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Published On: May 5th, 2016

5.5.16 player release

Eau Claire, Wis. – The Eau Claire Express announced three more additions to its pitching staff today, signing Milwaukee freshman Jake Sommers along with brothers Christian and Jonathon Tripp from New Mexico. The three latest additions bring the roster to 22.

Sommers is a Hortonville, Wis. native in his first season with the Panthers. He has pitched exclusively out of the bullpen this spring, appearing in ten games covering 13 innings. He has a 2-1 record, two saves and has struck out 13 in that time. Opposing hitters are batting only .224 off of the right-hander.

Christian Tripp is a freshman for the Lobos this spring. He has also pitched in relief and has made 17 appearances. In 23.1 innings pitched, he has 21 strikeouts to go with a 1-1 record and two saves. The righty was named District MVP as a senior at Klein High School in Spring, TX and was First Team All-District as a junior in 2014.

Jonathon Tripp is sitting out this season due to NCAA transfer rules. He will be of junior status when he joins the Lobos next spring. He is no stranger to the Northwoods League, having played with the Green Bay Bullfrogs in 2014. He made seven appearances, including four starts, that season and finished with a 1-2 record and a 4.20 earned run average. The right-hander previously played his college ball at Texas Tech, where he made 30 appearances (6 starts) in two seasons with the Red Raiders. In 65.1 career innings, he compiled a 1-3 record and 4.82 ERA.

The Express begin their twelfth season of play in the Northwoods League at Carson Park on May 31 versus the Rochester Honkers. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. in that contest, with gates opening at 5:30 p.m. Season tickets, 5-Game Packs and single-game tickets are on sale now. The all-new 5-Game Pack includes a reserved ticket along with food and beverage for three innings for five of the biggest promotional nights of the 2016 season all for only $45.00. All tickets can be purchased by calling the Express office at 715-839-7788 or by stopping at the downtown office at 102 E. Grand Ave.

The Eau Claire Express are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2016, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website.  For more information, visit www.eauclaireexpress.com.