Some familiar faces will be on the roster for the Thunder Bay Border Cats’ 2024 season.
The team announcing it had inked contracts with pitcher Jack Pineau, catcher Cole Ketzner and outfielder/pitcher Peter Fusek.
Pineau, who is from Thunder Bay, is in his freshman year at Omaha Nebraska’s Creighton University and is a former member of the Canadian National Junior Baseball team.
The righthander played in nine games in the 2023 season picking up a 1-3 record with a 4.58 earned run average, he was also named a 2023 Northwoods League All-Star after striking out 30 batters in 39 1/3 innings pitched.
Meanwhile, hailing from Magnolia, Texas, Ketzner is studying in his third year at the University of South Alabama, who in addition to covering the backstop, has also served time at first base and as a designated hitter.
Last year he hit .273 in 49 games with eight doubles and one home run, this led to him coming in second with a total of 33 runs batted in while picking up a .367 on-base percentage.
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- Cole Ketzner (Photo Courtesy – James Mirabelli Photography)
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- Peter Fusek (Photo Courtesy – James Mirabelli Photography)
Finally, Chicago Illinois’ Fusek, a junior at University of Wisconsin-Parkside, was in uniform for all 68 of the Border Cats’ regular season games last year, where he tied for the team lead playing in 52 games while driving in 20 runs, and picking up second on the club with a total of 17 stolen bases.
On the mound he pitched in seven games out of the bullpen with one save and a 1.17 earned run average.
The Border Cats will return to Port Arthur Stadium for their home opener on May 31st where they will take on the Minnesota Mud Puppies.
