Stingers add 3 infielders to 2016 roster

Willmar, Minn. – The Willmar Stingers are excited to announce that Toby Hanson (University of Minnesota), Kevin Mahala (George Washington University) and Greg Lambert (Southern Illinois University) have been added to the 2016 Stingers roster. With these additions the roster for the 2016 season, the Stingers seventh in the Northwoods League, is now compiled of 18 players.

Hanson, a sophomore from Delano, MN, joins fellow Golden Gopher teammates Tyler Hanson and Eddie Estrada on the Stingers roster for this summer. Hanson is primarily a first baseman with the Gophers, but does see time behind the plate as a catcher. Early on this spring, Hanson has been one of the hottest players for Head Coach Jon Anderson and the Gophers. In only seven games he has a .458 batting average with two doubles, two home runs and six RBI. During the Gophers season opening game against Utah, Hanson delivered a 3-4 performance at the plate with a home run and followed that up a few days later going 2-4 with three RBI and another home run against Oregon State.

As a freshman in 2015 with the Gophers, Hanson made 32 starts in 41 overall games played. He posted a .241 average, with eight doubles and a home run. His 32 starts were the most by any freshman on the roster that season. Coming out of high school, Hanson was among the top players in the state of Minnesota. Hanson was a Mr. Baseball finalist and was voted the 2A Player of the Year by the coach’s association.

Mahala, a junior from Basking Ridge, NJ, is set to come to Willmar as the everyday shortstop from George Washington. In his two plus seasons with the Colonials, Mahala has played in every game since coming to campus. In 11 games so far this season, Mahala has a .311 average, 14 hits, five doubles, two home runs and a team leading ten RBI.

In 2015, as a sophomore, Mahala posted a .258 average, three home runs, nine doubles, and 26 RBI. Mahala scored 26 runs that season, while having 12 multi-hit games and four multi-RBI games. Even going back to his freshman year with the Colonials, Mahala was a steady presence at the plate with six doubles, 17 RBI, and a .244 average in 2014.

Lambert, a sophomore from Athens, AL, comes to the Stingers as a versatile player who can play both corner infield positions: third base and first base. Lambert has played and started in all 11 games on the Salukis schedule in 2016, compiling 13 hits, two doubles, eight RBI and a .289 batting average. During his freshman year with the Salukis, Lambert was a mainstay in the lineup making 55 starts. Lambert led the team last season with 23 RBI and finished in the Top-3 on the team in both hits (61) and batting average (.276).

Field Manager Matt Passauer, as well as the Stingers organization, will continue to build the roster for the 2016 season as the off season continues. Season tickets for the 2016 season are currently on sale. For more information regarding this press release please contact the Willmar Stingers front office at 320-222-2010 or visit www.willmarstingers.com.

The 2016 season is presented by Marcus Construction. “From start to finish we’ll make your job easier and build a facility you will be proud of.”

The Willmar Stingers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, 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.willmarstingers.com.