Hannibal Cavemen Announce 2015 Roster
January 15, 2015 - Prospect League (Prospect)
Hannibal Cavemen News Release
(Hannibal, MO) Hannibal Cavemen General Manager and Field Manager Greg McVey revealed the club's roster for the 2015 season that begins on Wednesday May 27 in Springfield, Illinois against the Springfield Sliders.
The 2015 roster includes 26 players including 6 returners from the 2014 team that finished the season 25-35 a full 12 games behind the eventual Prospect League Champion Quincy Gems. The roster also includes 5 NCAA Division I players, 18 NCAA Division II players and 1 player each from the NCAA Division III, NAIA and the Junior College Ranks. "I am excited about the group of players we have assembled for this upcoming season. Despite getting a late start on recruiting for this season I feel we have a team capable of being extremely competitive this summer.", stated McVey who was hired on December 2, 2014 replacing both John Civitate as General Manager and Jay Hemond as Field Manager. McVey also added, "These young men come from outstanding college programs and will be tremendous representatives of our organization on the field and in the community."
The Cavemen welcome back 6 players from last year's roster including Shortstop Brett Marr (Rockhurst University), LHP Jake Eikleberry (Emporia State University), RHP Brenden Kleekamp (Lindenwood University), RHP/INF Josh Griffith (Grand Valley State University), 1B Brandon Bentson (Cal State San Marcos) and RHP Devin Breihan (Lindenwood University). Barr and Bentson combined for 122 hits and 40 RBI's last season while playing in 60 and 58 Prospect League games respectively. Griffith added 15 RBI at the plate and pitched 13 innings recording 1 win in 3 games. Also returning to the pitching staff in 2015 is Eikleberry, Kleekamp and Breihan who combined to throw 114 innings last year while recording 6 wins.
20 newcomers will be wearing the black and gold of the Cavemen this summer including; 3 catchers, 5 outfielders, 4 infielders and 8 pitchers. The catching crew includes; Tyler Niemann (Morehead State University), Grant Colton (Samford University) and Ryan Snyder (Quincy University). The outfield will consists of five newcomers who all bring outstanding athleticism to the spacious outfield of Clemens Field. Wes Degener (Lindenwood University), Stefan Milodinovich (Cal State San Marcos), Justin Bleche (Quincy University), Alec Blahnick (Webster University) and Nico Lollio (Salem International University) will all contribute greatly this summer. Joining returners Marr and Bentson in the infield this year will be 3B Seth Soto (Rockhurst University), 2B Philip Stiles (Cumberland University TN), 1B Mike Bibbs (Lindenwood University) and 2B/SS Tanner Simons (Wayne State University-NE). On the mound 8 newcomers join the experienced retuning staff. Those newcomers include; RHP Elliot Stepnof (Cal State San Marcos), LHP Peter Minella (Western Illinois University), RHP Sam Cottingham-Beard (Western Illinois University), LHP Aaron Alva (Palomar College), RHP Conner Keating (Wayne State University-NE), RHP Colton Lankford (Salem International University), RHP Cody Shelton (Samford University) and RHP Dalton Smith (Wayne State University-NE).
Prospect League rules allow 28 total players on each team's roster. McVey adds, "Right now we have 26 commitments for this year and we are going to continue to track potential players this upcoming spring to see who will fill those last 2 spots. In order to play 60 games in 68 days you need a deep, talented and healthy pitching staff. Ideally, we would like to carry a 14 man pitching staff and right now we have 12 committed for the summer."
The 2015 Schedule that consists of 30 home games and 30 away games has been announced and season tickets are available now by contacting the Cavemen Ticket Office at 573-221-1010 You may follow the Hannibal Cavemen on the web at www.hannibalcavemen.com and on Facebook and Twitter (@CavemenBaseball) Visit www.prospectleague.com for additional information about the Prospect League.
Prospect League Stories from January 15, 2015
- Hannibal Cavemen Announce 2015 Roster - Hannibal Cavemen
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