West Division preview

Evansville Otters
Location: Evansville, Ind.
Manager: Andy McCauley (1st full season - 521-540 career overall)
Stadium: Bosse Field (5,110)
Last year: 35-59, 6th in West
Key returners: DH Greg Alexander (.284, 7 HR, 41 RBI); OF Vinnie Scarduzzio (15 HR, 44 RBI).
Impact newcomers: OF Greg Burns (Florida Marlins’ 3rd-round draft pick in 2004); 1B Michael Durant (Philadelphia Phillies’ 4th-round draft pick in 2005); OF Jamar Walton (Florida’s 4th-round draft pick in 2004); P Michael Anton (8-20 in 41 career starts in Class AA); P Ryan Morris (Cleveland Indians’ 4th-round draft pick in 2006, 64 career starts).
Outlook: McCauley was named Evansville’s manager last July, replacing former major leaguer Wayne Krenchicki at midseason, and guided the Otters to a 19-31 record. Knowing the team lacked the talent to compete for a playoff berth, McCauley was busy during the offseason signing former high-round draft picks. The lineup changes make the Otters the favorite to show the biggest improvement this season, but in the rugged West it might not be enough to challenge for a playoff berth.
Did You Know? McCauley won championships in two independent leagues, the Frontier (London in 1999) and Northern (Kansas City in 2008).

Florence Freedom
Location:Florence, Ky.
Manager: Fran Riordan (1st year with Florence - 435-341 in Frontier League)
Stadium: Champion Window Field (5,000)
Last year: 38-58, 5th in West
Key returners: 3B Jimmy Baker (.325, 13 HR, 50 RBI); OF Michael Campbell (.317, 5 HR); SS Stephen Shults (.309, 23 HR, 65 RBI, league all-star); P Andy Clark (9-4, 3.41);
Impact newcomer: UTL Cole Miles (1,664 career at-bats, 104 career stolen bases); OF Drew Rundle (5 seasons in affiliated ball); OF Juan Valdes (Cleveland’s 5th-round draft pick in 2003, 1,849 career at-bats); P Preston Vancil (in Seattle Mariners’ system last year, threw no-hitter for Florence in 2009).
Outlook: The Freedom underachieved under former managers Toby Rumfield and Jamie Keefe, so ownership lured Fran Riordan back to the Frontier League. Riordan is the league’s winningest manager and won championships in Richmond (2) and Kalamazoo (1). He’ll put together another winning team here. The offense is solid, but as is the case with most teams, the pitching is the question mark.
Did You Know? This will be Riordan’s 10th season as a manager in the Frontier League, more than anyone else.

Gateway Grizzlies
Location:Sauget, Ill.
Manager: Phil Warren (5th year 208-168 career)
Stadium: GCS Ballpark (6,000)
Last year: 54-40, 3rd in West
Key returners: C Charlie Lisk (.303, 21 HR 88 RBI, league all-star, league’s all-time home runs leader); 1B Logan Parker (.305, 13 HR, 77 RBI, 16 SB); OF Jason Patton (.30 SB, 10 HR, 57 RBI, 22 SB, league all-star); P Mark Brackman (13-4, 3.18); P Jake Shafer (1-3, 11 Sv, 2.38); P Nick Walters (5-0, 3 Sv, 1.14).
Impact newcomers: INF Ryan Khoury (former top-10 prospect of Boston Red Sox, 911 at-bats in Class AA, 17 games last year in Class AAA, was in major-league camp this spring and had at-bat against Phillies’ Roy Halladay in spring training game); P Aaron Shafer (11 wins in Class AA in 2009); .
Outlook: The Grizzlies missed the playoffs by 2 1/2 games last year and have many of their key players returning. They’ve also made two major signings with the addition of Adam Shafer and Khoury. Should be able to top 55 wins and challenge for the division title.
Did You Know? Suaget (population 249 in the 2000 census) is the smallest city in the country to have a professional baseball team.

Normal CornBelters
Location:Normal, Ill.
Manager: Hall Lanier (2nd year – 44-52 in Frontier League)
Stadium: The Corn Crib (7,000)
Last year: 44-52, 4th in West
Key returners: 3B Daniel Cox (.323, 15 HR, 78 RBI, league all-star); OF Asif Shah (.316); P Ryan Sheldon (9-5, 2.21); P Tyler Lavigne (7-2, 1.38); P Brett Lester (7-7, 4.42).
Impact newcomers: OF Jeff Dunbar (16 HR in Northern League);
Outlook: If the name of the game is starting pitching and defense, how did Normal miss the playoffs last year? The CornBelters had enough the starting pitching and committed the third-fewest errors. The problem was, Cox was the only dangerous hitter in the lineup. Lanier has attempted to boost the offense by bringing in players from other independent leagues. If it works, then the CornBelters have a chance to finish in the top half of the division.
Did You Know? Lanier was the National League Manager of the Year with the Houston Astros in 1986.

River City Rascals
Location:O’Fallon, Mo.
Manager: Steve Brook (2nd year, 57-38 career)
Stadium: T.R. Hughes Ballpark (5,191)
Last year:57-38, 2nd in West, defeated Traverse City in finals.
Key returners: DH Stephen Holdren (.305, 16 HR, 72 RBI, 11 SB, league all-star); OF Chad Maddox (.311, 7 HR, 55 RBI); INF Chris McClendon (.279, 33 SB); P Josh Lowey (8-5, 3.55); P Derrick Miramontes (3-3, 5 Sv, 2.19); P Gary Moran (10-4, 2.68); P Zack Sterner (5-1, 3.61).
Impact newcomers:1B Joash Brodin (.301, 9 HR, 62 RBI, 29 SB, league all-star with Oakland County); INF Brandon Johnson (14 HR with Gateway in 2009); P Ryne Miller (15 starts in Class AA).
Outlook: Brook, a former Rascals pitcher, led River City to its first championship in his initial season as manager. So what can Brook do for an encore? There is plenty of experience on the team and a second consecutive championship is not out of the realm of possibility.
Did You Know? River City is trying to become the third franchise to win back-to-back league championships. The others were Richmond (2001-02) and Windy City (2007-08).

Southern Illinois Miners
Location:Marion, Ill.
Manager: Mike Pinto (5th year - 227-157 in Frontier League)
Stadium: Rent One Park (3,611)
Last year: 64-32, 1st in West.
Key returners: 3B Nate Hall (9 HR, 50 RBI); OF Jereme Milons .283, 11 HR, 60 RBI, 41 SB, league all-star); P Joe Augustine (10-3, 1.97, league’s Pitcher of Year)
Impact newcomers:C Sean Coughlin (103 games in Class AAA, 29 in Class AAA); 1B Matt Fields (164 career games in Class AA); OF Eric Suttle (.272, 38 SBs with Kalamazoo).
Outlook: Southern Illinois reminds us of Washington during the Wild Things’ early days. The Miners have averaged 59 wins over the last three years but don’t have a league championship to show for it. The Miners led River City 2-0 in the playoffs last year, then lost the next three games. Reaching 59 wins this year might be difficult. Though the Miners seemingly have gone through 50 players in the offseason, this is the least-experienced team Pinto has fielded since the team’s debut season in 2007. However, it’s certainly a strong playoff contender.
Did You Know? Former California University pitcher Rob Hedrick, who was with the Miners all last season, was released earlier this week.