The NMU Wildcats took a moment before todays game against Alaska Anchorage to recognize former player Tom Bates. The utility man was taken into custody following the team's road trip to Alaska last year. Bates has been arraigned and is serving the first year of a two year sentence in Yukon Territorial jail for assaulting a Mountie.

Bates was convicted last summer of exposing himself to a bear as the team bus stopped for gas a few miles from the Alaska border. As a Wildlife officer instructed him to cover himself, he struck the man, allegedly verbally assaulting him with taunts of "Where's your horsie, bitch?" and threatening to shoot all the "fuzzy wittle animals you wanna protect."

Bates was allowed to complete school using a correspondence program. "We were able to succeed without him," pitcher Chris Bing said. "We think about what he contributed from time to time, and this team feels bad about losing him, but I don't think we miss him all that much."

Bates has no plans to rejoin the team when he is released from prison next year.