Two Bombers Return in ’15

Minor League Baseball fans don’t often see the same players from year to year, and it’s often the same with the Northwoods League.  But Battle Creek Bomber fans will see at least a couple of familiar faces this season.

Two standout pitchers from Louisiana, Alden Cartwright and Andrew Mitchell, have been signed and will be returning to the Battle Creek Bombers.  Cartwright and Mitchell were standout talents for Battle Creek last year, as both scored an invitation to the annual Northwoods League Big League Dreams Showcase.

RHP Alden Cartwright (6’0”, 190, Sophomore, LSU, Bats: R/Throws: R)

Cartwright made nine relief appearances in Battle Creek last year, posting a 2.93 earned run average, two saves, 14 strikeouts, and just two walks in 15 1/3 innings pitched. He recorded a season-high four strikeouts in a six-out save at Madison on July 5. At home, on July 26, he sealed a 3-0 shutout of the Wisconsin Woodchucks with a spotless ninth inning.

At LSU, Cartwright pitched 33 2/3 innings, posting a 2.41 ERA, striking out 25 batters during a solid freshman campaign. He never gave up more than two earned runs in any of his 21 appearances (seven starts). Cartwright started the SEC Championship game against Florida, dealing four scoreless innings as LSU won 2-0. Cartwright also saw time in the NCAA Tournament, pitching against Houston in the Baton Rouge Regional.

“On the mound, Alden is going to throw strikes and compete,” Head Coach Robert Robinson said of the LSU pitcher. “Even when he isn’t on the mound, he will contribute to our success in a big way. Last season, he was always engaged in what was happening on the field. On a daily basis, he brought great energy to the ballpark whether he was pitching or not. I think both him and Andrew will be the template for our new guys to look at when it comes to dealing with the daily grind of a Northwoods League season.”

LHP Andrew Mitchell (6’1”, 195, Redshirt Freshman, Delgado Community College, Bats: L/Throws: L)

Last season, as a member of the Bombers, Mitchell pitched in 16 games, including seven as a starter. The Louisiana-native threw 46 and 2/3 innings piling up 49 strikeouts, while giving up 39 hits and posting a 5.01 ERA. Mitchell’s first appearance in the Northwoods League came on opening day of the 2014 season (May 27). With the bases loaded and two outs, he forced Green Bay’s Dan Sabin to groundout to second base, clinching a wild 10-9 Battle Creek victory.

After redshirting during his freshman season at LSU, Mitchell transferred to Delgado Community College in New Orleans for the 2015 season. So far this spring for the Dolphins, he’s pitched in two games as a starter including a four-inning outing in which he struck out six and gave up only one run en route to recording his first collegiate win (a 4-2 Delgado victory).

“Having both Andrew and Alden back in Battle Creek will be so important for our new players,” Robertson said. “Last season, Andrew was a guy that others revolved around and he was always pushing his teammates to do the right thing on and off the field. As a pitcher, he does a great job of going after hitters. I am happy to have him back for his mentality both on and off the mound.”

Watch these two returning Bombers pitch this season at C.O. Brown Stadium. Battle Creek opens their season on May 26th when they host the defending Northwoods League Champion Lakeshore Chinooks. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.