Beach Bums add two to 2007 roster
Published on January 30, 2007 under Frontier League (FL)
Traverse City Beach Bums News Release
TRAVERSE CITY, MI, JANUARY 30, 2007: Brad Vericker, a key cog in the Beach Bums run at a playoff spot will be returning to man first base in 2007.
Vericker added instant offense to the Traverse City lineup after being acquired in a late June trade with the Gary SouthShore RailCats. After making his first appearance on June 22, Vericker went on a tear from the start, ripping off a nine game hitting streak and batted .392 with three homers and 16 RBI in his first 14 games.
Overall, Vericker hit .294 with nine homeruns and 44 RBI. One of the areas where Vericker made the biggest impact was his ability on get on base. The left-handed hitting Vericker walked 38 times and struck out just 21. His on-base percentage of .399 ranked fourth in the league.
But it was not just the offense that aided the Beach Bums. Vericker committed just two errors in 625 total chances for a .997 fielding percentage, which would have been the highest total in the league if he had enough games to qualify.
Vericker also saved his best for the top competition. Brad hit .346 in 22 games against last year's Frontier League playoff participants (Chillicothe, Evansville, Rockford and Washington) with two homers and 14 RBI as well as a .430 on-base percentage. Those numbers included batting .444 against Washington.
The Beach Bums are pleased to announce that utilityman Justin Carter will be back in Traverse City in 2007. Carter, a right handed hitter from Jackson, Michigan, will bring a sense of power to the Beach Bums lineup this spring along with the ability to play all over the field. Carter will compete for playing time at third base, left field, and designated hitter in the spring, three positions vacated in the off-season with the departures of Nick Batkoski and Mike Reese. Carter also has the versatility to play second base and right field if needed.
Carter started his collegiate career at Kellogg Community College where he helped the Bruins to the NJCCA World Series in 2002 while being named second Team All-State. In 2003 Carter was an All-American for KCC and was signed to play at Western Michigan University. Carter had two very impressive offensive years for the WMU Broncos in 2004 and 2005 hitting a combined .331 with 27 doubles, 21 home runs, and 92 RBI.
The Beach Bums open their 2007 season on the road against their division rivals the Kalamazoo Kings, Wednesday May 23rd, before playing their home opener on May 25th against the Kings. It will be the first Fireworks Friday of the season. The team's gift shop is currently open for business from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to help get Traverse City fans through the winter months. For more information call 943-0100 or log on to www.traversecitybeachbums.com.
Frontier League Stories from January 30, 2007
- Beach Bums add two to 2007 roster - Traverse City Beach Bums
- ThunderBolts Seek Host Families For 2007 - Windy City ThunderBolts
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