Mequon, WI – The Lakeshore Chinooks have traditionally signed collegiate players from around Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin to provide the finest summer collegiate baseball experience to home-grown players from the area. This season, Nick Lackney (Minnesota), Owen Miller (Illinois State), and Luke Sommerfeld (St. Louis) will return home to play for the Chinooks.

 

Nick Lackney is a left-handed freshman pitcher from nearby Whitefish Bay where he played all four years for the Blue Dukes’ varsity team. During those years, Lackney earned All-State honorable mention, All-North Shore Conference, and All-Suburban honors. Now pitching for the Gophers, Lackney has started to get innings out of the bullpen making five appearances and holding opposing batters to an average of .056.

 

 

 

Owen Miller, a 6’0 infielder from Fredonia, starred at Ozaukee High School in both baseball and basketball and, as one of the top baseball prospects in Wisconsin’s class of 2015, played for the highly successful Hitters Club in Racine. With a powerful bat and slick glove, Miller has anchored the middle of the Illinois State line-up throughout his freshman season in Normal. The leading hitter for the Redbirds, Miller is batting .287 with 26 RBI, 13 doubles, and four home runs, including two in one game on March 12 vs. Xavier. Drawing rave reviews from the RedBird coaching staff, Miller displays soft hands on the infield and has quickly drawn respect from opposing pitching staffs as a key hitter, one that opponents often look to avoid. 

 

 

 

 

 

Luke Sommerfeld, a 6’6 right-handed pitcher from Elm Gove is familiar with Kapco Park as he led Brookfield Central to the WIAA State Championship Game in 2014.  Pitching for the Billikens as a freshman in 2015, Sommerfeld struck out 28 hitters in 21 appearances and posted a 5.46 ERA. No stranger to the Northwoods League after making five appearances for Wisconsin Rapids in 2015, Sommerfeld is eager for the opportunity to pitch in front of his hometown supporters. This season, Luke has been solid in his relief role for the Billikens pitching 18 innings in ten appearances and striking out 15. In recent weeks, Sommerfeld has moved into the rotation, earning two starts for the Billikens.

 

You can catch your first glimpse of the 2016 Chinooks roster on Saturday, June 4th when Lakeshore takes on the Green Bay Bullfrogs at 6:35pm. Season tickets, mini game packages, and group tickets are all currently on sale. Single game tickets go on sale to the public Tuesday, May 3rd at 10:00am. For tickets and more information, call 262-618-4659 or visit lakeshorechinooks.com.

 

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 live via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com.