GARY, Ind. — Still more than six months away from the start of the season, the Gary SouthShore RailCats today added the first two pieces to their 2010 roster, agreeing to terms with rookie pitchers Andy Paulun and J.J. Potrikus, the team announced.

Both pitchers have no professional experience and will enter Spring Training camp in early May competing for jobs on a RailCats pitching staff that has undergone major changes each of the last two offseasons.  The two pitchers are the first two signings for the RailCats, who must exercise or decline team options on the 27 players under contract at the end of the 2009 season by mid-November.

Paulun, 22, wrapped up a four-year college career at Spring Arbor (Mich.) University in May.  A slender left-hander, Paulun worked as a starter in 2009 and went 6-2 with a 3.65 ERA, holding opposing hitters to a meager .197 average against him, the 12th lowest mark in the nation.  In 56.2 innings in 2009, Paulun allowed only 39 hits and piled up 69 strikeouts against 26 walks.  The Dexter, Michigan native was also dangerous at the plate, hitting .323 with 24 RBI.

Paulun earned First Team All-Conference honors as a senior and was named the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association’s Midwest Player of the Year.  The southpaw helped lead Spring Arbor to the NAIA World Series in 2007 and 2008, and also played for the Battle Creek Bombers in the collegiate Northwoods League in the summer of 2008.

Potrikus, 23, worked the last two seasons out of the bullpen for NCAA Division III powerhouse Cortland (N.Y.) State.  Potrikus helped push the Red Dragons to back-to-back NCAA Regional appearances and the Division III World Series in 2008.  As a senior in 2009, Potrikus notched six saves and surrendered just 19 hits in 18.2 innings, striking out 16.  In two years at Cortland, Potrikus went 4-2 with a 3.24 ERA and nine saves, posting 46 strikeouts and allowing 34 hits in 41.2 innings.

A native of North Syracuse, New York, Potrikus originally enrolled at Division I Siena where he pitched for two seasons, primarily out of the Saints bullpen.

Before the RailCats open Spring Training at U. S. Steel Yard, the team will get the 2010 season officially started at their second-annual Fan Fest, Saturday, February 20 at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza.  Featuring current and former players and coaches, celebrity appearances, baseball clinics, ballpark games, question-and-answer forums and more, Fan Fest attracted more than 1,000 RailCats fans in 2009.  Tickets to the 2010 Fan Fest are on sale now by calling 219.882.2255.  For more information, visit www.railcatsbaseball.com.