Eau Claire, Wis. – Eau Claire Express field manager Dale Varsho announced today the first three commitments to his 2010 roster. All three players return from a 2009 team that qualified for the Northwoods League postseason. UIC Flames teammates Jason Ganek and Andy Leonard are set to return along with Yavapai pitcher Tyler Bremer.

Ganek is a 6-foot-3-inch, 185-pound infielder and pitcher for the Flames. The junior joined the Express at about mid-season last year, seeing time as both a position player and a pitcher. He finished with a .203 batting average to go along with one home run and 11 runs batted in. Ganek saw more success on the mound, finishing with a 2.16 earned run average and three saves in eight appearances. In 2009, Ganek played exclusively at third base for the Flames. He started each regular season game there and led the team with a .333 batting average and three triples. He ranked second on the team with 35 runs scored and 32 RBI’s. At the conclusion of the season, he was honored as part of the All-Horizon League Second Team. UIC begins their 2010 spring season this Friday.

Leonard is a 5-foot-10-inch, 165-pound junior shortstop. He was a major contributor to the Express last summer, as he led the team in games played (60), at-bats (233) and RBI’s (30). The Palos Heights, Ill. native was one of Eau Claire’s most complete players, as he excelled defensively at shortstop as well. Leonard’s success with the Express was a carry over from a good spring season for the Flames in which he led the team with 64 hits and 22 doubles. He was instrumental in UIC’s runner-up finish in the Horizon League Tournament, as he was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Bremer is a 6-foot-2-inch, 205-pound right-handed pitcher. The sophomore at Yavapai tossed the first no-hitter in Express history last summer on July 16. Bremer’s historic outing was part of a solid first season with the Express in which he had a 3-1 record and 2.85 ERA in 41 innings pitched. Bremer spent his freshman season at UC Davis and is slated to join the Baylor Bears in 2011 as a junior. Yavapai recently began their spring season, in which Bremer is 0-2.

The Express will open their 2010 season in La Crosse on June 2. The following day, the Loggers will travel to Carson Park for the Express home opener. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 and the game is sponsored by Maverick Media. Make sure to continue checking the www.eauclaireexpress.com website in the coming weeks as the 2010 roster will continue to develop.