Grafton, WI – Two senior pitchers in Nick Campe (Olivet Nazarene) and Austin Jones (UW-Whitewater) have signed contracts to return to the Chinooks along with a highly experienced battery mate in catcher Justin Bardwell (Fordham).
Campe, a 6’2 right-handed hurler, recorded 44 strikeouts in a team-high 23 appearances out of the Lakeshore bullpen during the 2017 season and with a deceptive arm slot and delivery, will look to impress scouts once again in the NWL after concluding his season for NAIA Olivet Nazarene. The Manteno, IL native has been pitching as a starter in the Tiger line-up and despite an 0-3 record, has struck out 36 hitters in 29.1 innings of work and has held opponents to a .182 batting average.
Jones, from Wauwatosa West High School, returns for his third stint with the Chinooks after completing his eligibility this spring with UW-Whitewater. Drafted in 2016 by the Chicago Cubs in the 26th round, Jones chose to return to Whitewater where this season the Warhawks are a preseason favorite to return to the Division III College World Series. In seven starts for the Chinooks in 2017, the hard-throwing right-hander posted a 2-3 record with a stellar 2.92 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 40 innings of work. So far this season, Jones is 2-1 in his three starts for the Warhawks and has struck out 17 hitters in 16 innings of work.
Returning as one Lakeshore’s catchers in 2018, Justin Bardwell provides experience and comfortability to the Chinooks’ catching corps. Available to play in only the first month in 2017 before returning to Fordham’s summer classes, the Chino Hills, CA native hit a solid .289 with four doubles and five RBI, but more importantly was a reassuring presence for Lakeshore’s young pitching staff. This season for the Rams, Bardwell has started 23 games and is hitting .233 with 18 RBI and has been named to the 2018 Watch List for the Johnny Bench Award for the NCAA’s top catcher.
The 2018 season is presented by Port Washington State Bank with the home opener set for June 1st at 6:35pm against the Kenosha Kingfish. Season and group tickets are currently on sale with single game tickets available for purchase at the end of April.
The Lakeshore Chinooks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Entering its 25th anniversary season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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 185 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 (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.lakeshorechinooks.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Chinooks as your favorite team.
