The Thunder Bay Border Cats have signed six more players, including two Canadians, bringing the current roster to 21 players for the 2011 Northwoods League season.  The Cats have inked infielder T.J. Bennett, outfielder Andrew Ruck, catcher Matt Stevens, and pitchers Alec Smith, Taylor Bratton and Nate Blankemeyer.  
 
Bennett is a 6’2", 200 pound second baseman from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK.  The freshman from Mesa, AZ, has played in 37 games this season and is batting .292 with nine doubles and eight runs batted in. 
 
Smith is also from Oral Roberts University and is the younger brother of outfielder Cameron Smith who played for the Border Cats in 2009.  The 5’10", 175 pound sophomore from Aurora, CO, has appeared in 18 games in relief this season and is 2-0 with one save and a 3.77 earned run average. The righthander has recorded 27 strikeouts in 28.2 innings pitched for the Golden Eagles.
 
Ruck is a freshman at Lafayatte College in Easton, PA.  The 6’0", 180 pound lefthanded hitter has played in 31 games this season and is batting .229 with five doubles, three triples and eight runs batted in.  Ruck is a native of Whitby, ON.
 
Bratton hails from Oakville, ON, and becomes the fifth Canadian born player to sign with Thunder Bay.  The 6’1", 180 pound lefthander is a freshman at West Alabama University in Livingston, AL.  Bratton has pitched in 14 games this season, including seven starts, and has a 2-4 record with one save and a 4.00 ERA.  He has 43 strikeouts in 54 innings pitched. 
 
Stevens is a 6’4", 190 pound freshman catcher from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, MI.  Blankenmeyer, a 6’5", 220 pound righthander is in his junior season at Cleveland State University in Youngstown, OH.