Experience bodes well for Nieckula, Cougars

Kane County Cougars manager Aaron Nieckula became a father during the off-season.

Nieckula and his wife, Renee, are the proud parents of Ariyanaa Elizabeth, born March 3.

"It's been outstanding, it's been great," Nieckula said of becoming a first-time father.

Fatherhood has been great. Spring training went great. It remains to be seen whether this be a great season for the Cougars, the Class A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics.

The Cougars returned to Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva on Tuesday. They begin the season Thursday in Beloit, Wis. The home opener is April 7 at 3 p.m. against Burlington.

Eleven players on the 26-man roster are back from last year's 63-76 team that finished sixth in the Midwest League's Western Division and failed to make the playoffs.

"You look at the roster on this team, and we have some guys who are returning and have some older guys who have been around baseball for a bit, and I think that is going to bode well for us," Nieckula said. "We have some guys from last year who know the league and hopefully will build that team chemistry."

The all-right-handed rotation is set, as Craig Italiano is slated at the No. 1 starter. This is his third stint at Kane County after last year's season was cut short after he took a line drive to the head in mid-May.

Another returning player from last year's team, Travis Banwart, is the No. 2 starter, followed by newcomers Jamie Richmond, Scott Mitchinson and Scott Hodson.

One of the four Cougars named a Midwest League all-star last year, Scott Moore, is one of six pitchers back.

"I have probably five guys I can call upon early to close a game," pitching coach Don Schulze said. "We'll see who steps up."

According to new hitting coach Haas Pratt, who was a player last year for the Cougars, the bats look solid.

Leading the way will be outfielder Cory Brown, who was the 59th overall pick in last year's draft, along with fellow newcomer Michael Lissman and returning players Greg Dowling, Todd Johnson and Jake Smith.

"We have a lot of good hitters this year," Pratt said. "As a whole, we have a really solid group of players."