Flyers start another season; Fielders start from scratch

The Flyers are back, and now they have some company in the suburbs - eventually, that is.

The Northern League opens its independent baseball season today with the Schaumburg Flyers hitting the road to Rockford as the Lake County Fielders open a 20-game road trip that begins in Winnipeg.

Flyers manager Mike Busch is back for his second term with the club and welcomes back 10 players from last year's squad. The former major-league player believes pitching and defense are two of the strengths in place to start.

"I put a lot of my concentration on the pitching staff with Dustin Glant leading the way," Busch said. "Dustin was my number one starter last year and will begin the season for me this year as well."

Joining the rotation will be Todd Moser (LH), and right-handed starters Cody Evans, Brett Harker and Alain Quijano. Middle relief chores will go to Tom Lyons, Josh Giles, Ben Reeser, James Lopresti and Brian McCullough. Busch has two closers, lefty Reid Price and right-hander Matt Elliott.

Catcher Richard Mercado and shortstop Travis Brown return, and Busch considers them the best in the league.

"Antoan Richardson is back at center field with lightning speed and should really cover some ground," Busch said. "He will be my leadoff hitter."

While the Lake County Fielders don't have a home stadium yet - construction is just under way in Zion on temporary facilities - they do have a team and an experienced manager, Fran Riordan from the Frontier League.

"Our pitching staff and bullpen more specifically will be a strength," Riordan said. "We have a lot of guys with significant experience, and more important they throw strikes. Our two veterans, Joey Gomes and Jason Pearson, will be impact players for us."

While the Northern League has more veteran players than Riordan had in the Frontier League, baseball is still baseball, he said.

"My expectations of the season are pretty simple. We want to compete every night and we want to win. Anyone involved in independent baseball at any level has those same goals.

"The guys want to win, have success on a team and individual basis and hopefully advance their careers in baseball," Riordan said.

The Flyers open a 9-game home stand on May 25, and Fielders are scheduled for their first home game June 11.

For complete schedules and rosters, visit the team websites at flyersbaseball.com and fieldersbaseball.com.