The Border Cats pitching staff will have a local flavour this season with the signings of Thunder Bay's Lucas Scocchia and Danny McInnis.  Scocchia and McInnis, who signed temporary contracts,  both attended St. Ignatius High School and our graduates of the Northwest Slam baseball program under the direction of current Lakehead University Thunderwolves coach Jason Hart. 

Scocchia, who underwent Tommy John elbow surgery in 2012, just completed his sophomore season at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan.  The 6'2", 230 pound righthander appeared in nine games this year and went 0-1 with a 4.05 earned run average.  He will join the Cats in the first week of June.  McInnis just finished his freshman season at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas.  The 5'11", 190 pound righthander drew the attention of college scouts in the fall of  2012 when he threw a no-hitter at a showcase tournament in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 

The Cats have added more depth on the mound with the signings of pitchers Wes Helsabeck and Devin McLemore of Winston Salem State University in North Carolina as well as teammates Michael Daley and Charles Thielmann of Kean University in Union, New Jersey. 

Helsabeck, is a 6'0", 190 pound lefthander.  The native of Rural Hall, NC., made 13 appearances this season, including 10 starts, and compiled a 6-1 record with a 3.02 ERA.  McLemore, a 6'3", 195 righthanded sophomore, pitched in 18 games, going 1-1 with a 5.50 ERA.  The product of High Point, NC., also played shortstop for the Rams and batted .284 in 28 games with one home run and 19 runs batted in. 

Daley, is a 5'10", 155 pound junior from Sommerville, NJ.  The righthander went 7-1 this season in 12 games, including nine starts.  Daley recorded a 3.56 ERA and had three complete games and two shutouts to earn all-region honours.  Daley's college teammate, Thielmann is a 6'3", 235 pound junior from Piscataway, NJ.  The righthander made nine starts and had a 4-4 record in 10 games with a 3.00 ERA. 

The Cats have also signed pitchers Ben Allison (Belhaven University), Nathaniel Leon (St. Peter's University), Tyler Require (Pfeiffer University), and Kevin Woebke (Concordia University).  Allison made 10 starts and pitched in 22 games this season overall.  The 6'3", 200 pound junior righthander had a perfect 6 and 0 record with a 2.29 earned run average.      

The Border Cats play their 2014 home opener Tuesday, May 27th, at Tbaytel Park against the St. Cloud Rox at 7:05pm.  Season ticket packages, plus 16-game and 6-game flex packs are on sale at the stadium ticket office or by calling 766-CATS.

The Thunder Bay Border Cats 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 Zimmerman (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB).  All league games are viewable live via Northwoods League YouTube channel.  For more information visit www.bordercatsbaseball.com.