Chico signs five players from just completed Golden Baseball League tryouts
Published on December 16, 2005 under Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Chico Outlaws News Release
CHICO, CALIF - The Golden Baseball League welcomed over 300 players from 30 states and four countries to its two-day tryout December 13-14 at Blair Field in Long Beach, and the Chico Outlaws offered five participants the chance to compete for spots on the team's 2006 roster.
Signing contracts with the Outlaws were right-handed pitchers Chris Searle and Colin Ward-Henninger, outfielder Alex Froloff, infielder J.T. Unumb and catcher Jerry Verastegui. Chico, along with the GBL's five other teams, selected each player during a post-tryout draft. A total of 36 players were offered contracts for the GBL's upcoming 2006 season.
"We didn't choose these players just to fill roster spots," said Outlaws general manager Bob Linscheid, who accompanied manager Mark Parent and hitting coach Jon Macalutas to Long Beach for the tryouts. "We feel we've addressed specific team needs, and at the same time came away with some of the best athletes at the tryout. More importantly, they'll fit into the community as well as the ballclub."
The 24-year-old Searle has two years of independent baseball experience under his belt. The Monterey native played college ball at Tulane University before turning pro in 2003 with the Atlantic League's Atlantic City Surf. In 2004 he split time between the Mid-Missouri Mavericks and the Chillicothe Paints of the Frontier League. Searle did not play pro ball last season, though he did attend the Paints spring training camp.
Ward-Henninger, a southern California native, will get his first taste of professional ball when the Outlaws open spring training in April. A two-sport star at The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, the 21-year-old was accepted to Yale University and played four years for the Bulldogs. Last spring Colin had an 0-2 record in 13 relief appearances, averaging better than a strikeout per inning. Froloff was the Outlaws top choice in the GBL tryout draft. The 22-year-old finished his college career last spring at Nova Southeastern University (Ft. Lauderdale, FL), batting .328 and was second in the Sunshine State Conference with 24 stolen bases. The switch-hitting centerfielder posted a .389 batting average as a junior and was an all-conference selection in 2003 at Broward Community College (FL), hitting .426 on the year.
The 21-year-old Unumb comes to the Outlaws after starring for Sierra College (Roseville, CA) last spring. J.T. batted a team-high .416 and led the Wolverines with 47 runs batted in, earning 1st team All Bay Valley Conference East honors. Unumb was a 1st team All American while playing for Mansfield (TX) High School.
The left-hand hitting Verastegui joins the Outlaws following a four-year stint as catcher for the St. Mary's University (San Antonio, TX). Jerry's best season was in 2003, when he hit .382 and was named to All-Heartland Conference team.
The Outlaws had four players from last year's GBL tryouts - including infielder Josh Ashton and pitcher Ryan Tracey -- make the team's opening day roster in 2005.
Golden Baseball League Stories from December 16, 2005
- Chico signs five players from just completed Golden Baseball League tryouts - Chico Outlaws
- GBL Drafts 36 Players at League-wide Tryout - GBL
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