German national team pitcher Martin Dewald has signed with the River City Rascals of the independent Frontier League for the 2011 season. The club is located in O’Fallon, the fifth largest city in Missouri. The Rascals are going to play in the West Division of the Frontier League against the Southern Illinois Miners, Gateway Grizzlies, Normal Corn Belters, Florence Freedom and Evansville Otters. Six more teams are in the East Division.
The 24-year-old Dewald was born in Mannheim, debuted in the German Baseball-Bundesliga for the Heidenheim Heidekoepfe in 2002 and later also played for the Mannheim Tornados in Germany. He joined Gordon College before transferring to Georgia College & State University, where he graduated last fall. He also had offers from teams in Italy, but decided to stay in the United States. He is expected to help the Heidekoepfe during the playoffs after finishing the season in the Frontier League.
Career Stats German Baseball-Bundesliga
Photo: © Walter Keller, www.catchthefever.de