Willmar signs two infielders and catcher for its 5th season in the Northwoods League  

WILLMAR, MN – The Willmar Stingers announced today that two infielders and a catcher have been added to their 2014 roster this week, two of which are freshman and the other is a sophomore. The roster now is now comprised to date of 15 players for the upcoming season, which will be the Stingers’ fifth season in the Northwoods League.

For the first time in franchise history the Stingers will have players from the University of Southern California on the roster. USC freshman Jeremy Martinez and Frankie Rios will join Reagan Fowler from Creighton University on the team next summer. 

Martinez, a 5-foot-11 inch, 200 lbs. catcher, comes to Willmar via the University of Southern California and Mater Dei High School in Fountain Valley, CA.  A four year letter winner in high school, Martinez earned a lot of accolades in route to receiving a scholarship with the Trojans.  In 2013 alone, Martinez was an All-CIF Division I selection (his third consecutive), a Rawlings First Team All-American, and California All-Region First Team member.  During his senior year, Martinez had a batting average of .395, 17 RBI, 4 doubles.  In 2010, after a stellar freshman season, Martinez was named the National Freshman of the Year by MaxPreps.

Rios, a 5-foot-10 inch 178 lbs. infielder, will join his Trojan teammate in Willmar this summer.  Rios, originally from Long Beach, CA, has achieved some high accolades as well.  With a .406 batting average, 39 hits, and 30 RBI, Rios was named to the MaxPreps Large School All-State team, All-CIF Division I team, and Rawlings California Region Honorable Mention team as senior in 2013.  Rios had offers from other California schools, but said he chose USC because of the strength of their academics.

Fowler, a 6-foot-2 inch, 205 lbs. sophomore infielder, was redshirted for the Creighton Blue Jays during his freshman season.  Originally from Omaha, NE, Fowler was a standout athlete at Millard South High School.  As a senior, Fowler posted a batting average of .457 with 12 doubles and 3 home runs. Fowler was responsible for 83 runs throughout his senior season, scoring 49 times himself and driving in another 32.  A two year letter winner in baseball, Fowler also earned three letters in basketball.

“All three of these players should provide some excitement at the plate for us this summer,” co-owner Ryan Voz said.  “We are excited to have a pair of USC Trojans in Willmar and to continue our relationship with Creighton University,” Voz added.

Field Manager Matt Hollod, along with the Stingers organization, will continue to build the roster for the fifth season of Stingers baseball in 2014.  With the recent release of the 2014 schedule, season tickets for the upcoming year are now available. For more information regarding this story or season ticket pricing, please call 320-222-2010. The 2014 season is presented by Charter.

The Willmar Stingers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, 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 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including MLB All-Stars Max Scherzer (DET), Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYY), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live and free of charge via the Northwoods League YouTube channel.  For more information, visit www.willmarstingers.com.