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Walla Walla Sweets

Four Bruins Sign with Sweets

January 23, 2014 - West Coast League (WCL)
Walla Walla Sweets News Release


WALLA WALLA, Wash. - The Walla Walla Sweets announced today the signing of four players from the University of California Los Angeles. The quartet of players is comprised of right-handed pitchers Jacob Nix and Grant Hockin, and infielders Josh Morgan and Sean Bouchard.

Nix the 6-foot 4-inch, 205-pound pitcher, is a UCLA commit and senior at Los Alamitos High School. A three-year letter winner in baseball, Nix is ranked number 60 on Perfect Game USA's 2014 list of Top 500 high school prospects. In 2013 Nix played in both the Area Code Games and the Perfect Game National Showcase. Following his junior season at Los Alamitos, Nix pitched for the 18U National Team at the 18U World Cup in Taiwan. As a sophomore for Los Alamitos Nix went 8-0 in the regular season with a 1.97 ERA notching 41 strikeouts and leading his team to the 2012 Sunset League title. That same year he was named the 2012 Sunset League Pitcher of the Year and was named second-team All-Orange County.

Also committed to attend UCLA in the fall is 6-foot 3-inch, 200-pound Grant Hockin. A senior for Damien High School, Hockin lives in Pomona, California. He is currently ranked number 132 on Perfect Game USA's list of Top 500 High School prospects for 2014. As a junior at Damien, Hockin went 7-3 with a 1.96 ERA and 96 strikeouts. As a sophomore he was 8-3 with a 2.10 ERA. Hockin was named a Perfect Game Underclass All-American in both 2012 and 2013, and also pitched at the Area Code Games in 2012 and 2013.

"We have been fortunate to build a positive relationship with UCLA Baseball," said Sweets pitching coach Mark Michaud. "The trust that they put in us with their top pitchers is an honor, and I am excited to work with Grant and Jacob in their transition to college baseball."

Josh Morgan, a three-year baseball letter winner at Orange Lutheran High School, is an infielder and UCLA commit. Ranked number 51 on Perfect Game USA's 2014 list of top high school prospects, Morgan is 5-foot 11-inches and 175-pounds. His junior year, Morgan batted .326 with three doubles, was named first-team Perfect Game Underclass All-American, and played for the Milwaukee Brewers squad at the Area Code Games. In 2012, as a sophomore, he hit .316 with two doubles, a homerun, and 15 RBI while helping his team to the Trinity League title. "Josh is very advanced for a young infielder, good feet and hands, and a great arm," offered Sweets manager J.C. Biagi.

Bouchard, is a 6-foot 3-inch, 180-pound infielder and native of San Diego, California. A senior at Cathedral Catholic High School, Bouchard is ranked number 58 on the 2014 Perfect Game USA list of top 500 high school prospects, and is a UCLA commit. He is a two-year varsity baseball letter winner, hitting .316 with one double, one home run, and nine RBI, and posting an on-base percentage of .391 as a junior at Cathedral Catholic. Following his junior season Bouchard was named third-team Perfect Game Underclass All-American, played in the 2013 Area Code Games, and competed at the Perfect Game All-American Classic.

"Sean could go high in the MLB draft this year. He's built well, has a lot of power and can run as well as anyone we've had," Biagi added. "Both Josh and Sean are really good ballplayers. They've received a ton of recognition over the past couple years and are poised to have pretty remarkable opportunities in the coming years."

Opening Day, presented by Northwestern Mutual, is scheduled for June 5 at 7:05 P.M. at Borleske Stadium. The Sweets will open league play on June 6 when the Sweets welcome the Bellingham Bells to Borleske Stadium.

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