Attention, campers

Spring training is in full swing and there are only a few practices left before the Wild Things play three exhibition games in two days against the Lake Erie Crushers. Two games will be played Friday at Consol Energy Park and one Saturday at All Pro Freight Stadium in Avon, Ohio.

After watching a few practices, I've come to one conclusion: I'm glad I will not be making the roster decisions that Bob Bozzuto and his coaching staff will over the next week. It's obvious there will be some very good players, especially pitchers, being let go because of the Frontier League's roster classifications and guidelines. There are more players classified as experienced in camp than ever before, so Washington won't be able to keep the best 24 players.

Three players were let go Monday: former Pitt outfielder Casey Roche, pitcher Willie Ethington and first baseman Tyler Peterson. All three are classified as rookies. I saw Roche, who played for Traverse City last year, bat a few times in an intrasquad game and pitch and inning. He really didn't look bad as a pitcher, throwing much harder than one might expect.

Peterson is one of three first basemen classified as rookies who were battling for what likely is one roster spot. Peterson's release leaves Joey Miller competing with Brady North.

I saw about a dozen pitchers throw in an intrasquad game Sunday. Of the newcomers, Richie Mirowski looked very good, as did Kyle Helisek. Steve Messner was with the Wild Things at the end of the 2013 season and he's back after spending one year in the San Francisco Giants system. He looks like a more polished pitcher than what I remember, so that was a pleasant surprise.