KALAMAZOO, MI – Less than 30 days remain until Opening Day at Homer Stryker Field and Tactical Advantage Guns is presenting the Growlers latest signing and first featured Defensive Player of 2016. Matt Lloyd is a unique combination of a 5-tool player who can pitch as well, and joins the roster from Iowa Western Community College. This season, fans can nominate their choice for Defensive Player of the Homestand on Tactical Advantage's Facebook page for their chance to win a prize!

Tactical Advantage is dedicated to bring you the same quality of service you have come to expect from AZO Civil Services. They treat everyone with respect and their knowledgeable staff are standing by waiting to answer your questions and help you choose the right gun or equipment to suit your needs.

Matt Lloyd: 6’1’’ – 190lb, IF/P, Bats/L. Throws/R, Iowa Western CC (RS Fr.), Alberta, Canada (Town of Okotoks)

Lloyd is a 6-1, 190 pound native from the town of Okotoks within Alberta, Canada. After sitting out the 2014-2015 season, Lloyd has been a standout for the Reivers this season. Lloyd, a powerful left-handed hitter has appeared in 41 of 43 games, and is currently hitting .426 while leading the team with six home runs and 48 RBI. He is also second on the team in runs scored, with 45, and hits, with 58. Lloyd has also walked 11 times, and leads the team with seven stolen bases. On the mound, Lloyd is a hard right-hander, and he has appeared in eight games, making six starts, and holds a 5-0 record. In 31 innings of work, Lloyd holds a 3.19 ERA, and he has compiled a team leading 37 strikeouts against just ten walks. In a recent win over Muscatine, Lloyd struck out 10 a career high ten in just five innings. Playing the middle infield, Lloyd has turned 15 double plays while committing just four errors, and compiling a .970 fielding percentage.

Lloyd was a 2014 graduate of Foothills Composite High School, where he was a very talented two-way player. In 2013, Lloyd batted an impressive .409 with seven homeruns and 42 RBI. He also had eight strikeouts in 12 innings of work. Lloyd played for the Okotoks Dawgs club team for six seasons, and his accomplishments earned him a spot on the Canadian Junior National Team where his team won bronze in 2013. In the bronze medal game against Mexico, Lloyd drove in the game-tying run with a clutch triple. For his efforts, Lloyd was named to the Canada/Puerto Rico Region All High School Senior 1^st Team.

Lloyd’s bat, glove, arm and speed make him a unique player, and one that the Growlers can certainly utilize for this upcoming season.

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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 22-year old summer collegiate 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 140 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 via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com.