MVP’s return in 2013
Posted: March 20, 2013
2012’s Most Valuable Player Harry Steldt, 2011 and 2012 Most Valuable Pitcher Ben Stanczyk and Mitch Gardner, who has thrown a no-hitter in each of the last two seasons, are among the latest to sign on with the Sheboygan A’s for the 2013 season.
The three returnees are joined by pitcher Bryce Taylor from Australia, currently pitching for Marian College.
Steldt, who hit .386 in the Northeastern Wisconsin League and .337 overall last summerwas elected the A’s MVP by his teammates after leading the club in a number of categories including runs scored, hits and doubles. He was named to the first All-Northeastern Wisconsin League team and the second All-Wisconsin State League team.
Steldt is off to a fast start at UW-Stevens Point, where he is hitting .427 as the club’s third baseman.
In his two seasons with the A’s, Steldt, who hails from West Bend, is hitting .314 in 79 games with 43 runs batted in, 14 doubles, a triple and a pair of home runs.
Stanczyk went 5-2 with a 1.50 earned run average last year and ran his career record to 19-3. In limited appearances, he came in with a .500 batting average. 2013 will be his fifth season with the A’s. Following a great 2004 season at UW-Milwaukee (Horizon League Player and Pitcher of the Year), Stanczyk signed with the Milwaukee Brewers and posted a 20-14 record with a 3.91 ERA in 144 games. He got as high as AA Huntsville.
Gardner is starting his sixth season with the A’s and brings a 16-10 record with four shutouts and his two no-hitters. He is the only pitcher in the A’s 50-season history to throw two no-hitters. He has a career 3.43 earned run average.
Gardner was 3-3 with a 3.94 ERA in 15 games last year. His best seasons were 2009 (5-2, 3.00) and 2011 (6-3, 2.86).
Taylor, from Melbourne, is in the starting rotation at Marian University and is currently 2-0 with a 2.70 earned run average.
Taylor, Gardner and Stanczyk join Brandon Magee and Lucas Wilsing on what looks to be a promising pitching staff for first year manager Tyler Martin.
The A’s open with a Northeastern Wisconsin League game on May 29 and launch the season in a big way with a 4-game opening weekend Langsdorf League series against West Allis and Northern Illinois.
The club will be hosting the Project Grill unveiling prior to the opening West Allis game on June 1.
The Sheboygan A's are members of the Wisconsin State League and Northeastern Wisconsin Baseball League. The A's have helped develop more than 43 players that have reached professional baseball, including 2002 World Series Champion Jarrod Washburn (Anaheim Angels). All Sheboygan A's home games are played at Wildwood Baseball Park in Sheboygan. Connect with the A's on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
