With a majority of the Gary Southshore RailCats roster in place, manager Greg Tagert is simply focused on tweaking his roster to get the right mix for the upcoming 2015 American Association season. The club has spent the last three weeks signing some key players and trimming the roster itself. After a disappointing conclusion to last season, there is no doubt that this team is ready to reclaim the Central Division title, and make another run for the league championship.

Key Transactions

On April 14, the Gary Southshore RailCats re-signed LHP Chuck Fontana. The lefty has been a member of the RailCats staff the past two seasons. Last season he was 1-1 with a 4.46 ERA in 28 appearances. In his two professional seasons, Fontana is 5-3 with a 3.96 ERA in 57 appearances. He has also saved five games, including four last season.

On Tax Day the RailCats secured one of their new assets when 1B Nick Howell was signed to a deal for the upcoming season. Howell was acquired from Schaumburg of the Frontier League on April 2. He will be a rookie this season. Last year he played at Trevecca Nazarene University, where he hit .391 in 57 games with 7 homers and 49 RBI. He led all of Division-II baseball in triples with 14 this past season.

On April 24, both INF Wally Backman and RHP Morgan Coombs were released. Backman hit .252 in 94 games last season, with 3 homers and 37 RBI. Coombs pitched for both Gary and Adelaide (Australian Baseball League). In Gary the right-hander was 7-9 with a 5.40 ERA. At Adelaide he was 7-1 with a 1.95 ERA.

On the last day of April, RHP Zac Treece was inked a deal by Gary Southshore. The right-hander had pitched for Lake Eerie of the Frontier League last season, where he had an outstanding season. He appeared in 31 games, making 11 starts, and was 7-3 with a 2.97 ERA.

By Robert Pannier