Pair Of 2007 Oakland Draftees Join Kane County
Published on May 2, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release
GENEVA, IL - The Kane County Cougars, in conjunction with the Oakland Athletics, have announced that pitchers Lance Sewell and Chad Kerfoot have joined the Cougars from extended spring training. Both players were Oakland selections in the 2007 draft and will be coming to Kane County for the first time in their professional careers.
To make room for the pair of additions, Kane County pitcher Branden Dewing has been promoted to the High-A Stockton Ports while another Cougars hurler, Earl Oakes has been released from the Oakland organization.
Sewell, a 7th round selection by the A's last June, pitched collegiately for two seasons at San Diego State University and was one of three SDSU players taken in the draft's first ten rounds. Sewell was managed at SDSU by Hall of Famer and former San Diego Padre Tony Gwynn.
Dating back to last summer, Sewell becomes the eighth Oakland prospect among the A's top 10 picks last June to appear at Kane County. Sewell made his professional debut in 2007 with short-season Vancouver, pitching in five games (0-1, 4.05 ERA).
Kerfoot, similar to Sewell, arrives in Kane County as part of the '07 draft class and was nabbed by Oakland in the 30th round. The righty made 19 appearances for the Canadians last season, going 0-2 with a 3.47 ERA and fanning 37 batters in 36.1 innings of work. As a collegiate pitcher for the University of Delaware, Kerfoot was a four-year letter winner for the Blue Hens, pitching in 70 career games which is the third-highest total in school history.
Dewing makes the jump from Kane County to Stockton for the second time in his professional career, receiving a Cougars-to-Ports ticket most recently on June 11 of last season. Dewing pitched in 41 total games (all in a relief role) for the Cougars dating back to 2006, and had not allowed an earned run in 10.1 innings of work in seven appearances this season. On April 9 at Elfstrom Stadium, Dewing pitched the final 1.1 innings of a seven-inning combined no-hitter along with teammate Craig Italiano. The tandem effort was the franchise's sixth no-hitter in the Cougars' 18-year history.
Oakes, a 24th round pick of the A's in 2006, made two relief appearances for the Cougars after joining Kane County from extended spring training last week.
The Cougars' active roster remains at 25 players as mandated by the Midwest League. The team begins a weekend series this evening with a 6:30 p.m. contest against the first-place Clinton Lumberkings. Clinton currently holds the top spot in the league's Western Division and leads second-place Kane County by two games. Cougars starter Scott Mitchinson (3-0, 2.57) opposes the Lumberkings' Neftali Feliz (2-1, 4.64).
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