There are going to be more familiar faces joining field manager Andy McKay in the Logger dugout next summer. Team officials announced today the first player signing for 2010 in Tony Mueller (pictured) and also announced that assistant coaches Joe Potulny and Justin Ramsey will return as well.
Mueller, a La Crosse Logan alum and multi-sport standout, inked his contract this fall to return for his second season in a Logger uniform. The 6-0, 170 pound sophomore was a valuable two-way threat for the Lumbermen in 2009. Mueller, the outfielder, hit .295 over 122 at-bats and 55 games played and ranked second on the team with 10 stolen bases. Mueller, the pitcher, was equally as impressive going 1-1 with a 2.15 ERA over 29.1 innings working both out of the bullpen and as a starter. Fittingly, it was Mueller, the La Crosse native, who started and captured the victory in what was the Loggers first playoff victory in franchise history on August 11 in their 5-2 win over Eau Claire.
Mueller is set to embark on his sophomore season at Winona State where he excelled as a freshman last spring. At the plate, he hit .379 with a team-high 45 runs and 37 RBI’s and swiped 16 bases. On the mound, he went 4-4 with a 4.40 ERA over 61.1 innings pitched while striking out 62.
Returning to join Mueller will be assistant coaches Joe Potulny and Justin Ramsey.
Coach Potulny returns for his third season and will once again serve as the Loggers third base coach and work with the infielders. The leader of the storied Jesuit High School program in California, Potulny’s club is coming off of back-to-back titles. The 2009 Jesuit squad featured five players that signed division I scholarships to play baseball including one that was drafted in the 16th round. Potulny’s teams have qualified for the post-season in 14 of the last 16 seasons.
Coach Ramsey is looking forward to returning for his second season in the Logger dugout and will
once again handle the Logger pitching staff. Under Ramsey’s guidance, La Crosse ranked fifth in the Northwoods League with a 3.33 team ERA. Ramsey is in his sixth season as an assistant on Andy McKay’s staff at Sacramento City College.
