Three LA Players Added to 2015 Roster

March 30, 2015 - West Coast League (WCL)
Victoria HabourCats News Release

Future Victoria HarbourCat Scott Jarvis
(Victoria HabourCats)

Merritt, the first year coach who will be helped by Pitching Coach Alec Adame, has unearthed three top young prospects - including two with "UCLA" on their resume, infielder Scott Jarvis and outfielder Jake Pries. Kevin Amezquita, an outfielder described as a "big tools" player from East LA Community College (the same school Adame serves as a coach) will also be in Victoria in a HarbourCats uniform.

"These are top-end players for our program and for this league, and we're proud to have these players and the schools they represent come to Victoria," said General Manager Jim Swanson.

"UCLA's program, led by Coach John Savage, is as storied as they come, and Jarvis and Pries will be eager to build on that profile. Amezquita is one of those speed/power/defence combination players the scouts want to watch play over a prolonged period of time, in a league like the West Coast League. Graig and Alec will have a lot of weapons at their disposal, that's for sure."

- IF Scott Jarvis, UCLA, freshman, 6-2/185 from Bellarmine HS in San Jose, Calif., bats R/throws R

- OF Jake Pries, UCLA (freshman in fall), 6-4/205, currently at J. Serra High School, San Juan Capistrano, Calif., bats R/throws R

- OF Kevin Amezquita, ELAC, sophomore, 6-1/185, Covina, Calif., bats L/throws R

The announcement brings the roster to 38 players for the coming season. Infielder Ryan Anderson of UC-Davis, announced earlier, has had his season and summer plans derailed by a knee injury.

"We anticipate injuries or other factors may reduce that number before we start welcoming players to Victoria in late May and early June, so we're pleased where we're at right now," said Swanson. "We're disappointed for Ryan Anderson, we were excited to have him. We know this roster will have quality from top to bottom, and the depth in the pitching staff is always going to be a key factor in making a run at the playoffs and a championship, which is our goal."

Jarvis played high school baseball with Ryan Wilson, a left-handed pitcher from Pepperdine who is also coming to Victoria this summer. Jarvis was named to all-region and league all-star teams, and he and Wilson led Bellarmine to their high school finals. Is a fishing and snowboarding fan - too bad Mount Washington's snow problems will be even worse come June.

Pries is a senior at J. Serra High School in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (View scouting video here -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?vV8s4riduRPg ) Pries is in the same recruiting class as infielder Tyler Nevin, the son of ex-MLB player Phil Nevin. Pries was named to numerous all-American lists, and is described by Savage as "a strong right-handed hitter with power to all fields. He is very athletic and comes from a very good program." Pries's father Jeff played college baseball for UCLA.

Amezquita is toiling under Adame's watchful eye at East LA College. The product of Gladstone High in Covina, Calif., was a football star in prep, captaining and quarterbacking his team while also playing safety - named the 2012 league MVP and top quarterback. Similar awards followed in high school baseball, where he played mostly shortstop and pitcher. He has been transitioned to the outfield at ELAC. Amezquita is hitting .270 with two triples and a pair of stolen bases for ELAC this season.

CURRENT ROSTER (38 players)

CATCHERS (4) - Zach Bonneau, University of Washington; Jackson Thoreson, St. Mary's; Dane Fujinaka, Sacramento State; Nick Meyer, Cal Poly-SLO

INFIELDERS (9) - Gabe Clark, Oregon State; Jamie Umbinetti, Edmonds CC; Griffin Andreychuk, Seattle University; Cam Santos, Chico State; PJ Floyd, Sacramento State; Michael Gretler, Oregon State; Chase Lambert, Pepperdine; Carl Stajduhar, University of New Mexico; Scott Jarvis, UCLA.

OUTFIELDERS (8) - John Naff, Everett CC; AJ Alcantara, UC-Irvine; Ben Polshuk, Cal Poly-SLO; Reno Rankin, LA Mission; Kacy Smith, University of San Diego; Kevin Collard, University of San Diego; Jake Pries, UCLA; Kevin Amezquita, East LA CC.

RH PITCHERS (12) - Curtis Bafus, Everett CC; Alex Rogers, Trinidad State (North Dakota State next fall); Alex FaGalde, Cuesta College; Preston Ryan, University of New Mexico; Sean O'Toole, St. Mary's; Kyle Francis, Everett CC; Matt Blais, UC-Davis; Chris Fougner, Salt Lake CC; Mikey Wright, Consumnes River CC; Zander Clouse, Bellevue CC, Austin Dondanville, Cal Poly-SLO; Seve Romo, University of San Diego.

LH PITCHERS (5) - Henry Baker, University of Washington; Carson Schneider, University of New Mexico; Josh Mitchell, Pittsburgh; Ryan Wilson, Pepperdine; Matt Fish, Pierce CC.

*Clark, Andreychuk, FaGalde, Rogers, Schneider, Ryan and Wright are returning players.

HARBOURCATS HOME GAME TICKETS ON SALE, ON-LINE

HarbourCats fans can get to the front of the line now by going on-line to purchase tickets for the 2015 season - that includes Opening Day (June 5), Father's Day (June 21), the added number of day games this season, and special Fireworks Games, slated for June 6, June 30, and August 3. The first exhibition game is May 31 against the Langley Blaze-PIL, then June 2-3 vs. the North Sound Emeralds, and a July 19 game in Nanaimo.

Future Victoria HarbourCat Kevin Amezquita

Future Victoria HarbourCat Jake Pries

Future Victoria HarbourCat Scott Jarvis

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West Coast League Stories from March 30, 2015

• Galgano, McGrath Added to 2015 Bells Roster - Bellingham Bells
• Three LA Players Added to 2015 Roster - Victoria HabourCats

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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