Orwick, Digrugilliers, and Tschida sign on with Mankato.
MANKATO, MN — The Mankato MoonDogs, a member of the Northwoods League, are excited to announce the addition of Chris Tschida and Ricky Digrugilliers from the Western Illinois Fighting Leathernecks along with Jim Orwick from Notre Dame.
Chris Tschida is a 6’3” infielder for the Western Illinois Fighting Leathernecks. The right-hand hitting junior started the season off swinging a hot bat, collecting six hits in his first two games as part of a four-game hitting streak. The Joliet, Illinois native has gone on to compile a .289 batting average while scoring 16 runs and driving in 21 for the Leathernecks. Tschida will certainly help bolster the MoonDog defense, as he boasts a .944 fielding percentage through 125 chances.
Ricky Digrugilliers will join his Western Illinois teammate in Mankato this summer. Digrugilliers is a right-handed pitcher who will help lock-down the mound for the MoonDogs in 2016. The Gateway Community College transfer has logged 16 innings so far through his first season with the Leathernecks, notching a 1-0 record to go along with his 14 punch outs. Digrugilliers is originally from New York, New York and majors in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration.
The MoonDogs have also added a left-hander to their pitching staff with the signing of Jim Orwick of Notre Dame. The junior from Ohio currently has a 4.76 ERA through seven appearances for the Fighting Irish. Orwick missed the 2015 season after he had surgery to repair a left shoulder injury from 2014. Orwick has bounced back this season by striking out seven while holding opponents to a .261 average
The MoonDogs home opener is scheduled for Friday, June 3rd at 7:05 p.m. against the Rochester Honkers at Franklin Rogers Park. Season tickets are now on sale, call 507-625-7047 or visit the MoonDogs’ office at 1221 Caledonia Street in Mankato for more information.
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 via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com
The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2016, 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 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.mankatomoondogs.com
