La Crosse, Wis. – La Crosse Loggers fans have fond memories of the last William and Mary product from 2013 when one Michael Katz enjoyed a record-breaking summer at the plate. Today, the front office from La Crosse announced that they have added two more Tribe standouts for 2016 in infielder Cullen Large and left-handed pitcher Nick Raquet.
Sophomore Cullen Large broke onto the collegiate scene in a big way in 2015 when he led William and Mary in hits (67) and runs (46) along with starting and playing in a team-best 51 games as a true freshman. The Chesterfield, Va. native was named to the Colonial Athletic Association all-rookie squad for his debut season that saw him hit .302 with 12 doubles, three homers and 28 RBI’s. Large, a switch-hitting middle infielder, also excelled at James River High School (Va.) when he earned Perfect Game Underclass Honorable Mention all-American honors in both 2012 and 2013.
Joining Large will be left-handed hurler Nick Raquet, who is in the midst of his first year at William and Mary after transferring there from the University of North Carolina following his freshman season. While at UNC in 2015, Raquet posted a 1-0 record with a 1.42 ERA over 12 appearances out of the Tar Heels bullpen. The 6-1, 213 pound southpaw also enjoyed last summer in the Cal Ripken summer collegiate League where he posted a 1.22 ERA over 11 appearances, striking out 14 batters in 14.2 innings pitched. Raquet was highly recruited coming out of State College Area High School (Boalsburg, Pa.), having been ranked as the No. 32 left-handed pitcher in the country by Perfect Game and the No. 8 overall player in the state of Pennsylvania. Raquet also earned 2012 and 2013 Perfect Game Underclass Honorable Mention all-American honors.
Large, Raquet and the rest of the Loggers will open their 2016 season on the road on May 31, 2016 when they travel to Kenosha to take on the defending NWL Champions. The 2016 home opener is then set for Thursday, June 2 when the Loggers welcome the St. Cloud Rox to the Lumber Yard for a 7:05 p.m. contest.
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 (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.lacrosseloggers.com.
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