ANOTHER FORMER PURPLE ACE JOINS RAILCATS

 

July 17, 2007                                     Contact:  Tom Nichols at (219) 882-2255

 

Gary, Ind.—The Gary SouthShore RailCats Professional Baseball Club announced today that right-handed pitcher Matt Brinkmann has been signed as a free agent.  The club also activated pitcher Brad Mumma from the disabled list and placed pitcher Steve Obenchain on the seven day disabled list. 

 

Brinkmann completed his collegiate career at the University of Evansville this spring and becomes the fifth former Purple Ace to play for the RailCats.  All four previous names on the list have made major contributions to the club including RailCats all-time victories leader Willie Glen, 2006 starting right-fielder Andy Rohleder, '06 pitcher Ryan Miller, and Obenchain, who has had a solid year in 2007.

 

In 2007 at Evansville, Brinkman served as the team's closer and posted 10 saves, the fifth highest total in school history (Glen holds the school record with 13 and Obenchain had 12 in a season).  Brinkmann went 4-2 with a 2.22 earned run average in 27 games.  He was selected All-Missouri Valley Conference 2^nd Team. 

 

Brinkmann posted 15 saves in his career at UE, the fourth highest total in school history.  In 2006, he went 6-5 with three saves and a 2.97 ERA in 22 games including 10 starts, earning MVC All-Tournament honors.

 

Mumma returns to the active roster after a bout with bronchitis.  He has appeared in 23 games with the RailCats, going 1-2 with a  2.52 ERA.  Obenchain has appeared in 17 games and is 2-1, 3.06.

 

The RailCats roster stands at the Northern League limit of 22 players. 

 

The RailCats host Schaumburg tonight at 7:00 p.m. at U. S. Steel Yard in Gary.  The series continues with an 11:00 a.m. game Wednesday and a 7:00 p.m. game Thursday.  Joliet will be in town for games on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 

 

More Info:  The Gary SouthShore RailCats are a Professional Minor League Baseball Team serving Northwest Indiana and Chicago's south suburbs.  For the last four 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.

 

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