Photos courtesy of the Lake County Fielders
Playing against such famed Northern League powerhouses as Fargo Moorhead's Riverhawks, the Kansas City T-Bones (who played on the Kansas side of the line), the Joliet Jackhammers, Gary Southshore Railcats, Rockford Riverhawks, Winnipeg Goldeyes and Schaumburg Flyers were the Lake County Fielders who were pretty awful in their very first season, tying for last place with Schaumburg with a 41-59 (.410) record. The pitching staff was
  filled with ERA's between 5.15 and 5.52. Only Zach Ward (7-5, 3.95) showed any promise. Garry Bakker was 5-10, 5.52 while Ryan Bicondoa posted a 3-9, 5.15 and John Brownell went 4-9, 5.31. The relief core was far worse ... Ryan Falcon posted a 7.58 in 32 games and Matt Scheweitzer, an 8.49 in 22 games. The pitching was atrocious but ... there was a single bright spot and that was the 23 year old rookie at the heart of the lineup.