Eau Claire, Wis. – Two commitments from the Cal Poly Mustangs were added to the Express roster today, it was announced by field manager Dale Varsho. Returning to Eau Claire for a second summer is freshman infielder Kyle Marinconz. He will be joined by freshman outfielder and college teammate Alex McKenna. The two additions bring Eau Claire’s roster to nine.
Marinconz played with the Express last summer just after finishing high school. His first season in the orange and black saw him rank second on the team with a .299 batting average and tied for third with 56 hits and 26 RBI’s. The San Jose, Calif. native is off to a great start at the plate this spring with a .300 batting average and .400 on-base percentage while starting all 16 games for the Mustangs thus far.
McKenna will arrive in Eau Claire for his first summer of Northwoods League baseball after he completes his freshman season at Cal Poly. He has also started all 16 games this spring and ranks third on the team with a .322 batting average and .453 on-base percentage. McKenna is tied for the team lead with two home runs. The outfielder is originally from Canyon Country, Calif. and attended Alemany High School.
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.
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.