Brooks Hatch Blog: WOU’s Jacob Fricke Named GNAC Pitcher of the Week

Happy Tuesday, everyone, from the world-wide headquarters (WWHQ) of the Corvallis Knights, your 2016-2017 West Coast League champions!

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Western Oregon junior lefty Jacob Fricke (2016-18) was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference’s Pitcher of the Week for March 12-18.

The former Glide High School star threw seven scoreless innings in a 9-0 shutout of Central Washington on March 18 for his first win of the season. He struck out seven, walked one, and allowed just five hits.

He pitched out of a first-inning jam and then retired eight straight batters. He did not allow a runner past first in his final six innings.

Congrats to Jacob, a staff mainstay on our 2016 and 2017 WCL championship teams.

His 2017 Knights’ teammate, Pepperdine pitcher/outfielder Jordan Qsar, was nominated for West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Week honors but was not selected. He had a save against Gonzaga on March 17 and pitched the final inning of a win over New Mexico on March 13.

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Some bad news out of the Kansas City Royals’ training camp in Surprise, Ariz.

Pitcher Sam Gaviglio (2009), a former Oregon State star who made his major-league debut in 2017, has been designated for assignment by the Royals. He could end up in triple-A Omaha if not claimed by another MLB team.

Sam was 4-5, 4.36 in 16 games with Seattle and Kansas City in 2017 after finally making the majors after a long career in the St. Louis and Seattle organizations. He was 1-0, 3.00 in four games with the Royals after being signed on waivers following his release by Seattle.

Best of luck to Sam in finding a new organization, or in prospering at Omaha and earning another big-league opportunity.

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Reliever Jimmie Sherfy (2011), a late-season sensation with Arizona in 2017, will start the season with the Reno Aces of the triple-A Pacific Coast League. He pitched in only one spring training game this year. He was 2-0, 0.00 in 11 games with the Diamondbacks in 2017, with nine strikeouts in 10.2 innings. Jimmie played at Oregon.

Kansas City sent catcher Nate Esposito (2012) to its minor-league camp. He is presently on the roster of the Wilmington Blue Rocks, the Royals’ high-A Carolina League franchise. He hit .225 (51-227) in 68 games at Wilmington in 2017, with 16 RBIs. He also had a brief stint at triple-A Omaha. Nate played at OSU and at Concordia.

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Our 2018 season tickets are now on sale! For more details or to order your tickets online, please click here. Tickets may also be purchased by calling us at 541-752-5656 or by visiting our office at 4th Street and Jefferson Avenue in downtown Corvallis. See you at the ballpark in 2018!

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The Walla Walla Sweets have signed a pair of Montana State-Billings Yellowjackets, junior outfielder Jalen Garcia and junior right-handed pitcher Carson Woolery. Please click here for more details, from Our Sports Central.

The Yakima Valley Pippins have signed pitcher Matt Driver of Yakima Valley College, YVC pitcher Easton Henke and Bellevue College infielder Grant DeLappe, a future Washington State Cougar. Please click here for more details, from Our Sports Central.

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That’s all for today. Have a great week, and we will see you on Friday.