April 30, 2010

WILLMAR, MN- St. Cloud State University freshman Jordan Smith will return home for the summer as the Willmar Stingers of the Northwoods League announced today that he will be a part of the Inaugural team roster. Smith, a 2009 Willmar High School graduate has signed as an outfielder for the Stingers but can expect some playing time in the infield as well.

Smith has had a remarkable first year at SCSU and was recently named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Player of the Week for the second time this season after compiling 13 hits in 24 at-bats over the weekend. Smith is currently leading the team in hitting with a .462 average with 11 home runs and 16 stolen bases. His performance this season has helped SCSU receive a national ranking as high as #18 in the NCAA DII polls and seeks a conference championship this upcoming weekend.

Joining Smith will be sophomore SCSU teammate Logan Birr. Birr, a 2008 St. Cloud Apollo graduate was a Pre-season All-American selection and pitched in the Northwoods League following his freshman college campaign last year. Currently, Birr is 7-1 for the Huskies and has 54 strikeouts in 52 1/3 innings pitched.

“Jordan has had a great freshman year at SCSU and we look forward to having a top local talent a part of the franchise,” Co-owner Ryan Voz said. “As for Birr, he can compete and showed that last year in St. Cloud. Logan wanted to be a part of the Stingers, and he’s a nice addition for our roster.”

The Stingers have also announced the signing of three other players to join the inaugural season roster. Freshman third baseman Mitch Delfino and freshman right hand pitcher/catcher Seth Spivack from the 20th ranked University of California-Berkeley Golden Bears and junior right hand pitcher Charley Olson from Georgia State University have signed contracts to play in Willmar this summer.

Delfino is currently hitting .339 for the Golden Bears of the Pac-10 and is highlighted as a tremendous defensive infielder. He was a 2009 MaxPreps Small Schools first-team All-American and Cal Hi Sports Division V Male Athlete of the Year following his senior year in high school last spring.

Spivack is a right-handed pitcher/catcher who is a switch-hitter and throws in the low 90s. He has been limited this year due to an injury with the Golden Bears, but is now healthy and will be ready for the Northwoods League season.

Olson spent two years at Pasco-Henando Community College and earned All-Suncoast First Team honors last spring before transferring to Georgia State. As a sophomore, he finished sixth in the country with 106 strikeouts. Olson currently leads Georgia State with 59 innings pitched and has 46 strikeouts.

The Home Opener presented by Christianson & Associates will feature Hall of Famer Paul Molitor as the Stingers take on the St. Cloud River Bats on Thursday, June 3 at 7:05 p.m. at Bill Taunton Stadium. Single game tickets for this event and all 34-home games are currently on-sale at the ticket office location at the ballpark from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday or by calling 320-222-2010. Season tickets for the 2010 season are $149 for reserved seat backs and $169 for box seat season tickets. For more information regarding this story or the 2010 inaugural season presented by Charter Communications, please call 320-222-2010.