Jaguars sign first ever baseball players
Trio of local boys coming back home
3 baseball players, all with Victoria roots, have signed letters of intent to play for the University of Houston-Victoria Jaguars in 2007-08.
Head coach Terry Puhl announced the signings of left-handed pitcher Jason Krog, right-hander, Casey Newman, and infielder Michael Graff. All three will play pivotal roles for the Jaguars this season.
“We’re looking for Casey to log innings and I expect Casey to be able to manipulate his way through a lineup in a professional manner,” Puhl said. “Jason should see a lot of work coming out of the bullpen facing critical lefthanders while pitching fairly often. As he learns what he is capable of doing, he’ll be an invaluable asset to our pitching staff.”
Graff will help solidify the Jaguars lineup.
“Michael can play all over the infield, which is very valuable,” said Puhl. “As he gets stronger and smarter as a hitter, he’s going to be a pleasure for Jaguars fans to watch.”
UHV President Tim Hudson says this is proof the programs offered at UHV are what students want. "Casey, Jason and Michael are examples of how the programs we offer at UHV benefit Victoria. The combination of athletics and degree programs offered at UHV brought these students back. Without an athletics program, Casey, Jason and Michael would have left Victoria and stayed away to pursue their educational dreams. Not only does UHV benefit from their return, but our community will benefit when they graduate and enter the workforce." Krog pitched at Mountain View Junior College and played high school ball for Victoria Memorial High. Newman transfers following his freshman season at Galveston College and is a graduate of Victoria’s Faith Academy. Graff was red-shirted during his freshman season at Oral Roberts University and also graduated from Faith Academy in Victoria.
The Jaguars’ inaugural baseball season begins in February 2008.
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 80 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.
