Back in Kane County

The Aurora Beacon News reports that a familiar face will be making out the lineup cards for the Kane County Cougars again in 2008 and he will have some familiar faces helping out on the staff.

Nieckula to return as Cougars manager

While the Kane County Cougars will have plenty of new faces in 2008 as usual, the coaching staff will have a familiar look when the season starts next April.

The Cougars, along with the parent club Oakland Athletics, announced Friday that manager Aaron Nieckula, pitching coach Don Schulze and hitting coach Benny Winslow will return to the club next season. This will be Nieckula's fifth season with Kane County, while Schulze and Winslow are back for the second straight year.

The 31-year-old Nieckula, who resides in Aurora during the offseason, spent two years as the Cougars' hitting coach before taking over as manager prior to the 2006 season. After winning 79 games and the Western Division title that year, Nieckula returned to guide Kane County to a 63-76 record in 2007.

Nieckula has had some entertaining ejections over the years in the Midwest League. Someone will need to keep track in '08.