WNCC pitchers make their pro debut

All three Western Nevada Community College pitchers who signed with Major League teams all made solid professional baseball debuts on Thursday.

For the Danville Braves in the Appalachian League, an advanced Rookie League, Cole Rohrbough started in the Braves 6-5 loss to the Bluefield Orioles. Rohrbough, who was on a pitch count of 50 pitches, allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits while striking out four and walking one in 2.1 innings. Rohrbough had a fastball in the 90-92 mile per hour range.

For the Braves Rookie League team in the Gulf Coast League, T.J. Wohlever allowed one run on four hits while striking out five in two innings of relief in the Braves 2-0 loss to the Blue Jays.

For the Tampa Bay Devil Rays short season Class A team in the New York-Penn League, Hudson Valley, Justin Garcia pitched one scorless inning of relief, striking out one and allowing two hits in a 6-5 loss to Aberdeen.

On the recruiting front, the Wildcats are trying to put the finishing touches on their 2008 recruiting class by possibly landing at least two players who could make an immediate impact.

Kyle Farrell of Salem, Ore., was quoted in the Salem Statesman Journal on Wednesday that he was leaning toward attending WNCC. Farrell, who turned down a scholarship to Oregon State, will visit WNCC tonight. Farrell was an all-state first team choice and the Most Valuable Player in the Oregon State All-Star Game.

One consideration for Farrell could be the Major League draft. If Farrell had attended Oregon State, he would have had to stay there for three years before being eligible for the Major League draft. But if Farrell attends WNCC, he could be eligible for the draft as soon as after the 2008 season.

Farrell has a fastball in the 90 mile an hour range and would be a two-way player for the Wildcats. WNCC coach D.J. Whittemore said Farrell could be the Wildcats' starting right fielder and No. 4 hitter.

Whittemore is also holding out hope that another potential two-way player, Galena High's Eric Maupin, could attend WNCC. Whittemore, though, said he expected Maupin would be mainly used as a pitcher at WNCC. Maupin also has a fastball that approaches 90 mph.

If he could raise his stock enough, Maupin's draft status could be a factor as well. He was taken in the 48th round this month by the Seattle Mariners.

But Maupin is being recruited heavily on the major Division I level, although Whittemore said he did turn down Nebraska. "He hasn't ruled us out, yet," Whittemore said. "He's still in the mix, which is good."