FL Lake Erie Crushers

On The Mound For The Crushers

Published on February 10, 2009 under Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release


Avon, OH - The Lake Erie Crushers have added two pitchers to their spring training roster. Paul Fagan and Brent Lysander both bring to the team several seasons of affiliated baseball experience and are expected to anchor Field Manager John Massarelli's starting pitching rotation this summer.

Fagan was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 4th round of the 2003 MLB draft. Fagan pitched a total of five seasons in the Mariners farm system, four of those seasons as a starter before moving to the bullpen for the 2007 season. His best season was in 2005 when his 6-2 record and 3.50 ERA earned him Team MVP honors for the Everett AquaSox (WA) of the single "A" Northwest League.

According to Massarelli, "When you look for starting pitching, the first thing you look for are guys that will eat up innings. Paul has always taken the ball and been a league leader in innings-pitched in the Mariners system. As a former 4th round pick, he has the physical tools to pitch in the big leagues, and we expect him to put up big numbers."

Lysander was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 16th round of the 2007 draft after a standout collegiate career at Sonoma State University. In his senior season, he recorded 10 wins and only 2 losses in 15 starts. In 103.1 innings of work, he had 89 strikeouts and only 15 walks, and posted an impressive 1.48 ERA. His performance earned him All-American and Pitcher of the Year honors in his conference and region. Moving from the starting rotation to the bullpen, Lysander played two seasons at the single "A" level in Oakland Athletics' farm system.

"Lysander was an All-American starter in college who put up pretty good numbers as a reliever in the A's system," says Massarelli. "We are going to give him the opportunity to start again. At 6'7 and 6'5 respectively, Lysander and Fagan might give us the two biggest starting pitchers in the league and we expect both of them to anchor our pitching staff."

The Lake Erie Crushers are the newest expansion team in the Frontier League, an independent professional baseball league with 12 teams throughout the Midwest. The team will open its Inaugural Season on June 2, 2009 in a new 5,000 capacity ballpark located at the intersection of I-90 and Route 611 in Avon. Season tickets and Mini-plans are on sale now! For more information on tickets and team news, visit the team website at www.LakeErieCrushers.com or call 440-934-3636.

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Frontier League Stories from February 10, 2009


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