NORTHWOODS LEAGUE ANNOUNCES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: March 19, 2009

Two Waves Heading to La Crosse

(LA CROSSE, WI) Pepperdine University has sent the likes of Jason Dominguez, Matt Aidem, Eric Thames and Scott Alexander to La Crosse in the past and that trend will continue when left-hander Matt Bywater and Aaron Gates slide into a Logger uniform this season.

Sophomore Matt Bywater is coming off of a spectacular freshman campaign a year ago in which he went 7-3 with a 5.54 ERA over 79.2 innings pitched. The Thousand Oaks, CA native also thrived in the Central Illinois Collegiate League last summer, going 4-4
with a 2.52 ERA. For his efforts in 2008, Bywater was named to the West Coast Conference all-freshman team and Baseball America
tabbed him as the #3 prospect in the C.I.C.L.

Aaron Gates may be the top freshman recruit in the West Coast Conference. A two- way player, Gates turned down the Colorado Rockies after they drafted him the 33rd Round of the 2008 MLB Draft. A native of Villa Parks, Calif. Gates has the speed and ability to play anywhere in the outfield and sports a 90+ MPH arm from the left side.

Through five appearances (four starts), Bywater is 2-0 with a 3.18 ERA. He’s struck out 26 in 22.2 innings. Gates is hitting .313 (5-for-16) early in his freshman season.