(Rochester Minn.) – The Rochester Honkers announced today that temporary players Michael Michalak (DMACC), Jordan Hart (Minnesota State-Mankato), Johnathan Fleek (Western Illinois), Ethan Ibarra (St. Cloud State), Manny Armendariz (Doane) will continue to play with the Honkers this season as full-time players.
Michalak has been a daily starter at third base this season. The Rochester Mayo-grad is just off a five-hit performance over both games of a doubleheader Thursday, June 29 against Waterloo. He is batting .247 with four doubles, three home runs, 15 RBIs, and 17 runs in 26 games.
Hart, a native of Lyle, Minn., has shown tremendous power at the plate. His four home runs this season are third-best on the team. The right fielder is batting .163 this season with three doubles and 12 runs scored in 23 games.
Fleek, a native of Albert Lea, Minn., has played all-star-quality defense as a middle infielder. He has wowed crowds after making many difficult fielding plays and off-balanced throws to help get outs this summer. Fleek is just off a four-RBI game in game two against Waterloo Thursday night. He is batting .204 this season with five doubles and 15 runs scored.
Ibarra has been a productive in-season addition for the Honkers. He has collected seven multi-hit games so far this summer. The second baseman is batting .256 with two home runs, eight RBIs, and 11 runs in 21 games.
Armendariz has pitched well no matter what part of the game he has been asked to play in. He pitched scoreless three innings in Duluth to pick up the first of two saves this season. He started the resumption of a postponed game against Waterloo Thursday, throwing five innings and giving up only two runs. Armendariz is 1-0 this season with a 4.35 ERA and 10 strikeouts.
The Honkers next home game is Saturday, July 1 against the Willmar Stingers. It will be a Fireworks Extravaganza, presented by Olmsted Medical Center and ABC 6 News. It is also part of the Bob the Bug Man “Swatter Series.” First pitch Saturday is 7:05 p.m. Gates open at 6:00 p.m.
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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 23-year old summer collegiate 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 160 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.
