La Crosse, Wis. – The La Crosse Loggers ever growing roster received a big boost today when team officials announced the signings of a pair of impact players from nationally ranked programs for the upcoming 2016 season. Ryan Mantle from Missouri State and Kyle Plantier from UC-Santa Barbara will become teammates this summer in La Crosse and embark upon their first summer of Northwoods League action.
Ryan Mantle is about to embark on his freshman campaign at Missouri State, who is coming off a 2015 season that saw them win a school-record 49 games and advance to the NCAA Super Regionals. Mantle was a highly touted recruit out of Linn High School (Linn, Missouri), having garnered honorable mention Perfect Game all-American honors in 2013, 2014 and 2015. The 5-10, 200 pound right-hander is a two-way threat who has the ability to play in the infield and pitch out of the bullpen, something he excelled at in high school when he was a two-time, first team, all-state honoree in Missouri. Mantle, who is a third cousin to the late, great Mickey Mantle, was considered the #2 third base prospect in the state of Missouri coming out of high school by Prep Baseball Report and the #14 third base prospect in the country by Perfect Game.
The signing of sophomore infielder Kyle Plantier continues the Loggers relationship with the great program at UC Santa Barbara, who won a school record 40 games in 2015 and host a NCAA Regional for the first time in school history. Plantier saw action in 25 games for the Gauchos as a true freshman, hitting .245 with 6 RBI’s last spring. The 6-2, 205 pound right-handed hitter then enjoyed a successful summer in the West Coast Collegiate League when he hit .272 with one home run and 13 RBI’s over 30 games played for the Kelowna Falcons. Kyle is the nephew of former big leaguer Phil Plantier, who spent eight seasons in the big leagues.
Mantle, Plantier and the rest of the Loggers will open their 2016 season on the road on May 31, 2016 when they travel to Kenosha to take on the defending NWL Champions. The 2016 home opener is then set for Thursday, June 2 when the Loggers welcome the St. Cloud Rox to the Lumber Yard for a 7:05 p.m. contest.
The La Crosse Loggers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Preparing for its 22nd 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 Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.lacrosseloggers.com.
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