Battle Creek, MI – As the 2019 Northwoods season approaches, the roster for the Battle Creek Bombers continues to form. The corner infield spots feature four players 6 feet or taller, and each player looks to bring their own style of play to the Cereal City. Playing the corner infield spots this season will be Josh Sears, Michael Morissette, John Malcom, and Jack Merrifield.
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1B/ DH Josh Sears: 6’4”, (R/R) Sophomore, Freed Hardeman University (NAIA-Division I)
Sears, a native of Huntsville, Alabama, left his mark during his freshman season at Freed Hardeman. After sporting a .374 batting average and mashing 21 home runs, he was named a First-Team All-American, as well as the AMC Freshman of the Year, in 2018. His 21 home runs were good for fifth in the country, and his 72 RBI ranked 12 nationally. His RBI mark in 2018 were also the most in school history. In 2019, Sears was named a preseason All-American. During the Lions’ 18-6 start to the season, he has played in all 24 games, and has hit 5 home runs while hitting at a .366 clip.
1B/OF Michael Morissette: 6’5”, (L/L) Sophomore, Tyler Junior College (NJCAA-Division III)
Morissette originally hails from Frisco, Texas, and played one year for Tyler Junior College before announcing that he will transfer to Division I Miami University (Ohio). While with the Apaches, Morissette held a .366 batting average in the 2018 season in 61 games, and was named to the NJCAA Second Team All-American squad. While at Tyler, Morissette was the most dependable player on the team, leading the Apaches in plate appearances and walks. Tyler’s primary first baseman, Morissette led the Apaches to the 2018 NJCAA Division III championship game. Prior to his junior college career, Morissette played for Frisco Centennial High School, hitting a .375 average in 2017 over 35 games. That year, he led Centennial to a berth in the regional quarterfinals and a 23-12-1 record.
1B/OF John Malcom: 6’4”, (L/L) Freshman, Vanderbilt University (NCAA-Division I)
Michigan’s top overall high school prospect returns to the Great Lakes State as John Malcom joins the Bombers in 2019 after his freshman season at Vanderbilt. While at Vanderbilt, Malcom had an RBI in a win over Davidson, one of 15 wins on the year that have propelled the Commodores to a #8 national ranking. In high school, she was named to the 2018 Rawlings-Perfect Game First Team All-American, as well as being named to the First Team for the Central Region.
Malcom, a West Bloomfield native, was also named the #2 first base prospect in the country by Perfect Game. Perfect Game also recorded Malcom’s exit velocity at 100 mph and registered a 6.87 60-yard dash. Malcom will bring his unique skill set to C.O. Brown Stadium, less than 2 hours away from his high school.
3B Jack Merrifield: 6’0”, (R/R) Freshman, LSU-Eunice (NJCAA-Division II)
Merrifield hails from Prairieville, Louisiana, and has helped lead the Bengals to a blistering 22-4 record, including a 10-game win streak to begin the season. Merrifield had a season-high four hits and 5 RBI vs. Dakota State on March 6 and has accumulated 15 RBI in 30 at-bats on the season. In addition, Merrifield has been perfect on the base paths, stealing four bases in four attempts. On the mound, Merrifield holds a 3.38 ERA in 16 IP. Merrifield holds a 13/3 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and the Bengals have a 6-1 record in games in which Merrifield pitched. He arrived as a freshman to a very prolific program, as the Bengals attempt to defend their 2018 NJCAA championship.
In high school, Merrifield was named as the 6th best third baseman in the state of Louisiana by Perfect Game and was named a “high follow” prospect for the overall state. He was also named a 2018 Preseason Honorable Mention for the Southeast region by Perfect Game.
