MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com- The Gateway Grizzlies Manager Phil Warren and his coaching staff remain busy filling the roster for the 2009 season with less than three months remaining before spring training.

Six returning players from the 2008 club that reached the Frontier League Playoffs have signed over the past few weeks. Included in that list are left-handed pitcher and Okawville, IL native Joel Boeschen (5-2 with five saves) and SIU-Edwardsville graduate James Hertel who missed most of the 2008 season due to an injury (7-1 with one save in 2007). “We are looking for the best out of Boeschen and Hertel,” said Grizzlies Manager Phil Warren. “Both are still young and performed well in their first seasons with us.”

Along with Boeschen and Hertel, right handed pitcher Justin Lilly (7-5, 3.90 ERA), infielder Carter McQuigg (.255 batting average with 11 home runs and 26 RBI’s), utility player Brandon Peters (.350 batting average with two home runs and nine RBI’s), and infielder Alex Kerins (.272 batting average with four home runs and 25 RBI’s) have re-signed contracts for the 2009 season. “As for Lilly, we want to see him solidify his spot in the starting rotation and win us some games,” Warren said. “We want to see McQuigg build off of last season and become better offensively because he is a solid defender. We found potential in Kerins and Peters in 2008 and they were a big part of the stretch that got us into the playoffs.”
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The Grizzlies have also signed catchers Stephen Kohatsu (Azusa Pacific University) and Kevin Kotch (Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League) along with infielders Chris Scoggins (Qunicy University graduate and Alton, IL native) and Andrew Revall (Pensacola Pelicans of the American Association Independent League). Lastly, left handed pitcher Brandon Villalobos (San Diego State University) will join the Grizzlies pitching staff. “As far as the newcomers go, we look for them to push the returners and battle them for a spot in the lineup and strive to put the Grizzlies back in the playoffs for the third straight season,” Warren commented.

Gateway did lose a key pitcher from their successful 2008 season. Right handed pitcher Brandon Williams announced his retirement from the Grizzlies. Williams, who was a catalyst for Warren’s pitching staff went 7-4 on the season. In 88 2/3 innings pitched, he surrendered 92 hits, 36 earned runs, walked 33 batter and struck out 62. “It’s unfortunate for the Grizzlies to lose Williams because he is a very polished pitcher,” Warren said. “It was his time to step away from the game and we are going to miss him.”

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