LA CROSSE, WIS. – The La Crosse Loggers today announced that Texas A&M sophomores Mark Ecker and Ronnie Gideon
will return to the team in 2015.
Ecker, a right‐handed pitcher, and Gideon, a third baseman, both showed major potential during injury‐shortened 2014
seasons for the La Crosse Loggers.
“We are thrilled that we get to work with both Ronnie and Mark again in 2015 and continue to help take their game to the
next level,” Loggers General Manager Chris Goodell said. “Both of them will be impact guys for us, providing leadership and
power potential at the plate and on the mound. We're equally appreciative of the continued partnership with the Texas A&M baseball program which is one of the premiere baseball programs in America.”
Ecker, a native of San Antonio, Texas, joined the Loggers at mid‐season in 2014 after recovering from a back injury. Scouts
quickly took notice, inviting him to the NWL Big League Dreams Showcase after just four outings for the Loggers. Ecker
pitched one scoreless inning at the Showcase, and in seven appearances for La Crosse turned in a 2‐1 record, 3.30 ERA, one
save, and 21 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings.
The 6‐foot, 180‐pound Ecker brings a fastball that is consistently at 88 to 92 mph and could step into a key starting role for
the Loggers next summer under new manager Bill Sandillo.
Gideon, who is from Hallsville, Texas, was a high school All‐American and selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 35th
Round of the 2013 MLB Draft before choosing to play for the Aggies. Gideon batted .226 in 21 games as a freshman for
Texas A&M.
Last summer with the Loggers, Gideon played in two games, going 2‐for‐8 (.250) with one RBI before suffering a broken
bone in his foot that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. La Crosse will look to him as a major contributor in the
middle of the batting order and at third base.
Gideon’s father, Ron Gideon, played in the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets farm systems from 1984‐90 and is
currently a development supervisor with the Colorado Rockies Class AA Tulsa Drillers.
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The La Crosse Loggers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Preparing for its
22nd season of summer collegiate baseball, 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 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and
MLB All‐Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (BOS) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are
viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.lacrosseloggers.com.
