SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — The acquisitions have continued in the month of April for Manager Jamie Bennett and the Schaumburg Boomers as the club announced the signing of Lewis University and Guerin Prep outfielder Michael Bolling in addition to RHP Troy Marks and RHP James Bierlein.

Bolling, 22, comes to the Boomers after a stellar senior season at Division II Lewis University where the speedy outfielder batted .349 with 34 stolen bases for the Flyers. In a season where he did a little bit of everything scoring 42 runs, collecting 74 hits and drawing 25 free passes against just 10 strikeouts, Bolling was named to the NCBWA, ABCA and Daktronics All-Midwest Region Second Team as well as to the All-GLVC First Team. Bolling led the conference in stolen bases (34) and finished second in hits (74).

The Boomers also agreed to terms with a pair of right-handers in Troy Marks and James Bierlein. Marks, 23, is a recent graduate of the University of Nevada who signed with the Boomers after a stint in spring training with the Philadelphia Phillies organization. Marks earned second-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors in 2011 after posting a 4.21 ERA in 72.2 innings as a junior. Bierlein comes to the Boomers with 38.2 innings of professional experience in both the Can-Am League and Pecos League after a solid career of double duty as an outfielder and pitcher at Division III Randolph-Macon College.

Finally, in a separate move on April 8, the Boomers acquired OF Trevor Willis from the Gary SouthShore RailCats and also sent INF Rey Hernandez to the Rockford Aviators as part of a three-team trade.

With the additions of Bierlein, Bolling, Marks and Willis, the Boomers now have 29 players signed to contracts with the start of Spring Training just on the horizon on May 1 when the players report to Schaumburg. All four of the newest Boomers will join pitchers Tony Delmonico, Cody Griebling, Scott Hays, Dan Lazzaroni, Matt Kuna, Joe Parsons, Chris Phelan, Dexter Price, Jose Rodriguez, Cam Roth, Randy Sturgill and Tyler Ware; catchers Ty Nelson and Mike Valadez; infielders Eric Barnes, Mike Demperio, Gerard Hall, Jordan Marks, Brian McConkey, Steve McQuail, Ryan Miller and Frank Pfister; and outfielders Sean Mahley, Bobby Martin and Chad Mozingo. The Boomers may have up to 36 players in camp to compete for a spot on the Boomers Opening Day roster, which will consist of 22-24 players.

Opening Day for the Schaumburg Boomers is just around the corner as the second season gets underway with a 6:30 p.m. contest against the Windy City ThunderBolts on Thursday, May 16. Boomers Tickets are on sale now over the phone at 847.461.3695, online at www.boomersbaseball.com, or in-person at the Boomers Stadium Box Office.

TRANSACTION LIST

4/7/13: Placed LHP Sam Robinson on the retired list
4/8/13: Received OF Trevor Willis from the Gary SouthShore RailCats as part of a three-team trade
4/8/13: Sent INF Rey Hernandez to the Rockford Aviators as part of a three-team trade
4/9/13: Sent INF Brandon Gregorich to the Gary SouthShore RailCats of the American Association to complete a previous trade
4/23/13: Signed OF Mike Bolling, RHP Troy Marks and RHP James Bierlein

PLAYER BIOS (Listed Alphabetically)

RHP James Bierlein 

Bierlein, 24, joins the Boomers with two season of professional experience. The 6-foot right-hander spent part of the 2011 season with the New York Federals of the Can-Am League, striking out 11 batters in 16.1 innings pitched as a member of the Federals. Last season, Bierlein made 12 appearances in the Pecos League with the Trinidad Triggers and racked up 24 strikeouts in 22.1 innings. 

Bierlein played collegiately at Division III Randolph-Macon College where he played outfield in addition to his work on the mound for the Yellow Jackets. On the hill, Bierlein appeared in 41 games and amassed 109.2 innings pitched, including nine games started and holds a career 3.36 ERA to go along with 87 strikeouts and 35 free passes at Randolph-Macon. Bierlein also made 119 appearances in the outfield where he posted a .259 batting average with 69 runs scored, 28 doubles and 58 runs batted in.

OF Mike Bolling

Bolling, 22, is a Chicago native who stayed local for college and comes to the Boomers after an outstanding two-year career with Lewis University in Divison II. The left-handed hitting outfielder batted .341 in 94 games as a Flyer with 122 hits, 45 walks and 45 runs batted in. Bolling scored 79 runs and stole 65 bases at Lewis and collected 15 doubles, three triples and four homers as well. Bolling was named NCBWA, ABCA and Daktronics All-Midwest Region Second Team and All-Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) First Team in 2012. 

Prior to starring at Lewis, Bolling was an absolute star at Triton College. In two seasons as a member of the Trojans Baseball Team, the fleet-footed outfielder batted .414 with 65 hits, 59 runs scored and 31 RBI. The former Guerin Prep standout was also a perfect 31 for 31 in stolen base attempts at Triton. 

Bolling played most recently for Manger Jamie Bennett in the California Winter League and posted a stellar .486 batting average and 14 runs batted in in just 15 games played.

RHP Troy Marks

Marks, 23, is a recent graduate of the University of Nevada who signed with the Boomers after a stint in spring training with the Philadelphia Phillies organization. In his two seasons as a member of the Wolf Pack, Marks posted a 5.86 ERA in 101.4 innings of work with 69 strikeouts and a 3-10 record. Marks earned second-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors in 2011 after posting a 4.21 ERA in 72.2 innings as a junior.

Marks also made six appearances in the California Winter League for the Oregon Lumber Jacks under Boomers Manager Jamie Bennett and earned a 2.25 ERA in eight innings pitched allowing just two runs on five hits to go along with an impressive 14 strikeouts.

Prior to attending Nevada, Marks played for two years at Fresno City College and in 2010 struck out 50 batters and posted a 1.79 ERA. 

OF Trevor Willis

In a three-team trade with the Rockford Aviators and Gary SouthShore RailCats, the Schaumburg Boomers acquired outfielder Trevor Willis from the RailCats and sent IF Ray Hernandez to Rockford on April 8, 2013.

Willis player for three teams in his rookie season, including the Gary SouthShore RailCats, Joliet Slammers and White Sands Pupfish (Pecos League). In 18 games to finish the year with the RailCats, Willis hit .283/.411/.391 with two RBI and nine runs scored. On the season, he appeared in 58 games and posted a .225/.330/.341 stat line with two homers and 18 runs batted in to go along with 11 stolen bases.

In 2011, Willis was a Third-Team All-Big Ten Selection as a senior at the University of Iowa. Willis lead the Big Ten, set a school record and finished second in the nation with nine triples during his outstanding senior season. Willis also led the team with 32 runs and 12 stolen bases along with 13 outfield assists in a year where he posted a career-best .271 batting average.