After wrapping up a successful four-year career with the University of Minnesota Duluth baseball program this past spring, Kyle Zweber has taken the next step in continuing his baseball career. Last Tuesday (July 1) Zweber signed a contract with the Sioux Falls Canaries of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball.

"I'm really excited, this is a good opportunity," said Zweber, whose contract runs through the end of the 2008 season, with the team having an option for a second year. "[Playing professionally] is something that I have always wanted to do."

The former Bulldog standout put an exclamation point on his time with UMD this year, leading the team in multiple pitching categories including innings pitched (57.2), games started (11) and strike outs (47). Head coach Bob Rients also used Zweber in the field 15 times last season, with the six-footer cranking three home runs and driving in seven runs in his 46 at-bats.

Zweber has already made three appearances on the hill - his first coming the day he signed his contract- for the Canaries in American Association play, the league the St. Paul Saints also call home. The right-hander has pitched 3.2 innings thus far, giving up four runs and striking out three batters while holding down a 9.82 ERA, according to the league website.

"My first outing was rough but the next two went really well," Zweber, who played for the Duluth Huskies the past two summers, said. "I am just looking to improve every day."