Two dropped

The Wild Things released two players from the roster Tuesday. Gone are right-handed pitcher Andy Schindling and catcher Kyle Obal.

Schindling was a solid starting pitcher last season before wearing down late in the year. He had a 4-3 record and 4.80 ERA. Obal was signed late last season and had only 11 at-bats. With Obal released, there are only two catchers (Alan Robbins and Billy O'Conner) on the roster. The Wild Things will likely be looking to sign at least one catcher either Saturday at their open tryout or next week at the Frontier League tryout and draft.

Washington breaks ties with Banks

The Wild Things have traded first baseman Ernie Banks (pictured) to the River City Rascals in exchange for left-handed starting pitcher Chris Ingoglia and outfielder Ryan Groth.

The Wild Things also signed catcher Kyle Obal and announced the retirement of pitcher/catcher Josh Eachues.

Banks is fourth in the Frontier League with a .343 batting average and leads the league with a .686 slugging percentage. He has 19 home runs and 55 RBI.

Ingoglia has a 5-7 record and 6.66 ERA. The league is batting .321 against him. This is Ingoglia's second year in the Frontier League. He had a 6-8 record last year with Florence.

Groth has played in 29 games with the Rascals and has a .270 batting average with three home runs and 14 RBI. Groth has one year of experience in affiliated ball.

Obal played this spring for Temple University after transferring from Winthrop. He batted .313 and did not have a home run.

There is no questioning Banks' ability to hit. The trouble spot for the first baseman has been his attitude. He was suspended by the team for 14 days early in the season after being ejected twice in a three-game series at Traverse City. He was at the center of the benches-clearing incident at Florence last month and had to be restrained last week during a similar incident against Lake Erie.

After being robbed of a hit Saturday night by Kalamazoo third baseman Amos Ramon, Banks returned to the dugout and either threw or knocked several plastic cups onto the field that were retrieved by Brett Granstrand.

Mason said Banks' attitude wasn't the primary reason for the trade.

"It was a combination of stuff," Mason said. "We were looking for a pitcher and an outfielder, which we were able to get. They wanted a first baseman because their guy is returning to school. The deal made sense for both teams.

"We're getting a guy who is hitting almost .300 as an outfielder, and Ingoglia is a guy we wanted in the offseason but couldn't get anyone to deal with us. We tried to trade for him in the offseason."

Eachues was retired because he suffered a broken right collarbone when hit by a foul tip in the ninth inning Saturday night.

The Wild Things are expected to make several more roster moves after Sunday's game. They are hopeful of re-signing outfielder Tim Alberts, who played with Washington last year. Alberts was with Joliet of the independent Northern League thisseason but was placed on waivers over the weekend.