Stingers add 4 more key players to the 2016 roster

Willmar, Minn. – The Willmar Stingers are excited to announce that Luke Becker (University of Kentucky), Kole Cottam (University of Kentucky), Andrew Weston (California State University-Northridge) and Devin Foyle (University of Kansas) have been added to the 2016 Stingers roster. With these additions to the roster, the seventh season of Stingers baseball is now compiled of 22 players.

Becker, a sophomore infielder, joined the Stingers roster as a late-season addition last summer. Becker saw limited action in 2015 appearing in 10 games with 28 at-bats. Becker is a transfer into the Kentucky Wildcat program from Northern Iowa Community College where he hit .364 with 17 doubles, 12 home runs and 63 RBI last spring.

Thus far for the Wildcats in 2016, Becker has appeared in all 23 games, making 20 starts and posted a .303 batting average. Described as a blue collar player by the coaching staff, he has impressed with his defensive ability at both second base and third base in his time on campus in Lexington.

Cottam, a freshman catcher, has made an immediate impact for the Wildcats this spring. Cottam has made nine starts this year behind the plate with 16 overall appearances and has a .244 batting average. He also has two doubles and nine runs batted in thus far. Just recently in a game at Georgia, Cottam went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBI.

As a senior at Knoxville Catholic High School (TN), Cottam was named First-team All-State and AA Mr. Baseball after a season in which he hit .489 with 47 hits, 14 runs, 18 doubles, six home runs and 54 RBI. Even though he hasn’t been on campus long, Cottam has drawn praise from the Kentucky coaching staff for his outstanding work ethic and his toughness behind the plate.

Weston, a right-handed sophomore pitcher, is the second Matador on the Stingers roster for this summer, joining teammate outfielder Justin Toerner. Weston has seen time as a starter and out of the bullpen for head coach Greg Moore. In nine total appearances thus far in 2016, including three starts, Weston has a 4-2 record along with a 3.29 ERA. In 27 1/3 innings, he also has 17 strikeouts.

During his freshman season in 2015, Weston again provided versatility functioning as both a starter and reliever. Weston nearly averaged a strikeout per inning pitched, with 28 strikeouts in 34 total innings. Appearing in 15 games (four starts), Weston was able to post a 2-1 record with a 3.18 ERA.

Foyle, a freshman outfielder, is off to a solid start to his collegiate career with the Jayhawks. Foyle has started in 19 games for Kansas and has amassed 17 hits and .262 average. Foyle has bolstered the Jayhawk offense this year with three doubles, two triples, a home run and is second on the team with 11 runs batted in. His best game to date was on March 16^th against Murray State where Foyle went 3-4 at the plate with five RBI, a double, home run and two walks.

Originally from Fountain Hills, AZ, Foyle came to Kansas as the 2015 Player of the Year in Arizona and was nominated for the Gatorade Player of the Year. As a senior, Foyle hit .575, stole 18 bases and led the entire state with 12 home runs. Foyle led the country in slugging percentage (1.452) as well for the 2015 season.

Field Manager Matt Passauer, as well as the Stingers organization, will continue to build the roster for the 2016 season as the off season continues. Season tickets for the 2016 season are currently on sale. For more information regarding this press release please contact the Willmar Stingers front office at 320-222-2010 or visit www.willmarstingers.com.

The 2016 season is presented by Marcus Construction. “From start to finish we’ll make your job easier and build a facility you will be proud of.”

The Willmar Stingers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, 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 140 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.willmarstingers.com.