Gems Sign Four, Add Staff
January 24, 2012 - West Coast League (WCL)
Klamath Falls Gems News Release
KLAMATH FALLS, OR - The Klamath Falls Gems of the West Coast League today announced four player signings and an assistant coaching change. Joining the Gems will be the State of Oregon's #2 high school recruit, RHP/C Josh Graham (University of Oregon), LHP Brandon Brown (University of Oregon), the #1 high school recruit from the Idaho/Montana/Wyoming region, and two infielders, Brandon Trinkwon (UC Santa Barbara) and Mike Umscheid (Western Nevada JC). The team also added three staff members and announced the resignation of Pitching Coach Mitch Karraker.
Committing to the Gems are:
Brown, 6'3", 200, who comes to the University of Oregon as the top-ranked recruit from the region that includes Idaho, Wyoming and Montana, according to BaseballNorthwest.com and Perfect Game, a national scouting bureau. His Eagle (ID) High School team won its state Championship. Brown is rated the highest 2012 MLB draft prospect from the region.
Graham, the BaseballNorthwest.com #2 recruit from the State of Oregon, is a native of Roseburg and was named Class 6A All-State after going 10-2 with a 2.54 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 80 innings. He won 10 of Roseburg's 19 games in the 2011 season, leading the Indians to the state title. He is schedule to do double duty at Oregon, playing as a catcher and late-inning relief pitcher. He takes the roster spot of Cal State Fullerton catcher Jared Deacon, who elected to not play summer ball this year.
Trinkwon, 6'1", 160, a true sophomore, takes the roster spot of INF Jorden Mossey (Nebraska), who left school after the fall semester. Brandon appeared in 29 games, starting 21 of them, during the 2011 season for UCSB. He posted a .260 batting average with a .318 on base percentage. He hit his first career homerun at AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, against Louisiana-Lafayette on March 12th. Trinkwon played 2011 summer ball for Albany (NY) of the Perfect Game Collegiate League.
Umscheid, an incoming freshman at Western Nevada, is 6'3", 200 pounds and is a lefthanded hitter. A native of Beaverton, OR, he starred at Sunset High School before committing to Western. He is scheduled to serve as a corner infield utility player for the Gems.
The Gems also announced that Assistant Coach Mitch Karraker has accepted a coaching position with USA Baseball, joining University of Oregon Head Coach George Horton in coaching the 2012 Collegiate National Team. His duties with USA Baseball will prevent him from joining the Gems this summer.
In addition, the Gems announced the hiring of 2011 intern Jessica Dutton as the team's Director of Entertainment, and the hiring of Amy Meyer (Montana State University) and Kyndra Miles (Northwest Christian University) as the team's first two interns for the 2012 season.
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West Coast League Stories from January 24, 2012
- Gems Sign Four, Add Staff - Klamath Falls Gems
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