Loggers Add Four More to 2012 Roster
Published on March 20, 2012 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
La Crosse Loggers News Release
LA CROSSE, WI - The La Crosse Loggers 2012 roster grew by four today when team officials announced the signings of sophomore right-hander Michael Swanner (Pepperdine), freshman right-hander Jacob Dorris (Texas A & M - Corpus Christi) and a pair of position players from the University of Washington in outfielder Jayce Ray and red-shirt junior Joe Meggs.
6-4, 190 pound right-handed hurler Michael Swanner has already enjoyed a great deal of success both at Pepperdine University and in summer collegiate and he is in just his second year of his collegiate career. As a freshman last season for the Waves, Swanner appeared out of the bullpen 21 times posting a 3.95 ERA with 14 punch outs over 27.1 innings. He carried that momentum into the summer when he became a mid-season all-star in the Prospect League while pitching for the Danville Dans. While there, the Cardiff, Calif. native collected nine saves and posted a miniscule 0.53 ERA while striking out 18 batters over 17 innings pitched. Swanner was also tabbed as the 11th best prospect in the Prospect League by Perfect Game last summer. So far in 2012, Swanner has been a big part of Pepperdine's 15-5 start having not allowed a run over 7.1 innings pitched while recording three saves.
Freshman side-winder Jacob Dorris figures to be a workhorse for the Loggers this summer as he is currently filling that role for Texas A & M - Corpus Christi this spring. The Weatherford, Texas native is tied for the team lead in appearances with eight and has struck out eight batters in 6.1 innings pitched while posting an 8.53 ERA for the Islanders. Dorris, a 6-0, 150 pound right-hander, was an all-county selection and Pitcher of the Year at Weatherford High School in Texas a year ago where he also broke the school record for victories.
Speedy outfielder Jayce Ray from the University of Washington will bring a true top-of-the-order bat and centerfield defense with him to La Crosse this summer. Ray, a left-handed hitting outfielder, currently leads the Huskies with 23 safeties good enough for a .338 batting average and is posting a .423 on-base percentage at the top of UW's order. Prior to land at Washington, Ray earned junior college first-team All-American honors at Santa Rosa JC (Calif.) where he hit .350 with seven triples and 14 stolen bases. Ray also enjoyed a temporary stint in the Cape Cod League last summer, batting .217 for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks over eight games and 23 at-bats.
Ray's teammate at UW, Joe Meggs, will also make the trek from Washington to La Crosse this summer. Like Ray, Meggs is a veteran in the terms of the collegiate baseball world as he is in the midst of his red-shirt junior season, playing for his dad at UW. Often hitting in the two-hole behind Ray, Meggs is currently hitting .306 with six RBI's for the Huskies who are off to a 12-7 start on the 2012 season. A year ago Meggs earned honorable mention all-Pac 10 honors after leading the Huskies in hitting and HBP's (13). Joe's father, Lindsay, is the head coach at UW and he also played collegiate baseball at UCLA before embarking on a professional career in the Kansas City Royals organization.
Northwoods League Stories from March 20, 2012
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- Loggers Add Four More to 2012 Roster - La Crosse Loggers
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