Press Release Bonn Capitals
After it was clear that Bryce Schoening was not returning next season, the Bonn Capitals quickly signed a successor. Charley Olson from Georgia State University will be joining the Capitals as a starting pitcher in 2012.
In two years at GSU the pitcher started in 28 games and posted an ERA of 4.66, ranking him 8th on the all-time-list at GSU.In close to 180 Innings he threw 139 Strikeouts, while allowing 61 Walks.The idea to play baseball in Germany came from his coach. GSU’s head-coach Greg Frady is also the German national coach. “Coach Frady had mentioned to me during my collegiate career the idea of playing baseball in Europe after college was over,” Olson recalls, “After his trip coaching the German team during the summer, I started connecting with Coach Mirko Heid and everything went from there.” Heid knows Frady from his time as player and team captain of the German national team and still keeps in contact with his former coach.
The right-hander will bring a lot of experience to the Rheinaue Ballpark. “I was the starting conference pitcher for Georgia State the past two seasons throwing over 175 innings. During summer I played in the Alaskan Collegiate league as a starting pitcher for the Fairbanks Fire and before my senior year played for the inaugural Willmar Stingers team in the Northwoods Summer League“, Olson says about his close to 400 total innings in his collegiate career.
Olson will replace Schoening as the American starting pitcher for the second game of the doubleheader in the northern division of the Baseball-Bundesliga. Bonn’s head coach Mirko Heid is satisfied, that his club was able to fill that gap so quickly, “We’re glad that Charley Olson chose to join our organization. He brings a lot of experience from one of the best collegiate leagues in the USA. We are certain that he will be a perfect match on and off the field.” The 23-year-old from Dunedin, Florida is anxious to join his new team in Germany, “I expect European baseball to be very competitive and intense. I cannot wait to be in Germany and to help the Capitals to a successful season in 2012.”