The Calgary Vipers today announced the signing of two award winning players to new 2007 Northern League contracts.

League base stealing king Carlos Duncan and the Vipers winningest pitcher Evan Greusel will both return for their third seasons with the Vipers.

Greusel was named the Vipers Outstanding Pitcher in 2006. The 27 year old Californian led the team with an 8-2 record and 3.49 ERA. He was also the Vipers workhorse starting 16 games. Greusel was also the teams outstanding pitcher in 2005 sporting a 9-5 record and pitching in the Northern League All-Star game.

“Having Evan back to anchor our staff is a huge step for us in forming the 2007 rotation”, said Vipers Manager Mike Busch. He’s won 17 games over two seasons so that puts him a pretty select group of pitchers in our league with that accomplishment”.

Duncan comes back to the Vipers after another solid season in Calgary. Limited by travel problems and injuries in 2006 Duncan played in only 78 games. He still, however, led the Vipers with 59 RBI and 33 stolen bases and was named the teams Outstanding Batter. The league’s stolen base record holder with 59 (2005) has also hammered 32 home runs in his two seasons in Calgary. “I just spent a few days with Carlos in San Pedro de Macoris”, said Busch. “He has just returned from the Colombian Winter League season where he won the Triple Crown and led the league in all 8 major categories. I’ve never seen him in such great shape.”

Utility man Shaun Ashman has also inked a 2007 contract making him the fourth player to sign up for a third straight season with the Vipers. The Vipers now have five players under new contracts for 2007, Duncan, Greusel, Ashman, Aaron McEachran and the other third year man Sam Rosario.

Northern League Rookie of the Year in 2006, Manabu Kuramochi, will be joining team mascot Slider and the Vipers Pitching Cage this Friday afternoon at the Dover Community Centre, then again on Sunday, February 11 at the Chestermere Winter Festival and on Monday, February 19 at the Family Fun Day at the Olympic Oval.

The Vipers open their training camp on Thursday, May 3. They will host their annual Free Agent Tryout Camp, Open House and Job Fair on Saturday, May 5. The team will then head out on the road for pre-season games in Edmonton, Winnipeg, Fargo and Schaumburg before opening the regular season in Joliet. The Vipers home opener is Friday, May 25 against the Joliet JackHammers.