Kenosha, WI — February 14, 2014. The Kenosha Kingfish have announced the signing of sophomore first baseman Zach Ratcliff and junior outfielder Pat Porter from Ohio State University for the summer of 2014.
Ratcliff, a 6’5”, 210-pound first baseman from Backlick, Ohio, will complete his second season with the Buckeyes before joining the Kingfish. In his freshman campaign, Ratcliff posted a batting average of .323 with one double, one home run, and three RBIs. He appeared in 15 games, making seven starts as a designated hitter last season. Ratcliff was a four-year starter in baseball and letter winner in both basketball and football at Columbus Academy. He was named All-Ohio as a senior with a .430 batting average and six home runs. Ratcliff was three-time All-Mid State League and 2011 Perfect Game All-American team.
Porter, a 6’0”, 205-pound native of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, will join the Kingfish after completing his third season with the Buckeyes. During the 2013 season, Porter had a .296 average with 13 doubles, five triples, four home runs, 42 runs scores, and 33 RBIs. He led or tied the team in doubles, triples, home runs, runs scored, RBIs, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage last season. He appeared in 55 games and made 54 starts. Porter led the Big Ten last year with three triples in conference play while finishing second with nine doubles, sixth with a .543 slugging percentage and tied for seventh with 50 total bases in Big Ten play. During his freshman campaign, he batted .266 with four doubles, two triples, 21 runs scored, and 21 RBIs, receiving Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors.
The Kingfish will host their season opener against the Mankato MoonDogs on Saturday, May 31st at 6:05pm at Kenosha’s Historic Simmons Field. Single-game tickets will go on sale in April.
Tickets and merchandise for your Kenosha Kingfish are on sale now. For more information on 7-game packs, season or group tickets, please log on to kingfishbaseball.com or call 262.653.0900. The Kingfish office is open from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday at Simmons Field, 7817 Sheridan Road in Kenosha.
The Kenosha Kingfish are members of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, 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 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including MLB All-Stars Max Scherzer (DET), Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYY), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live and free of charge via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.KingfishBaseball.com.
