Gems Add Two Full Season, Four 10-Day Players
May 15, 2012 - West Coast League (WCL)
Klamath Falls Gems News Release
KLAMATH FALLS, OR - The Gems today announced the commitment of four players to 10-day contracts to start the season in Klamath Falls, as well as two additions to the full-season roster. Collegiate wood-bat summer teams often sign players to 10-day contracts to fill in for players who are late in arriving due to school and tournament schedules. In the Gems' case, the team will be missing approximately 17 full-contract players until the second week of June.
"We are very lucky to have found a number of quality guys who will help us while we're shorthanded," Gems General Manager Chuck Heeman said. "The advantage for our 10-day guys is that they'll have a real shot to play, get at-bats and innings early on, and you never know what happens from there. We're not in the business of turning away good players, so this is a great chance for these guys to shine."
Players signed to start the season in Klamath Falls are:
- Riley Barr, RHP, Mt. Hood CC: Barr, a 6'3", 195 sophomore, is a native of Idaho Falls, ID and is 6-3 with a 2.20 ERA in 13 games (4 starts) for the Saints. He has 35 strikeouts and 13 walks on the year, and has signed with New Mexico State to be the Aggies' closer in 2013.
- Mark Lemoncelli, LHP, Lower Columbia CC; Lemoncelli, 6'4", 195, is a freshman and a native of Auburn, WA. He is 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA in nine games with LCCC.
- Parker Miles, INF/OF, Chemetka CC: Miles, 5'7", 198, is a sophomore and a native of Salem, OR. He is hitting .378 with two home runs, 19 RBI and 9 stolen bases in 31 games for the Storm.
- Chase Tokunaga, LHP, Feather River JC: Tokunaga, 6'0", 185, is a native of Wailuku, HI and went 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA in 16 games with the Golden Eagles. He struck out 25 and walked 11, earning two saves in 22 2/3 innings on the season.
The Gems also signed two players to full WCL contracts. The two are:
- Brandon Williams, RHP, Mt. Hood JC, to a full-season contract. Williams replaces Mt. Hood RHP Isaac Henslee, who will not play summer ball in 2012. Williams is transferring in to Mt. Hood from Washington State University.
- Justin Bohn, infielder, Feather River JC: Bohn, 6'0", 185, is a native of Phoenix, OR and hit .420 with 3 home runs, a team-leading 43 RBI and a conference-leading 18 stolen bases (in 20 attempts) to go with 17 doubles and 7 triples. Bohn was named the Golden Valley Conference Player of the Year this season as a true freshman. Bohn takes the roster spot of OF Devyn Bolasky (UC Riverside), who will not play summer ball this year.
10-day players, added to earlier signings, give the Gems a full roster going in to the June 1 opener at Kiger Stadium against the Bend Elks.
The Gems are members of the West Coast League, a nine-team professional style wood-bat summer college league. The WCL features pro prospects from major conferences across the country. More than 150 WCL alums played affiliated professional baseball last season, and more than 20 ex-WCL stars played in the Major Leagues last season. For more information on the league, visit www.wccbl.com . For more information on the Gems, visit www.klamathfallsgems.com.
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West Coast League Stories from May 15, 2012
- Gems Add Two Full Season, Four 10-Day Players - Klamath Falls Gems
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