As the Battle Creek Bombers prepare for the 2017 Northwoods League season, one of their assistants from 2016 has been named manager for this season.

The Bombers announced today that Brian Solemsaas has taken over the reigns as manager, after he was an assistant with the second-ever playoff squad in franchise history. Solemsaas, a native of Bismark, North Dakota, is currently a volunteer assistant coach with Arkansas State. He previously worked with John A. Logan College (bullpen/pitching coach) and with the Changzhou Development Center in China. He was an assistant under Gary McClure last season for the Bombers, finishing 39-33 overall with a 21-15 second half record to clinch a playoff spot.

Solemsaas' playing career went through Upper Iowa University, where he was and All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate selection at pitcher, named All-Academic twice and a team captain. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2009 and earned a Master's from Southern Illinois University in 2011.

The Bombers open their 11th season in the Northwoods League Tuesday, May 30th, when they host the Lakeshore Chinooks at 7:05pm. C.O. Brown Stadium will play host to 36 contests this season and will feature nine other squads in the South Division, including the rival Kalamazoo Growlers, the defending Northwoods champion Wisconsin Rapids Rafters and the expansion Fond du Lac (WI) Dock Spiders. The North Division also expanded with the addition of the Bismark (ND) Larks giving the Northwoods League 20 teams, the largest summer collegiate wooden bat league in the US.

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