RAILCATS TO OPEN SPRING TRAINING SCHEDULE WEDNESDAY; WILLIE GLEN TO START SPRING OPENER

May 8, 2007 Contact: Tom Nichols at (219) 882-2255

Gary, Ind.—The Gary SouthShore RailCats Professional Baseball Club will open its 2007 spring training schedule on Wednesday at Joliet against the JackHammers. This game will be the first of seven spring training games on the RailCats schedule.

RailCats manager Greg Tagert has selected Willie Glen (pictured at left) to start Wednesday's game. Glen, who has posted a 20-8 record in two seasons with the RailCats, is expected to throw about three innings. Also expected to see action on the mound on Wednesday are former Cincinnati Reds prospect Jim Paduch, former LaPorte High School star Brad Mumma, and Steve Edsall, a returning member of the RailCats 2006 pitching staff.

The RailCats play at Schaumburg on Thursday in a game that has been moved to a 1:00 p.m. start. Josh Habel, an eight game winner for the RailCats in 2006, will start the game. He will be followed on the mound by former major leaguer Tony Cogan, former New York Mets prospect David Byard, and former Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Jared Brown.

The RailCats first home game of the spring season is set for Friday at 1:00 p.m. against Schaumburg. The game is open to public free of charge. Travis Kerber, the RailCats all-time leader in games pitched, will get the start. The fourth returning member of the RailCats outstanding 2006 starting rotation, Jason Shelley, will start Saturday's game at Windy City.

Spring Schedule

May 9 Gary at Joliet 1:00 p.m.

May 10 Gary at Schaumburg 1:00 p.m.

May 11 Schaumburg at Gary 1:00 p.m.

May 12 Gary at Windy City 1:00 p.m.

May 13 Windy City at Gary 2:00 p.m.

May 14 Rockford at Gary 11:30 a.m.

May 15 Joliet at Gary 2:30 p.m.

The RailCats begin the 2007 regular season on May 17^th at U. S. Steel Yard against the Winnipeg Goldeyes. RailCats 2007 tickets and merchandise are available at U. S. Steel Yard or by calling (219) 882-2255.

Day at Camp

The RailCats had their second straight live scrimmage on Tuesday. Third baseman Tanner Townsend had two long hits including one drive that hit off the chain-link fence above the left field wall and another blow that short-hopped the wall…Jay Pecci and Jose Yepez each added doubles and Eric Blakeley had two hits. Eric McNamee made a highlight defensive play at second base. Manager Greg Tagert singled out relief pitchers Steve Obenchain and Chad Blackwell as being "very impressive" and added that fellow pitchers Jason Shelley and Jared Brown also got their work in and looked good.

More Info: The Gary SouthShore RailCats are a Professional Minor League Baseball Team serving Northwest Indiana and Chicago's south suburbs. For the last three years, they have been chosen "Best Local Spectator Sport" by Northwest Indiana Business Quarterly. Their 96 game schedule includes 47 home games at beautiful U. S. Steel Yard, an award-winning 6,000 seat state-of-the-art facility located next to the Indiana Toll Road (I-90) with easy access to I-65.