The Thunder Bay Border Cats announced today the signing of three players from their 2009 roster. Infielder A.J. Schugel, and pitchers Garrett Yount and Drew Erwin will be returning to Thunder Bay for the 2010 season.

Schugel, who is a sophomore at Central Arizona College, led the Cats last season with 33 runs batted in. The Highland Ranch, Colorado native played in 63 games, batting .261 with four home runs and tied for the club lead with 13 doubles. Schugel is expected to see most of his playing time at second base this season.

Yount is one of the tallest pitchers in the Northwoods League, standing at 6’8″ and weighing 225 pounds. The righthander is currently a sophomore and playing in his first season at Rollins College in Florida. Yount appeared in 15 games in 2009, going 2-2 with a 2.86 earned run average. Yount, who hails from Silvis, IL, started seven games for Thunder Bay and held opponents to a .237 batting average.

Erwin, from Alvin TX, set a Border Cats record by pitching in 38 games last season. The righthander had a 1-3 record with five saves and a 4.84 ERA. Erwin, a 6’1, 190 pounder is in his junior season at Nicholls State University in Louisiana.

The Border Cats open the 2010 Northwoods League season at Port Arthur Stadium on June 2, at 6:35 p.m. against the Duluth Huskies.