball. In the Fall 2011 WWBA World Championships in Jupiter, Florida, the young right-hander averaged 90-92 MPH on his fastball, and topped out at 93. Brown has also shown his ability to throw a slurve, which comes in at around 75 MPH. A slider and changeup are his two other out pitches.

One thing that Johnson really noticed about Mitchell while recruiting him was his hard-working, no-nonsense attitude, calling him a “workout fanatic.” The first time Johnson saw Brown pitch, he was throwing his fastball in the area of 86-87 MPH, and hadn’t fully developed his breaking pitches, so his improvements have been an on-going process throughout his career.

Last year, Brown helped lead Rochester Century to the semifinals of the state tournament as a junior, defeating defending champions Eden Prairie High School in the first round with a 3-0, complete game two-hit shutout. Rochester Century lost in the semifinals to eventual state champion Burnsville High School. Brown was named to the All-Tournament team for his performance in the first round. Brown finished the 2011 regular season with an impressive 10-1 record with a 0.93 ERA and was selected to the Minnesota 3A All-State Team. He also hit .390 with 6 homeruns and 32 RBIs.

Johnson is very excited to see Mitch progress this year and come to San Diego in the fall. “He’s (Brown) extremely confident,” Johnson said. “He believes in himself, and that will allow him to be successful for the Honkers.”

April 2, 2012

Honkers Garlick Belts Two Homers in a Game

(Rochester, MN)—No. 23 University of Oregon sophomore, and 2012 Rochester Honker Kyle Garlick belted two homeruns on Saturday against the No. 14 Arizona State Sun Devils in a 3-1 victory in Game 2 of a doubleheader. Garlick, who finished 2 for 3 in the game, is the first Oregon Duck to hit two long balls in a game since the program was reinstated in 2009.

After the Ducks (18-8) won Game 1 1-0, Garlick gave his team the lead in the nightcap with a second inning solo shot to left field. Garlick’s second homerun came in the bottom of the seventh to put the Ducks up 2-0. Honker teammate Scott Heineman followed with a walk before former Honker Brett Hambright drove him in with an RBI double.

After a ninth inning Sun Devil solo shot, Oregon closed out the game to win it 3-1 and take the first two games of a three-game series.

The Ducks then completed the sweep on Sunday with a 4-3 victory, marking the first series sweep of ASU in Oregon baseball history. Garlick picked up a couple more hits in the game, finishing 2 for 4 with a triple.

Garlick is now the team leader with 4 dingers on the year, and an impressive .351 average. Kyle also has 16 RBIs and 7 stolen bases.

Freshman third baseman Scott Heineman, is hitting .218 with 1 homerun and 7 RBIs, and junior infielder Ryan Hambright, the younger brother of Brett Hambright and a 2012 Honker, is batting .200 with 1 homerun and 3 RBIs.

Oregon will travel to Los Angeles on Thursday April 5^th to begin a three-game series against UCLA.

March 20, 2012

Honkers Add Warrior Catcher

(Rochester, MN)—The Honkers have added another backstop to their roster with the signing of University of Hawai’i at Manoa freshman Trevor Podratz.

Podratz, a 5’11”, 235-pound Temecula, California native has started 14 games this season for the Warriors. In 15 overall games, Podratz is hitting .262 with 6 RBIs and a .392 on-base percentage.

The freshman catcher is a 2011 graduate of Chaparral High School in Temecula, California where he was a three-time letter winner in baseball. In his junior season, Podratz was named First Team All-League and First Team All-State, and earned All-League honors his senior season.

Podratz also played four seasons with the San Diego Show, a club ball team, and spent the 2011 summer playing for the San Diego Waves of the Western Baseball Association. Podratz helped the Waves to a fourth place finish at the National Baseball Congress World Series.

Podratz and the University of Hawai’i at Manoa (12-7) will be in action at the University of Portland on March 20^th and then a 4-game set with Gonzaga in Spokane, WA starting on March 22.

March 15, 2012

Honkers Sign 2 from ORU

(Rochester, MN)—A couple of Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles will lace their cleats in Rochester this summer. Junior shortstop Nate Goro and junior right-handed pitcher Tim Zufall have officially been added to the Honkers roster for the upcoming 2012 summer season.

The 6’0”, 180-pound Goro is a 2009 graduate of Lafayette High School in Wildwood, Missouri. In 15 games this season, the former 46^th round draft pick of the Detroit Tigers is hitting .299 with 6 doubles, 14 runs, and 12 RBIs, with an on-base percentage of .329. The slick-fielding shortstop can pick it as well, with just one error so far this season.

Goro played the 2011 season at Jefferson College in St. Louis, Missouri where he hit .269 in 50 games with 6 homeruns and 37 RBIs. In his 2010 freshman season, Goro played for the Wichita State Shockers, whom he helped lead to a 41-19 record and the Missouri Valley Conference Championship. Goro hit .275 that year with 2 homeruns and 12 RBIs.

Zufall is a 6’4”, 210-pound Pueblo, Colorado native, who was drafted in the 45^th round by the Florida Marlins. In four appearances for the Golden Eagles this year, Zufall is 0-0 with a 4.32 ERA. He’s also made 6 plate appearances hitting .167.

Zufall played the last two seasons at Lamar Community College in Lamar, Colorado. In 2011, the big right-hander led LLC to a 47-17 record and the Empire Conference Championship, finishing with a 12-1 record on the mound and a 2.32 ERA. Zufall also hit .352 with 12 homeruns and 50 RBIs for the Runnin’ Lopes, and was selected to the All-Conference Team.

March 14, 2012

Welcome Back Nick Dolsky

(Rochester, MN)—The Honkers have officially brought back Nick Dolsky, the big 6’8”, 220-pound right-handed pitcher from Apple Valley Minnesota for the 2012 summer. Dolsky will be playing his third straight season for Rochester.

Last summer, Dolsky had a solid campaign with the Honkers, going 3-2 with a 3.40 ERA. Dolsky made five starts and came out of the bullpen in relief eleven times, with one recorded save. Nick was selected to represent Rochester and pitch in the Northwoods League All Star Game for the North Division.

Dolsky, who pitches for the Des Moines Area Community College this spring, has made four starts this season. His record for the Bears is 1-2 with a 6.14 ERA. Nick has done an impressive job of making hitters miss so far, striking out 15 opposing batters in 14.2 innings of work.

Dolsky, who was regarded by Baseball America as Minnesota’s top prospect in high school, pitched as a redshirt freshman in 2011 for University of Nebraska, and had a solid short season. In seven appearances for the Huskers, Dolsky was 0-0 with an impressive 1.04 ERA in 8.2 innings of work.

Nick and the DMACC Bears (8-8) will travel to Enid, Oklahoma on March 16^th to take on Northern Oklahoma.

March 12, 2012

Johnson Pitches Complete Game, Other Honkers Involved

(Rochester, MN)—University of Illinois junior pitcher Kevin Johnson was in dominant form on Friday (March 9^th) in a matchup with the #18 Oregon Ducks, a game that showcased four other 2012 Honker teammates. Johnson, who has emerged as the Fighting Illini’s top pitcher once again, tossed a complete-game four-hit gem to lead Illinois to a 2-1 victory at the Nike College Showcase at PK Park in Eugene, Oregon.

The Ducks (11-3) struck first with two doubles in the bottom of the second, but Johnson wouldn’t allow a runner past first base for the rest of the game. Illinois (6-6) was able to get on the board in the top of the fourth, when Illinois second baseman and fellow Honker Reid Roper scored on a fielder’s choice. The Fighting Illini scored their second run in the top of the sixth inning after Roper singled with two outs, and was brought in to score on a triple.

Those 2 runs would be all that Kevin Johnson would need, as he held the Ducks scoreless for the final seven innings to earn the complete-game victory. Johnson’s complete-game was the first for the Fighting Illini since May 28^th, 2011, and his four hits surrendered were the fewest since February 19^th, 2011. Johnson also struck out 5 hitters.

Roper finished the day 1 for 4, scoring both runs for Illinois.

In the loss for the Ducks, two 2012 Honkers were in the starting lineup. Leftfielder Kyle Garlick was 1 for 3 with the team’s only run batted in, and third baseman Scott Heineman went 1-3. Fellow Honker teammate Ryan Hambright did not get into the game, but older brother Brett (former Honker) started the game behind the plate and went 0 for 3.

March 9, 2012

Honkers Bring Back Snelten

(Rochester, MN)—The Honkers have added more depth to their pitching staff by bringing back University of Minnesota sophomore DJ Snelten for the upcoming summer.

Snelten, a 6’7”, 225-pound left-handed pitcher from Indelside, IL pitched in 9 games last season for the Honkers after a short stint in the Cape Cod League, and finished with a 2-2 record with a 4.46 ERA. The big southpaw also had 47 strikeouts in 40.1 innings of work.

Snelten, who was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 30^th round out of high school, has made 4 appearances so far this season for the Golden Gophers. His record is 0-0 with a 1.23 ERA in 14.2 total innings of work. Opposing batters are hitting only .174 against Snelten, who made his first start of the year on February 25 against the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. Snelten tossed 5.1 innings of scoreless baseball while only giving up 3 hits, and striking out 3, picking up a no-decision in Minnesota’s 3-1 loss.

As a true freshman in 2011, Snelten pitched in 13 games and finished with a 5.22 ERA, striking out 18 batters in 29.1 innings of work. Snelten picked up his first collegiate career win on May 17^th, 2011, with an 8-5 victory over North Dakota State.

The University of Minnesota (3-4) will host Stony Brook on March 10^th at the Metrodome.

March 7, 2012

Honkers Add Antelopee Outfielder

(Rochester, MN)—The Rochester Honkers have made the signing of Lamar Community College outfielder Ben Lahn official. Lahn is a 6’3”, 215-pound sophomore from Westminster, Colorado.

In 15 games this season for the Antelopes, Lahn is batting .229 with 1 homerun and 9 RBIs, 16 runs, and 2 stolen bases as the team’s cleanup hitter. His best game of the young season so far came on February 18^th against Miles Community College when Lahn went 3 for 4 with a homerun and 2 RBIs.

Lahn, in his freshman year at Lamar in 2011, hit .385 with 16 homeruns, 10 doubles, and 52 RBIs, with a slugging percentage of .791. His 16 homeruns were good for 4^th in the nation. Lahn’s solid freshman campaign earned him a spot on the All-Region 9 Team.

Lamar Community College will play Otero Junior College at home on Wednesday, March 7^th.

February 22, 2012

Honkers Add Big Vanderbilt LHP

(Rochester, MN)—The Honkers have added a big left-handed arm to their roster for this summer in Jared Miller. Miller, a 6’6”, 240-pound, Avon, Indiana native is playing in his freshman year at Vanderbilt University this spring.

Miller made his debut with Vanderbilt on February 17^th against the University of Stanford Cardinals, in which the Commodores lost 8-3. Miller pitched the final two innings for Vanderbilt, giving up one run on four hits. He also had one strikeout, one hit batter, and threw a total of 31 pitches. Vanderbilt (0-3) will make their 2012 home debut on February 22^nd against Oakland University.

Miller was a 2011 First-Team All-State selection for the state of Indiana after hitting .465 with 13 homeruns and 42 RBIs, while also showing success on the mound. Miller finished the year with a 5-1 record and 1.06 ERA, with one save. Miller’s 3 complete games, 2 shutouts, and 13.4 K/7 innings were all best on the team. Jared was All-Conference from 2009-2011, and an Indiana Mr. Baseball candidate his senior year, while also garnering Indiana All-West Player of the Year honors. Miller holds Avon High School career records in homeruns (20), RBIs (83), innings pitched (142.2), and strikeouts (204).

Opening day for the 2012 Rochester Honkers is on May 30 when the Honkers travel to Waterloo, IA to take on the Waterloo Bucks. The home opener is Thursday, May 31st against the same Waterloo Bucks. Game time is 7:05PM. Season Tickets, Bonus Books, Suites and Patios are now on sale for the 2012 season. Call the Rochester Honkers office at 507-289-1170 for more information.

February 20, 2012

Future Honkers Combine for Nearly Perfect Doubleheader

(Rochester, MN)—Two future Honkers started their season off on the right foot over the weekend, with dominant pitching performances. Neosho County Community College sophomores Matt Strahm and Adam Giacalone were the team’s top two pitchers as freshman in 2011, and will seem to continue their reign as extremely talented pitchers in 2012 before playing for Rochester this summer.

Neosho County (6-0) played a double-header against Brown Mackie College on Saturday. Strahm, the team leader in complete games in 2011, was the starter in game one. Strahm allowed just one hit over seven innings of work, while striking out 14 to pick up the complete game one-hit shutout victory. The only hit allowed by Strahm was on a second inning slowly hit groundball through the infield. Neosho County won game one 1-0.

Seemingly impossible to match Strahm’s game one performance, Giacalone made his first start on the mound of 2012 and threw his first collegiate no-hitter. Giacalone, who threw two perfect games in his senior season in high school, faced just one more than the minimum in game two, striking out five in the 8-0 victory. In six games this season, Giacalone is also hitting .636 with 1 homerun and 10 RBIs.

February 17, 2012

Honkers Bring Back Veteran, Add another Titan

(Rochester, MN)—Two Cal State Fullerton Titans will bring their talents to Rochester this summer. Junior Outfielder Anthony Hutting, a two-time Honker, and sophomore catcher Chad Wallach, have officially signed with the Honkers Baseball Club for 2012.

The 6’0”, 185-pound Hutting will return for his third consecutive season with Rochester. Hutting, the former 38^th round pick of the Texas Rangers, will play a veteran role this summer, with two seasons of vital playing time under his belt. In his first year with the Honkers in 2010, Hutting hit .252 with 1 homerun. Last year with the Honkers, Hutting played in 44 games, batting .261 with 1 homerun and 13 RBIs. Hutting also showed his speed on the base paths, swiping 11 bases successfully. In his sophomore year at Cal State Fullerton in 2011, Hutting appeared in 43 games, 17 as a starter, and registered a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in the outfield.

Chad Wallach is a 6’3”, 225-pound Yorba Linda, California native. Wallach, the two-time All-Orange Coast League first-teamer for Calvary Chapel High School, was drafted in the 43^rd round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Chad is the son of former five-time MLB All-Star, and current Dodgers third base coach, Tim Wallach. Older brothers Matt and Brett are working their ranks in the Dodgers and Cubs organizations, respectively. Chad hit .400 in his junior year with 6 homeruns and 33 RBIs at Calvary Chapel, and a robust .489 with 10 longballs and 45 RBIs in his senior season, earning him second-team All CIF honors. Wallach played in 20 games, starting 4 of them, last year as a freshman at CSF. He hit .222 with 3 RBIs. Wallach, a former corner infielder, was moved to behind the plate for the Titans in 2012.

The Titans will open their 2012 season on Friday, February 17^th against the #1 ranked Florida Gators in Gainesville Florida.

February 10, 2012

Honkers Add Two More Volunteers

(Rochester, MN)—The Rochester Honkers Baseball Club continues to attract talented players from big name colleges. On Friday, February10^th the Honkers signed two promising University of Tennessee freshmen. Jared Allen, a 6’1”, 220-pound outfielder, and David Horne, a 6’3”, 215-pound right-handed pitcher will switch their colors from orange and white to teal and black this summer in Rochester.

Allen, a Delano, Tennessee native, will attempt to be the most feared and hard hitting “Jared Allen” in Minnesota this season (Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen), and with the numbers he put up in high school, that task may prove to be manageable. As just a young seventeen-year-old, Allen will be undoubtedly the youngest Honker on the team, but that doesn’t mean he is any less dangerous at the plate. In his senior year at Polk County High School, Jared hit .514 with 14 homeruns and 62 RBIs on his way to capturing All State First-Team honors. At the 10^th annual Tennessee VS Georgia All-Star Game in 2011, Allen led Tennessee to an 18-4 victory, while collecting four hits. Allen hit 2 singles, a double, and a triple to win the game’s MVP award. As just a freshman this season at Tennessee, Allen is projected to be the starting right fielder on opening day.

Horne played his high school ball at Columbia Central High School, whom he helped lead to back-to-back Class AAA state tournaments in his junior and senior year, including a runner-up finish in 2011. Horne finished his junior season with a 9-1 record, recording 68 strikeouts on the mound. He also hit .381 with 10 home runs and 51 RBIs. After a monster junior year, Horne returned in his senior year to hit .356 with 11 homers and 43 RBIs, earning first-team All-Mid State honors, and a spot on his fourth consecutive All-District squad. After former Tennessee head baseball coach Todd Raleigh recruited Horne in 2010, he expressed his excitement for the young power pitcher by describing him as a “two way player with a lot of upside.”

February 8, 2012

Honkers Sign Fighting Sioux Catcher

(Rochester, MN)—The Rochester Honkers added a catcher to their lineup today, when they made the signing of University of North Dakota backstop Zach Trygstad official. Trygstad is a 6’0”, 200-pound UND sophomore, originally hailing from Wayzata, Minnesota.

In his freshman year at UND, Trygstad started in 42 games at catcher, playing in 43 games total. He finished the year with a .277 batting average, with 1 home run and 24 RBIs. His conference play was much more productive, as he hit .347 with 19 runs and 20 RBIs against teams in the Big West. Trygstad finished the season with 11 multi-hit games, and threw out 16 would-be base stealers. Zach will play his second collegiate season this spring before making his Northwoods League debut in Rochester this summer.

At Wayzata High School, Trygstad was a two-time All-Conference player. In his senior season, he finished with an excellent .478 batting average, while slugging 7 homeruns with 21 RBIs on his way to earning All-Metro second-team honors. Trygstad also showed a comfortable patience at the plate, picking up twice as many walks as strikeouts.

February 6, 2012

Top JUCO Player Signs with Honkers

(Rochester, MN)—Players who can dominate both on the pitching mound and from the plate are rare to come by, especially in players with just one year of college experience under their belt. The Honkers have officially signed Adam Giacalone, who is not only a terror with his pitching arm, but a slugging machine with the lumber. Giacalone is a 6’2”, 215-pound Shawnee, Kansas native who played as a freshman in 2011 at Neosho County Community College, where he achieved national attention as possibly the most talented junior college player in the nation.

Giacalone is a dominant right-handed pitcher and first baseman, with enough power to shake the ballpark, and all the necessary tools to become a very big player for the Honkers this summer. In 2011 with Neosho County CC, he developed a fear factor for opposing hitters, posting a 10-1 record with a 2.10 ERA. Adam has the ability to make bats miss the ball, tallying 83 strikeouts in 83.1 innings of work, good for one strikeout per inning, with one game where he struck out 17. His command of the plate is impressive as well, as he only registered 14 walks for the entire season. In 2010, as a senior at Shawnee Mission High School, Giacalone threw the first perfect game in school history, only needing 77 pitches (66 strikes) to do it. Two weeks later, he threw another one as if the first one wasn’t enough.

Giacalone’s hitting numbers are just as daunting. In 60 games for Neosho County CC, he hit for a robust .396 batting average, with 18 homeruns and an astonishing 102 RBIs, which is a school record. His slugging percentage of .786 shows that he can not only hit the longball, but can hit with power from gap to gap as well with 16 doubles and 2 triples in 2011. Giacalone’s monster season garnered him multiple accolades including Jayhawk Conference Player of the Year and NJCAA First-Team All-American honors. With heavy recruitment from big baseball schools like TCU, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Nebraska, Giacalone decided to sign with the University of Tennessee for the 2013 season, as he will play one more year at Neosho County before travelling to Rochester to showcase his talents for the Honkers this coming season.

February 1, 2012

Ducks Migrate East for the Summer

(Rochester, MN)—A small flock of Oregon Ducks will be migrating east this summer to play for the Rochester Honkers. University of Oregon junior Ryan Hambright, sophomore Kyle Garlick, and freshman Scott Heineman will bring their talents to the Northwoods League this coming May. The Honkers have enjoyed the presence of Ducks players ever since the 2008-09 season, when the program ended a 26-year absence from intercollegiate competition.

Hambright, a 6’2”, 195-pound utility player/RHP from Corona, California is returning for his third consecutive year with the Honkers. Last summer, Hambright played most of the season with an arm injury before having surgery at the end of the summer. For the Honkers in 2011, Hambright played in 46 games with a .266 batting average with 2 home runs and 19 RBIs. At Oregon in 2011, he hit .189, largely due to the hurt elbow he suffered for the entire year. Hambright enjoyed a healthy and productive season in 2010 for the Honkers. For the season, he hit .364 with 4 homers and 28 RBIs in only 32 games played. His .364 batting average was the highest on the team. Hambright also pitched in relief in 5 games, posting a 1-1 record with 7 strikeouts in 7.2 innings of work.

Kyle Garlick is a 6’1”, 190-pound outfielder from Chino Hills, California. In his freshman year in 2011 at Oregon, Garlick was forced to miss the first 15 games of the season due to a broken hand injury. When he returned to the field, Garlick played in 32 games (started in 24) and hit .250 with 2 homeruns and 21 RBIs. In just his second collegiate career at-bat, Garlick hit a three-run home run to help beat San Diego on March 19^th. A solid defender, Garlic did not commit one error in the outfield in all of 2011.

Scott Heineman is a 5’9”, 185-pound infielder/RHP from Pacific Palisades, California. Heineman will be playing in his first collegiate baseball season this spring. As a senior at Crespi High School in 2011, Heineman hit .358, with 4 home runs and 19 RBIs. As a pitcher the same year, Heineman finished with a 2-1 record and 2.33 ERA in 27 total innings.

January 26, 2012

Honkers Sign Switch-Hitting Machine

(Rochester, MN)—The Rochester Honkers have made it official with the signing of Dustin Torchio, a switch-hitting junior infielder from the University of the Pacific. Dustin is a 5’10” 160-pound, Santa Cruz, California native, who was selected as a first team All Big West Conference player in just his first full collegiate season.

As merely a sophomore last year at Pacific, Torchio lead the Tigers and the entire Big West Conference in batting average (.369). His 72 hits were good for fifth in the Big West, and his .419 on-base percentage ranked eighth in the conference. Torchio racked up an impressive 26 multi-hit games, meaning he collected at least two hits in exactly half of the number of games he started (52).

Torchio’s numbers for conference play were even more impressive. In 24 games against teams in the Big West, he hit an astonishing .477 with 17 runs scored, and posted an on-base percentage of .495. Dustin began the season at second base, but was switched over to third base after 19 games. After the move to the hot corner, he finished the final 33 games with a .459 batting average. For the Tigers, Torchio batted mostly out of the 2-spot in the batting order. Just to further prove how valuable of a hitter Dustin is, he also laid down 15 sacrifice bunts on the year. Torchio will be playing his first season in the Northwoods League this summer.

January 23, 2012

Honkers Add Two Jayhawks

(Rochester, MN)—The Rochester Honkers Baseball Club made it official today on the addition of two more players, both from the University of Kansas. Outfielder Dakota Smith and infielder Justin Protacio are young freshman at Kansas, and the two Jayhawks will make their Northwoods League debut this summer.

Smith is a 5’11” 180-pound freshman from Leavenworth, Kansas. He graduated from Lansing High School where he was a four-time All Sunflower League selection and was first team all-state selection his senior year. As a junior, Smith hit .500 with nine home runs, 35 RBI and 15 stolen bases. At the 2011 Connie Mack World Series in Farmington, NM, Smith was awarded the tourney’s Most Valuable Player honors as well as the Comcast Big Stick award. He was ranked as the No. 25 high school outfielder in 2011 by the Baseball Draft Report.

Protacio is a speedy 5’6” 160-pound freshman from Pearl City, HI. He played high school ball at the Mid Pacific Institute and was a three-time all-state selection and an All-Interscholastic League First Team selection three consecutive years. In 2008, Protacio helped lead the Mid-Pacific American Legion summer league team to a Hawaii State Championship and a Western Region runner-up finish.

Opening day for the 2012 Rochester Honkers is on May 30 when the Honkers travel to Waterloo, IA to take on the Waterloo Bucks. The home opener is Thursday, May 31st against the same Waterloo Bucks, game time is 7:05PM. Season Tickets, Bonus Books, Suites and Patios are now on sale for the 2012 season. Call the Rochester Honkers office at 507-289-1170 for more information.

December 19, 2011

Honkers Announce their 2012 Schedule

(Rochester, MN)—The Rochester Honkers Baseball Club announced today their complete game schedule for the 2012 Northwoods League season. The Five-Time NWL Champions open their 19th season on May 30^th, when they travel to Waterloo, IA to take on the Bucks @ 6:35pm. Their home opener will then take place on Thursday, May 31^st, when the Waterloo Bucks prance back to Mayo Field for a 7:05pm first pitch. This will be the first time the Honkers and Bucks have played each other since the 2008 season.

The 2012 season will be the third consecutive season that Northwoods League teams will only play within their division. The Honkers, a member of the North Division, will play a 70 game schedule in 75 days, beginning on May 30^thand ending at home on August 12^th. They will play each North Division opponent 10 times, five home and five away. The first half of the season will be complete at the end of play on Wednesday, July 4^th with the second half beginning the following day. The NWL Playoff Series will take place from August 13^th through August 18^th. The winner of each division’s two halves will meet in a best-of-three divisional playoff series (August 13-15) with the winners advancing to the Summer Collegiate World Series (August 16-18), also a best-of-three.

Start times for the Rochester Honkers 2012 home games will be 7:05pm for games Monday through Saturday and Sundays will all begin at 1:05pm. The Honkers will also play two midweek day games (June 26 and July 16) both starting at 1:05pm.

General admission ticket prices for the 2012 season will remain the same as 2011. Adults are only $6.00 while kids and seniors are $5.00. In 1994, the Honkers general admission tickets were $4.00 for adults and $2.00 for kids and seniors.

The Rochester Honkers are one of two remaining teams (Wisconsin (Wausau) Woodchucks) from the Northwoods League’s inaugural season of 1994. The Honkers have won a league high Five NWL Championships: (1994, 1997, 1999, 2006, 2009).

For the Rochester Honkers complete schedule, game times and ticket information, go to www.rochesterhonkers.com. The entire NWL schedule is available at www.northwoodsleague.com.