East Division preview

Accurately predicting the division races in the Frontier League is nearly impossible because of the large amount of turnover on the rosters, not only from year to year but throughout the season. But, hey, I'll give it a shot. Here's a preview of the East Division in predicted order of finish:

1. Lake Erie Crushers
Location: Avon, Ohio
Stadium: All Pro Freight Stadium (5,000)
Manager: John Massarelli (2nd year - 286-181 career in Frontier League)
Last year: 57-38, 2nd in East, beat River City in finals
Key returners: P Cordoza Tucker (4-0, 2.63); 2B Andrew Saylor (.320, 10 HR, 62 RBI); SS Jodam Rivera (.255, 16 2Bs); 3B Andrew Davis (.327, 15 HR, 68 RBI, all-league pick).
Impact newcomers: OF Dom Duggan (46 stolen bases in 3 seasons in Giants' system); OF Travis Vetters (.293, 24 HR in 4 seasons in Dodgers' system); P Travis Risser (former Wild Things reliever).
Outlook: Massarelli, the best manager in the league, won his first championship last season despite having only one returning player on the roster to start the season. This year, he began spring training with more returning guys than he's ever had. That's not a good sign for the rest of the league.
Quoteable: "There’s question marks, but I like where we’re at." - Massarelli.

2. Windy City ThunderBolts
Location: Crestwood, Ill.
Stadium: Standard Bank Stadium (2,598)
Manager: Mike Kashirsky (First full season, 42-15 career)
Last year: 56-40, tied for 2nd in East, lost to River City in first round of playoffs.
Key returners: P Matt Jernstad (7-4, 2.31, 97 Ks in 78 IP); 2B Gilberto Mejia (.324, 9 HR, 55 RBI, 47 SB, all-league pick); 1B J.T. Restko (.334, 23 2B, 18 HR, 76 RBI); OF Mike Sullivan (.360 in 14 games).
Impact newcomer: OF Ryne White (.266, 6 HR, 52 RBI in Class A).
Outlook: Windy City switches divisions this year and will continue to be a playoff contender because of an offense built around Retsko and the pesky Mejia. Kashirsky turned in one of the most remarkable coaching jobs in league history in 2008 when he took over a team is disarray at midseason and guided it to the championship. He returned to a coaching position last year but was promoted back to manager in the offseason.
Did You Know? The ThunderBolts made the playoffs in each of the last three seasons, the longest current streak in the league.

3. Washington Wild Things
Location: Washington, Pa.
Stadium: Consol Energy Park (3,200)
Manager: Darin Everson (1st year in Frontier League)
Last year: 43-53, 4th in East
Key returners: P Justin Edwards (4-5, 5.40, 3 saves, 70 Ks in 60 IP); P Zach Groh (6-5, 4.17); DH Jacob Dempsey (.281, league-highs of 31 HR, 95 RBI); 2B Michael Parker (.298 22 2B, 24-game hitting streak); OF Chris Sidick (FL's all-time leader in games, hits, triples, walks).
Impact newcomers: SS Denny Duron (.279 in Class A, former West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year at Pepperdine University); OF Luis Rivera (former 5th-round draft pick of L.A. Angels); OF Mark McGonigle (.294 in 2 seasons in rookie ball).
Outlook: Washington set the team record for home runs last year but couldn't take advantage of its potent offense because of poor defense and pitching. You have to think the pitching will be vastly improved but there are concerns about how much offense the bottom half of the batting order can produce. A good start to the season is a must. Will contend for a playoff berth.
Did You Know? Of the teams that played more than one season in the Frontier League, Washington has the best winning percentage at .589.

4. Kalamazoo Kings
Location: Kalamazoo, Mich.
Stadium: Homer Stryker Field (4,806)
Manager: Jamie Keefe (1st year in Kalamazoo, 367-404 career)
Last year: 58-38, 1st in East, lost to Lake Erie in first round of playoffs
Key returners: P Dan Baerlocher (8-1, 5 saves, 2.45); P Joe DiPietro (8-7, 3.90); P Brandon Parillo (3-4, 3.54); 1B Destan Makonnen (.272, 12 HR, 37 RBI); DH Brendon Murphy (.257, 17 HR, 61 RB).
Impact newcomers: P Tyler Herron (former 1st-round draft pick of St. Louis); P Josh Whitlock (4-4 in Class A, played at West Virginia University).
Outlook: The Kings are the two-time defending East Division champions, but former manager Fran Riordan and many of last year's key players have gone to an expansion team in the Northern League. There's still enough here to make a strong playoff push but, much like Washington, Kalamazoo might find it too difficult to best veteran teams in Lake Erie and Windy City.
Quoteable: “We have a bunch of talent on this team. A lot of guys in the league are going to think we’re going to be down this year. We have news for them. We’re going to be just fine." - Makonnen.

5. Travese City Beach Bums
Loaction: Travese City, Mich.
Stadium: Wuerfel Park (4,600)
Manager: Gregg Langbehn (2nd year - 42-53 career)
Last year: 42-53, 5th in East
Key returners: P Kevin Reese (8-7, 4.64, former Wild Things reliever); C Andrew Franco (.347 in 121 ABs).
Impact newcomers: OF Matt Brown (.285 in 3 seasons in Indians' system); OF J.T. Hall (152 games above Class A in Tampa Bay system, 100 2Bs in 6 seasons); 3B Bobby Spain (.275, 47 RBI in Class A).
Outlook: After posting the worst record in franchise history, the Beach Bums gutted the roster as only two players return. This year's team will have more speed and power but the pitching staff is young. Could be a sleeper.
Did You Know? Beach Bums pitcher Scott Dunn is a product of Slippery Rock University and South Side Beaver High School. He has relatives who live in Hickory.

6. Oakland County Cruisers
Location: Ypsilanti, Mich., and Waterford Mich.
Stadiums: Oestrike Stadium at Eastern Michigan University (1,313); OU Baseball field at Oakland University (500).
Manager: Eric Coleman (3rd year - 71-121 career)
Last year: 42-54, 6th in East as Midwest Sliders
Key returners: P James Albury (6-2, 2.40); P Nolan Shaffer (5-5, 5.36); C Ben Barrone (.250, 8 HR); INF Jimmy Baker (.310, 16 HR, 53 RBI; INF Joash Brodin (.330, 10 HR, 37 RBI); OF Zach Pace (.304, 37 SB).
Impact newcomers: P Kevin Asselin (6-3, 2.74 in Class A in White Sox system); SS Luis Fernandez (57 games in Class A).
Outlook: The Cruisers are the renamed Midwest Sliders. The team, in its third year in the league, still doesn't have a ballpark to call its own and has sold several home series again this season. Somehow, Coleman has overcome serious obstacles to make the team competitive. There's enough talent here to improve upon last year's record, but playing far more games on the road than at home a .500 record is highly unlikely.
Did You Know? The Cruisers will play their first 12 games, and 36 of the first 42, on the road.