Barnstormers working on constructing roster

The Chatham-Kent Barnstormers roster-building continues.

The brand-new Intercounty Baseball League announced earlier this week that they are signing Miles Norman.
Norman hails from Oregon. The Barnstormers are allowed to sign up to four imports. He is the nephew of Barnstormers’ manager Dan Norman.

The Barnstormers start their inaugural season in May.

Barnstormers general manager Harry Muir is working on putting together a roster. His first signing was Chatham’s Spencer Marcus.

Current IBL teams were able to protect a significant amount of their rosters, Muir said there wasn’t a lot left over.
Muir said he will mostly stick to southwestern Ontario to build their roster.

“I think this (area) is really untapped. There are not really a lot of guys in this area that are in the league because it’s just so far away,” Muir said.

Although the season is over five months away, Muir said he’s getting emails on a daily basis from guys wanting to play for the Barnstormers.

Looking at three more imports, Muir said he’s looking at players from Ohio and Michigan who can make the drive to Chatham for games.

Locally also means signing players from Sarnia and Windsor-Essex. Both areas have long traditions of strong senior teams. Also, other than London, there are no other IBL teams in southwestern Ontario, which gives the Barnstormers a leg up on getting players from this area.

“That’s why Chatham is so good for a ball team,” Muir said, noting its central location.