Eau Claire, Wis. – The Eau Claire Express today announced the signing of two players from Yavapai to the 2016 roster. Joining the squad are first baseman Michael Hicks and pitcher Chase Beal. After the two latest additions, the Express roster sits at 16.
Hicks is a freshman first baseman from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He has impressed this spring in a part-time role, batting .375 with six extra base hits and 13 RBI’s in 16 games. He was drafted out of high school last year by the New York Yankees in the 27th Round but instead chose to attend school.
Beal is a sophomore right-handed pitcher originally from Queen Creek, Ariz. He joined the Roughriders this season after seeing limited action (four appearances) as a freshman at the University of New Mexico. He has seen much more action at Yavapai, appearing in ten games (nine starts) thus far. He ranks second on the staff with 45.1 innings pitched and has a 7-2 record to go along with a 2.98 earned run average.
Yavapai is a community college in Prescott, Ariz. The Roughriders have sent several players to Eau Claire over the years with the most notable being current Los Angeles Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun.
The Express begin their twelfth season of play in the Northwoods League at Carson Park on May 31 versus the Rochester Honkers. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. in that contest, with gates opening at 5:30 p.m. Season tickets and 5-Game Packs are on sale now and single-game tickets go on sale on May 2. The all-new 5-Game Pack includes a reserved ticket along with food and beverage for three innings for five of the biggest promotional nights of the 2016 season all for only $45.00. All tickets can be purchased by calling the Express office at 715-839-7788 or by stopping at the downtown office at 102 E. Grand Ave.
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The Eau Claire Express are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2016, 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 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website. For more information, visit www.eauclaireexpress.com.