(Mankato, MN) — The Mankato MoonDogs Baseball Club, a member of the Northwoods League, is proud to announce the signing of catchers Drew Davis and Travis Howell to their 2005 roster.

Davis (5’11” 190 lbs.) joins Elon University (Elon, NC) teammates Chad Tilley, Kevin Regan, and Coach Robbie Huffstetler on the MoonDogs roster this summer. Last season for Elon, Davis hit an impressive .351, while driving in 51 RBI and crushing 6 home runs.

Over the summer in 2004, Davis hit .293, with three home runs and 16 RBI while earning All-Star honors playing for the Asheboro Copperheads of the Coastal Plain League.

Defensively, Davis is a very versatile player, seeing action at multiple positions including catcher, third base and outfield. He has thrown out nearly 40% of attempted base-stealers and has allowed only one passed-ball. Prior to the start of the 2005 season, Davis was named "The Best Defensive Catcher” in the Southern Conference by Baseball America.

Offensively, Davis leads all Elon players with a .349 batting average and has already racked up 15 RBI and collected five doubles.

"Drew is as solid of an all-around player as you can find.” Coach Huffstetler said. "He is being looked at for the Johnny Bench Award and is probably the best all-around player on our squad this year. He will be our number one [catcher] this summer.”

The Johnny Bench Award is annually given to the best catcher in Division I baseball. It is selected by a panel of sportswriters, sportscasters, Division I coaches and major league scouts.

Howell (6’3” 215 lbs.), a red shirt freshman for the University of California Berkley in 2004, is currently hitting .292 while splitting time behind the plate for the Golden Bears.

In 2004, Howell hit .294 while knocking in 14 RBI for the Thomasville HiToms of the Coastal Plain League. 2005 will mark the second summer Howell has played for Coach Huffstetler, who was the HiToms skipper in 2004.

"You won’t find a better catch-and-throw guy in college baseball. Travis understands the game so well and really knows how to a call a game,” Huffstetler said.

As a senior at Los Gatos High School (Los Gatos, CA) in 2003, Howell hit and astonishing .506, with 10 home runs and a .933 slugging percentage. For his performance Howell received First Team All-Conference and All-State honors.

The MoonDogs Home Opener is set for June 6, 2005, against the St. Cloud River Bats. Season tickets and group tickets are on sale now with single game tickets available May 7. Call the MoonDogs office at 507-625-7047 or check out www.mankatomoondogs.com for more information.