Mequon, WI – As the Lakeshore Chinooks round out their 2014 roster, the team announced the addition of two more hard-working position players in Michael Morman (Valparaiso) and Joe Runco (Fordham).
After making a splash in 2011 as a freshman when he played in 55 games and was named to the Horizon League All-Tournament Team, Michael Morman has battled through multiple injuries to win a job this year as one of Valpo’ s starting outfielders. The 6’2” Rockford, IL native is playing this year as a red-shirt sophomore alongside 2013 Chinooks players Chris Manning and Karch Kowalczk as the Crusaders compete with UW-Milwaukee in the Horizon League. Morman, who is currently hitting .269 and leads the team with five stolen bases, brings the same toughness and attitude as Manning and Kowalczk.
Joe Runco is a 6’0” middle infielder from Spring Brook Township, PA where he played at North Pocono H.S. As a freshman at Fordham, Runco led the Rams in hitting with a .303 batting average and a team-leading 34 runs and 63 hits and was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team. This season, playing at second base and serving as the team’s lead-off hitter, Runco is hitting .264 with eight RBI and four stolen bases. The versatile middle infielder will add depth in the Chinooks’ infield.
The Chinooks are excited to welcome both players and their hustling style of play to add depth and competition to the Lakeshore lineup as the team looks to improve on its first-ever Northwoods League playoff appearance in 2013.
The Lakeshore Chinooks 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.lakeshorechinooks.com.