May 18, 2010

WILLMAR, MN- The Willmar Stingers of the Northwoods League have continued to build its roster for their 2010 inaugural season with three new players and two coaches.  Signing contracts were Mikey Reynolds, a freshman infielder at St. Mary’s College (California), Wally Marciel, a junior pitcher at Kansas, and Jacob Barnes who is a sophomore pitcher at Florida Gulf Coast.

Reynolds, a right-handed batting freshman, has 5 doubles, 2 triples, and a home run for the Gaels this season.  Before coming to St. Mary’s, Mikey helped lead his high school team to a district championship in 2009 hitting .512, 5 home runs, and stealing 21 bases that season.

Marciel is a junior left-handed pitcher and who has made 24 appearances this season, pitching 32.2 innings.  Marciel is originally from Kailua, Hawaii and was named the 2006 Hawaii Gatorade Player of the Year.

Barnes is a sophomore pitcher from Florida Gulf Coast University.  He has made 19 appearances, including two starts for the Eagles.  In 30 innings pitched, Barnes has struck out 26 batters.  In high school, he was a 2008 All-State Honorable Mention selection in Florida.

The Stingers have also filled out the remainder of their coaching staff.  Tyler Shepple and Jesse Rodgers will be joining Field Manager Matt Hollod in the dugout this summer.  Shepple received a scholarship to the University of Washington to play baseball and was drafted after his junior year by the Milwaukee Brewers.  Tyler played two seasons in the Brewers organization before suffering a career ending shoulder injury.  Rodgers is in his second season as the infield and hitting coach at Mt. Hood Community College in Oregon.  Prior to joining the staff at Mt. Hood CC, Rodgers was a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Portland in 2008 where he was also a player.

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.