The Eau Claire Express announced their first player signings of the season Monday. The Express will welcome back four returners from the 2018 roster including two 2018 NWL All-Stars.
| Spencer Myers | OF | 5’11” | 175 | So. | Tampa, FL | Notre Dame |
Myers will make his way back to Eau Claire for the 2019 season after a standout year at Carson Park in 2018. A 2018 NWL All-Star, Myers led the Express in hits (79), runs (50), doubles (14) and was awarded for his efforts with the team’s MVP award at the conclusion of the season. An infielder for the Fighting Irish, Myers played in 39 games his freshman year and completed the season with a perfect fielding percentage.
| David LaManna | C | 5’10” | 170 | So. | Saddle River, NJ | Notre Dame |
LaManna will join his Notre Dame teammate Myers in Eau Claire for a second straight year in 2019. LaManna appeared in 47 games for the Express in 2018 scoring 20 runs and driving in another 15. LaManna was a mainstay in the Notre Dame starting lineup in 2018, appearing in 52 games and starting 46. In high school, the New Jersey native was a three-time All-League, All-County, and All-State award winner while playing for Bergen Catholic. Both LaManna and Myers will begin their 2019 collegiate season February 15 against Arizona State.
| Phillip Sikes | P/OF | 6’0” | 180 | So. | Paris, TX | Pima CC |
Sikes returns to the Express after completing an All-Star campaign in 2018. In Eau Claire, Sikes played in 24 games as both a pitcher and outfielder. On the mound Sikes tossed a total of 25 innings through 14 appearances while establishing a 1.08 ERA and striking out 40 batters. The Texas native will play his sophomore season with Pima Community College after transferring from The University of New Mexico. Sikes has already garnered ACCAC Player of the Week honors this season for the Aztecs. Sikes was named Texas All-State honorable mention as a pitcher and shortstop while attending Paris High School.
| Cody Milligan | C/INF | 5’10” | 175 | So. | Binger, OK | Cowley CC |
Cody Milligan is the last returning player from the 2018 roster to rejoin the team this summer. Milligan split his time in Eau Claire behind the plate and on the infield for the Express in 2018 while appearing in 46 games. Milligan was fourth on the team in hits (44), fifth in doubles (8) and notched 18 RBIs in 2018. The Oklahoma native will play his sophomore season at Cowley CC after transferring from Oklahoma State, and will play his junior season at the University of Mississippi. Milligan won back-to-back Class A state championships at Binger –Oney High school.
The Express begin their season with a four-game road trip to Bismarck to face the Larks on May 28th and will return to Eau Claire June 1st to begin their home schedule against the Duluth Huskies.
*The Eau Claire Express are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, over 200 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (MIL). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.eauclaireexpress.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Express as your favorite team.