A’s sign five to roster

The Sheboygan A’s took their first step into building the 2013 roster, with the signings of two veteran pitchers, one returing infielder and two new players.

Brandon Magee and Lucas Wilsing, both Sheboygan North grads with impressive high school, collegiate, and in Magee’s case, professional backgrounds have signed on. Both are coming off arm and shoulder injuries.

“Both are excited about playing again and I’m excited to have them back, but we are going to move slowly with them and see how things go,” said general manager Denny Moyer. “There is no doubt they would be a tremendous boost to our pitching staff, plus, Wilsing can hit, too, but let’s wait and see how things go in the gym.”

In addition, infielder Sam Raff returns from last year’s squad and two first year players, Aaron Thorn, an outfielder, who played at South High School and with the Sheboygan American Legion team, and catcher-shortstop Brandon Glaeser, who played at Manitowoc Lutheran and is currently playing for Lakeland College, have come on board.

An All-Missouri Conference pick at Bradley University, Magee was a fourth round pick (120th overall), by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2006. He posted a 20-15 record at Bradley with a 4.21 earned run average and 260 strikeouts in 370 innings. He was 8-4, 2.66 with 101 strikeouts in his senior seasons.

He played four years in the Toronto chain, getting to AA with the Eastern League’s New Hampshire Fisher Cats. He ran up 25 victories in the minor leagues and added three more with the Gary Railcats in the Independent Northern League. After rehabbing one arm injury, he got hurt again and threw in the towel on professional ball in 2010.

Magee was with the A’s from 2001 through 2004, posting a 17-8 record with a 3.04 earned run average. His best season was 2003 when he went 10-4, 2.84, with 120 strikeouts in 98 innings.

Wilsing, a left-hander, returned to the A’s last season, but hurt his shoulder in the only game he pitched. In that one, he fanned 11 in six innings in a 5-1 win over the Manistee Saints. In four seasons with the A’s, he was 14-6 with a 2.23 earned run average and 135 strikeouts in 121 innings. He hit .318 in 118 games.

As comfortable in the outfield and at first base as he is on the mound, Wilsing hit .315 in 182 games at Upper Iowa University and posted a 13-9 record on the mound.

Raff appeared in 51 games last year as a first-year player and finished with a .248 average. After finding his legs, he came on strong in the second half of the season and after hitting .348 in the Northeastern Wisconsin League and was named to the All-NEW second team.

A’s Notes:
Fans can now order season tickets for the 2013 season. Ticket prices remain the same: $50 for box seats, $40 for grandstand and $30 for general admission. Fans can purchase tickets on our website, or email us at info@sheboyganbaseball.org to learn more.

A new scoreboard for Wildwood Park has been ordered and if all goes well will be in operation this spring. The club is still accepting donations for this major capital improvement.

April 13 is the A’s big spring fund-raiser. Four Guyz in Dinner Jackets, a doo-wop group specializing in the finger-snapping music of groups like the Four Lads, Crewcuts and Platters, present their Always in Style show in conjunction with the Northern Lights at North High School. Advance tickets selling for $20 are available at Festival Foods, Trilling True Value Hardware, North High School and soon on the A’s website.

Persons interested in joining and volunteering with the Athletic Club are encouraged to contact club president Scott Stangel at 459-7368.

The A’s open on Wednesday, May 29 at Wildwood against the longtime rival Menasha Macs.

The unveiling of grills will take place at Wildwood on Saturday, June 1. The ball club is working with Project Grill and is inviting fans to join in the festivities of the 3 p.m. unveiling and the 5 p.m. doubleheader against the West Allis Nationals.