AUTHOR: Tom Alexander TITLE: YAMAMOTO ACTIVATED FOR KALAMAZOO SERIES DATE: 6/05/2007 11:07:00 AM ----- BODY:

CRESTWOOD, Ill. – The Traverse City Beach Bums have announced a few roster moves on the eve of the club’s return to action at Wuerfel Park following a six-game road swing. Catcher/Third Baseman Takeshi Yamamoto was activated from injured reserve and will be available for use by Manager Jon Cahill in the upcoming series with Kalamazoo. The Beach Bums have also brought back rookie outfielder R.C. Dickerson, who was with the team for the first part of spring training. Yamamoto has a potent bat and played in Japan last season for the Kochi Fighting Dogs of the Shikoku Island League. Dickerson graduated from Western Michigan University and is an outfielder with speed who covers a lot of ground in the field. As a senior he was second on the team in runs scored with 38. The speedy outfielder stole 12 bases in his final season and drove in 23 runs while connecting on three homers and posting an average of .293 which ranked among the team’s leaders. He was drafted in the 27th round of the 2002 draft out of high school by the Seattle Mariners but did not sign. As counter moves the Beach Bums let go pitcher Craig Brookes. Brookes, the former Michigan State ace who pitched twice in the series with Windy City, left for personal reasons as he prepares for workouts with affiliated teams including the Tigers. The Beach Bums also released outfielder LaFringe Hayes. The Beach Bums will host Kalamazoo at Wuerfel Park tonight in a 7:05 pm contest. The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a mini Beach Bums batting helmet. The contest will feature a rematch of the hurlers from opening night as Steve Shippey climbs the hills for the Beach Bums (0-1, 8.49) and Kalamazoo counters with Jeff Long (2-0, 1.29). The game can be heard on Fox FM with the Beach Bums On Deck Show beginning at 6:45 pm.

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