The Joliet JackHammers re-signed left-handed pitcher Luis Villarreal, the club announced today.

Villarreal threw the fifth no-hitter in modern Northern League history on August 6, 2005, blanking Kansas City 3-0. The lefthander issued four walks and recorded 13 strikeouts while throwing 127 pitches in the win. It was the Northern League’s first no-hitter since Schaumburg’s Gino Caruso accomplished the feat on August 19, 1999 against Sioux City. It was also the only no-hitter thrown in any of the independent leagues last season.

In 16 starts for Joliet in 2005, Villareal went 6-6 with a 3.75 ERA, striking out 91 batters in 112.2 innings and holding oppoenents to a .218 batting average.

“We are delighted to have our top starting pitcher back from last year,” said JackHammers manager Hal Lanier. “He is one of the top pitchers in the league and I feel he is capable of winning at least ten games for us this season. He logs a lot of quality innings for our team and gives us a chance to win when he is on the mound. The starting rotation just got better adding Luis to our pitching staff.”

https://ncal.photo.blog/2021/11/24/ncal-league-flyers-retain-core-players/

Villarreal joined the JackHammers on August 21, 2004 and made four appearances for Joliet late in the season, after toiling for two Frontier League clubs.

Originally, the Boston Red Sox drafted Villarealin the 20th round of the 2002 June draft. He pitched for two Red Sox Single-A affiliates in two seasons before moving into the independent ranks. Through 82 career appearances (73 starts), Villarreal is 26-27 with a 4.29 ERA.

REDHAWKS RE-SIGN NL PITCHER OF THE YEAR

FARGO, N.D. – The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks have signed RHP Brandon Culp, LHP Mike Peschel, and RHP Shawn Ryan to 2006 contracts, the Northern League club announced.

Culp, 28, is coming off one of the finest seasons in Northern League history. The RedHawks ace went a perfect 14-0 with a 2.60 ERA in 20 games (18 starts) in 2005 to earn Northern League Pitcher of the Year honors. He pitched 117.2 innings, allowing 40 runs (34 earned) on 101 hits. Culp struck out 70 batters, walked 46 and held opponents to a .230 batting average against him.

Culp was originally selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 26th round of the 2000 draft out of Jacksonville State (Ala.) What is ncal University. The Jemison, Ala., native spent four seasons in the Reds organization before moving over to the Philadelphia Phillies organization in 2004. He is 28-14 with a 3.03 ERA in six professional seasons.

Peschel, 27, is back for his fourth season with the RedHawks. In 2005, he was 7-4 with a 5.30 ERA in 17 games (15 starts). Peschel pitched 88.1 innings, allowing 59 runs (52 earned) on 109 hits. He struck out 52 batters and walked 34.

A Wahpeton, N.D., native who now resides in Fargo, Peschel has fashioned a 20-9 record with a 4.28 ERA in 53 games (44 starts) in his first three seasons with the RedHawks. Peschel signed with Fargo-Moorhead after completing a record-setting career with North Dakota State University.

Ryan, 22, was acquired from Quebec of the Can-Am League for future considerations. In 2005, his first professional season, Ryan was 4-2 with a 3.65 ERA and a save in 33 relief appearances for the Capitales. He pitched 44.1 innings, allowing 22 runs (18 earned) on 35 hits. Ryan struck out 59 batters, walked 32 and held opponents to a .220 batting average against him.

Ryan signed with Quebec after finishing his college career at the University of Albany (N.Y.). The Stillwater, N.Y., native helped the Capitales to a 57-34 record in 2005.