WCL Medford Coach Named, First Players Signed
October 8, 2012 - West Coast League (WCL)
Medford Rogues News Release
MEDFORD, OR - The West Coast League's newest team, WCL Medford, today announced the hiring of the team's coaching staff and the first round of player commitments for the 2013 season.
Leading the team on the field in 2013 will be Head Coach Josh Hogan. Currently an assistant coach at Lane Community College, Hogan served as Head Coach of the Klamath Falls Gems in 2011. He led the Gems to a 30-28 overall record, overcoming a 3-18 start with a frantic 27-10 finish, missing the WCL playoffs by one game.
Prior to joining the Lane staff, Hogan served as a graduate assistant coach under George Horton at the University of Oregon. A native of Eugene, Hogan was the Ducks' first base and infield coach. He played for Oregon in 2008-09, earning a team captain spot as well as being named the team's best defensive player. He also spent three years as an infielder with the WCL's Corvallis Knights, winning the WCL Championship in 2008 and playing in the Championship Series in 2009. He was named to the WCL All-Conference team all three years he played in Corvallis. Before joining Klamath Falls, Hogan coached with the WCL's Cowlitz Black Bears as an assistant coach during the team's expansion and second years.
"With six years of direct WCL experience in winning situations as well as with an expansion team, Josh is the perfect coach for the culture we're creating in Medford," WCL Medford General Manager Chuck Heeman said. "I've worked with Josh for a year now, we work together well and we know the kind of player we need to represent Medford in a positive way. Josh puts together a culture that brings out the best in players both on the field and off. We want to win and win now, and Josh is a winner."
Joining the team as pitching coach is Jeff Lyle, also of Lane CC, where he has been on staff since 2008. He served in the same position with the Gems in 2012 and coached a pitching staff that set an all-time WCL record with 407 strikeouts while walking only 107. Prior to joining Lane CC, Lyle coached at Thurston High in Eugene and was an associate scout with the Atlanta Braves organization. As a player, Lyle pitched at Merced (CA) JC and Fresno State.
"As with Josh Hogan, we're very lucky to have Jeff with us," Heeman said. "He's a great teacher of pitching, knows the game and how to get the most out of players. In the WCL, good pitching is the key to success and Jeff did a great job in molding a staff for us last summer. He'll do the same here, as it looks like Harry & David Field is a pitcher's park."
The team also announced the first seven player commitments for 2013, six from Division I schools. The group is led by two North Medford High School graduates, Matt Maurer (LHP, Pepperdine) and Colin Sowers (C/OF, U. of Portland), as well as 2012 WCL All-Star Parker Miles (2B/OF, UC Santa Barbara). The first seven WCL Medford player commitments include:
Matt Maurer, LHP, Junior, Pepperdine; 6'3", 220, bats and throws left
Maurer, a native of Medford (North Medford HS), starred at Pepperdine in 2012, going 6-1, 3.56 in 17 games (11 starts) for the Waves. Matt was also a star with the Medford Mustangs, helping to lead the team to the 2007 Oregon State Championship and the 2009 National Legion runner-up spot. He also played for the WCL's Cowlitz Black Bears in 2011 and for Hyannis of the Cape Cod League in 2012. He holds North Medford HS career records for wins (34), strikeouts (377), innings pitched (360) and ERA (1.05).
Colin Sowers, C/OF, Junior, U. of Portland; 5'10", 195, bats and throws right
Another North Medford HS graduate, Sowers was a utility catcher and outfielder for the Pilots in 2012. Sowers played briefly for the Klamath Falls Gems at the end of the 2011 season, appearing in six games and compiling 15 at-bats. He joined Maurer in leading the Black Tornadoes to the 2007 Oregon High School Class 6A State Championship and three straight conference championships.
Parker Miles, 2B/OF, Junior, UC Santa Barbara; 5'8", 185, bats and throws right
A WCL All-Star for the Klamath Falls Gems in 2012, Salem, OR native Miles set league records for walks in a season (45) and added two home runs, 26 RBI and seven stolen bases from the leadoff spot. Prior to signing with UCSB, Miles hit .340 with two home runs, 36 walks and 10 stolen bases for Chemetka JC in 2012, striking out only 16 times in 141 at bats.
Josh Potter, 1B, Junior, Campbellsville (KY) University; 6'3", 195, bats and throws right.
A native of Bonney Lake, WA, Potter transfers to traditional NAIA power Campbellsville after a stellar two-year career at Pierce (WA) College. In 2012 Potter hit .363 with one home run and 38 RBI while striking out only 15 times in 160 at bats while leading Pierce to the 2012 NWAACC Championship. Potter was named the Tournament MVP.
Steven Schoonover, LHP, Redshirt Junior, Nebraska-Omaha; 6'5", 210, bats and throws left
Schoonover pitched for the Klamath Falls Gems in 2011, going 2-2, 2.25 with only two walks in 40 innings through nine games (six starts). Schoonover, from Olympia, WA, suffered a torn left labrum early in the 2012 season at UNO but is expected to be at full strength in time for the team's spring season.
Ryan Teel, C, Sophomore, Nevada-Reno; 6'1", 180, bats and throws right
Teel is scheduled to take over as the starting catcher for the Wolf Pack in 2013. A native of Tustin, CA, Ryan hit .244 with five RBI in 41 at bats while backing up UNR's starting catcher, Carlos Escobar Jr., in 2012.
Jeff Hardy, RHP, Freshman, Nevada-Reno; 6'4", 170, bats and throws right
Hardy, a native of Sunnyvale, CA, is an incoming freshman with the Wolf Pack. He starred as a first baseman as well as on the mound with Homestead High in Sunnyvale but is projected as a starting pitcher at Nevada-Reno.
"As we get more commitments I think we'll see that players from high-profile Division I schools want to come to Medford," Heeman said. "It's a great town for players to spend their summers, Harry & David Field is a tremendous facility and the WCL offers top-level competition. The culture for excellence that Josh and Jeff create attracts players who want to get better and to win. We're excited to get this part of the WCL Medford operation under way."
The team expects to announce the 2013 schedule in late October as well as the winners of the "Name the Team" contest, presented by the Mail Tribune. To vote for a team name go to www.mailtribune.com/nametheteam. More player commitments will be announced as contracts are received from college coaches.
WCL Medford is owned and operated by CSH International, Inc. The West Coast League is an 11-team collegiate wood-bat baseball league composed of the best college players, coaches, facilities and operators in the industry. Ranging from Medford, Oregon north to Kelowna, B.C., the league has operated as the WCL since 2005. In 2012, a league record 57 WCL players were selected in the Major League draft. For more information on the WCL, go to www.wccbl.com.
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West Coast League Stories from October 8, 2012
- WCL Medford Coach Named, First Players Signed - Medford Rogues
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