Battle Creek, Mich. – Battle Creek is bringing in two local talents from Michigan State. Joe Mockbee and Dakota Mekkes will be joining the Bombers growing pitching staff for the 2014 season.
Dakota Mekkes, a Jenison, MI native, is in his first season as a RHP at Michigan State. In his senior season at Jenison High School, Mekkes finished with a record of 6-1 and an ERA of 2.28 while striking out 73 batters. Those numbers led to all-conference, all-area, and all-region recognitions. The past four summers, Mekkes has played summer baseball for the West Michigan Elite.
Bombers Head Coach Dan Trivett said, “Dakota has a powerful arm. He will be a great addition to the pitching staff this season and will be a strong arm to come out of the bullpen.”
Joe Mockbee is a LHP from Akron, Ohio. The freshman was a two time all-league selection at Walsh Jesuit High School. He posted a 3-0 record his junior year with a 1.50 ERA and 22 strikeouts in only 23 innings of work. Mockbee played his summer baseball with the Midwest Pelicans. As of March 11, 2014, Mockbee has seen 1.2 innings, has a 0.00 ERA with 2 strikeouts with the Spartans.
“(Mockbee) was a highly recruited LHP. He will be used primarily as a reliever out of the Bombers bullpen. He throws a lot of strikes and will be a great addition to the pitching staff this summer,” adds Trivett.
Catch the Spartan duo this summer with the rest of the Bombers at C.O. Brown Stadium in Battle Creek. Opening day for the Bombers is May 29th against the Kalamazoo Growlers at 7:05pm.
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The Battle Creek Bombers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live and free of charge via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.battlecreekbombers.com