Gems March Update
February 28, 2011 - West Coast League (WCL)
Klamath Falls Gems News Release
As March approaches, we start to look even more longingly toward the start of baseball season! Spring Training games started last weekend for Major League clubs, and our own Gems players have begun their college schedules. Below we'll look at some of the highlights in the early going for our guys. For now, we have some great news items and updates for you, our fans.
First was the announcement last week of a major step in the growth of the Gems. We were able to sign Bobby Thompson and Mike Garrard as our first broadcast team. Those familiar with Oregon Tech basketball broadcasts know what Bobby and Mike bring to the airwaves, and with the help of Avista Utilities we'll really have a first-class broadcast each and every Gems game. Remember, all Gems games, home and away, are broadcast live on Country Legends 960 AM for the next three years. We're very happy to have Bobby and Mike aboard!
Also, long before we begin our first season on June 3, baseball is coming to Kiger Stadium. The ballpark begins its spring schedule as Oregon Tech takes on Simpson at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 19. The Hustlin' Owls play another doubleheader against Simpson on Sunday March 20 at the same time. Kiger will host Oregon Tech, Mazama High School, and the Babe Ruth and American Legion youth programs throughout the spring and summer, so please come out to the ballpark and support baseball in Klamath Falls!
We also wanted to tell you about a few of the improvements coming to Kiger Stadium. With the help of the Kiger Stadium Association and some of our corporate partners, you can look for a few new features to the ballpark, including:
- A new play area, the McDonald's Kid's Dugout, featuring climbing walls, clubhouses and slides.
- A new level of outfield fence signage, showing the tremendous support we've received from our corporate partners.
- The "Diamond Terrace" seating area This area features 80 reserved, individual, padded seats in the first two rows of the Kiger Grandstand. Thanks to you, our fans, these reserved seats are already sold out for the season!
- New chairs and tables for the Gems "Party Deck" areas along the first and third base lines. These seats are sold individually for each game and give you a great, comfortable view of the field.
- A new Gems merchandise stand just off the main hallway at Kiger Stadium, you'll see it as you come in the main entrance.
- Improved and expanded food service areas and some great menu items, featuring fresh, locally- grown meat items from Diamond S Meats, and other concessions treats.
We'll keep you informed about more improvements to Kiger as we get closer to the season.
As we mentioned earlier, baseball has begun for nearly all our Gems players who are now in college. In looking around the team, here are some of the highlights of the early going:
Hitters:
- Albert Selanders, Central Missouri: .389 in four games for Central Missouri (they've played six games total);
- Turner Gill, U. of Portland: .308, started in all four games for Portland, with one HR and four RBI;
- Drew Sandler, Cal Irvine: .500 with four RBIs in three games;
- Ryan Larson, Linfield: .286 in 14 at bats (see below for his pitching!);
- Erik Harbutz, Wichita State: .304 in six (of seven) games for the Shockers, with six RBI and a .407 on base percentage;
- Brian Embery, Wayland Baptist: .264 in 17 games, with one home run and 13 RBI, two-for-two in stolen bases;
- Ashton McCoy, Yavapai College: .304 in 10 games, one HR and five RBI with two stolen bases.
Pitchers:
- Dallas Chadwick, Cal State Sacramento: two starts, 4.22 ERA with a .200 opposing batter's average;
- Robert Vaughn, Linfield: 0.54 ERA, 1-1 in three starts, with 20 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings;
- Ryan Larson, Linfield: 1.50 ERA, 1-0 in three starts, with 16 strikeouts in 18 innings;
- Tom Schmidt, Nebraska-Omaha: went four innings with four strikeouts in beating Augustana on Sunday.
Here's an interesting bit of news - on Saturday, the Gems' Ryan Larson, of Linfield College, pitched five innings, giving up one earned run, striking out four, as Linfield beat our own Oregon Tech!
In the second game of the doubleheader, Linfield (and Gems) pitcher Robert Vaughn went five innings, striking out nine, though the Hustlin' Owls went ahead late for a 1-0 win. Oregon Tech's Zach Earle (another future Gem) went 1-for-4 in that game against his future teammates.
Finally, we want to wish good luck and success to the Hustlin' Owls basketball team as they travel to Branson yet again for the National Tournament. Watching the Cascade Conference playoff games at Danny Miles Court last weekend was a blast, and it looks like the team is primed and ready for Branson. Good luck guys!
Thank you for being Gems fans, and please let us know if you have any questions about the Gems, our promotional schedule, amateur baseball at Kiger, our fundraising programs, or anything else we can help you with! We're always available by phone at 883-GEMS or by e-mail at info@klamathfallsgems.com .
We look forward to seeing you at Kiger Stadium!
Chuck Heeman, General Manager
Klamath Falls Gems Baseball Club
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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.
