Joel Sutherland is in the process of selling the St. Cloud River Bats of the Northwoods League.  League President Dick Radatz Jr. confirmed Wednesday that the sale of the team could become official as early as the end of this week.  St. Cloud City Administration Mike Williams says the River Bats are late on their annual payment to the city and owe the city $38,753.  Williams says he's been assured by Radatz that the payment will be made by either the new owner or the Northwoods League.

Radatz wouldn't confirm or deny that the league was the potential buyer.  Radatz did assure the city of St. Cloud that the River Bats will play the 2012 season in St. Cloud.  Bats' owner Joel Sutherland did not immediately return phone calls.

Sutherland has owned the River Bats since they came into existence in 1997 when the team moved from Dubuque.  The River Bats play their home games at Joe Faber Field.

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