MANKATO-Minn. The Mankato MoonDogs Baseball Club, a member of the Northwoods League is exciting to announce the signing of infielders Jake Yacinich and Tony Skjefte for the 2014 MoonDogs season.
Yacinich, a six-foot-two-inch, 180-pound junior, has had a strong year so far for the University of Iowa, hitting .338 with 4 triples, a home run, and 21 RBI's. In addition to hitting, Yacinich also has athletic ability, starting 37 games at shortstop for the Hawkeyes and stealing 19 bases in 21 attempts.
"Jake is and athletic shortstop and also possess good base running skills," said MoonDogs Field Manager Mike Orchard.
In 2013, Yacinich started 34 games at shortstop and shared the team-lead in RBI's with 24. He also ranked third on the Hawkeyes in hits (44) and total bases (48). He held a batting average of .286 and hit a team best .362 with runners in scoring position.
In the summer of 2012, Yacinich played for the Petersburg Generals (Virginia) of the Coastal Plains League.
Skjefte, a five-foot-ten-inch, 152-pound junior, is batting .263 this season for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The Eden Prairie native has 21 doubles in 31 games played along with 1 home run and 21 RBI's.
Skjefte was named to the Academic All-Big Ten Team in his sophomore season. He played in 32 games and batted .237. He started at second base 17 times and had a fielding percentage of .988, turning 9 double plays. Skjefte's brother Lucas, plays baseball for Minnesota State University, Mankato.
The MoonDogs home opener is scheduled for Wednesday, May 28 at 7:05 p.m. against the Alexandria Blue Anchors at Franklin Rogers Park. Season tickets are now on sale at the MoonDogs office located at 1221 Caledonia Street.
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The Mankato MoonDogs 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 via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.mankatomoondogs.com.