The Gary SouthShore RailCats made their first roster moves of the winter, adding infielders Brad Dutton and Joe Anthonsen from the Rockford RiverHawks of the Frontier League, completing a 2007 trade that sent pitcher Jim Paduch to Rockford.

Paduch was traded to the RiverHawks in December of last year in exchange for a pair of players to be named later, a move that also assumed the completion of a 2006 spring training trade that sent Anthonsen from the RailCats to Rockford.  Anthonsen and Dutton may actually not be long for the RailCats, as one of the two players will be shipped to Joliet to complete the July trade that brought the RailCats since-retired pitcher Brian Forystek.

Anthonsen, 26, was signed out of Campbell University by the RailCats in 2006 but has spent his entire three-year professional career in Rockford.  The middle infielder had a career season in 2008, leading the Frontier League with a .352 average and earning All-Frontier League honors at second base.  Anthonsen also ranked in the top three in the league in hits, on base percentage and runs scored, in addition to racking up 29 stolen bases and 50 RBIs.

Like Anthonsen, Dutton, 26, has spent his entire three-year career in Rockford.  A native of Brisbane, Australia, Dutton batted a career-best .311 in 2008, driving in 49 runs.  Primarily a third baseman, Dutton is also a base-stealing threat, swiping 43 bags since 2006.

The RailCats are the only team in the history of the modern Northern League to reach the Championship Series in four straight seasons, and will try and make it five in a row in 2009.  The RailCats are proud of their Tradition of Excellence, and will begin their eighth Northern League campaign in May 2009.