Pepperdine University has sent the likes of Jason Dominguez, Matt Aidem, Eric Thames and Scott Alexander to La Crosse in the past and that trend will continue when left-hander Matt Bywater and Aaron Gates slide into a Logger uniform this season.

Illinois sophomore right-handed pitcher Nick Chmielewski has signed with the Madison Mallards. Last year for the Illini Chmielewski (pronounced Chim-uh-LEW-skee) went 3-2 in 31.2 innings of work over 15 appearances. He also pitched last summer for the Fayetteville Swampdogs in the Coastal Plain League, throwing 25.2 innings over 17 appearances. So far this spring he's 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA in five relief appearances.

The Waterloo Bucks Baseball CluB announced the resigning of Chris Pack, a 6'3", 188-pound right-handed pitcher from Villanova University. Pack joins James Jones and Bob Lackovic on the Bucks' 2009 pitching staff.

The Battle Creek Bombers are pleased to announce the signings of two catchers for the upcoming 2009 Northwoods League season, Parker Berberet and Jimmy Tanner.

Iowa junior catcher Tyson Blaser is set to call the signs for the Madison Mallards pitching staff in 2009 after finishing last season with a .323 batting average, 10 doubles, and 14 RBIs for the Hawkeyes.

The La Crosse Loggers continued their roster-building push for the 2009 season as team officials announced the signings of a pair of players from the University of North Florida. Infielder Andrew Hannon, a junior shortstop, and outfielder/pitcher Justin Preckajlo, also a junior, will dawn the Logger green this summer.

The Waterloo Bucks Baseball Club announced the signing of Bob Lackovic, a 6'0", 190-pound, right-handed pitcher from Creighton University. Lackovic, a junior, is the second pitcher to be added to the Bucks 2009 staff.

The Rochester Honkers Baseball Club announced that Zach Robertson, a 6’1”, 195-pound junior left-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa, will return for his third season on the mound for the Honkers. Robertson was the Honkers Pitcher of the Year in 2008 and also the team’s Most Inspirational Player in 2007.

Charlotte sophomore right-handed pitcher Andrew Smith has signed with the Madison Mallards, giving the team an all-important proven arm that should be one of the main pieces in Field Manager C.J. Thieleke’s starting rotation.

The La Crosse Loggers added a pair of difference makers to their 2009 roster when team officials announced the signing of Robert Abel from the University of San Francisco and Robert Brantly from UC-Riverside.