Published On: January 13th, 2012

LA CROSSE, WI – The La Crosse Loggers Baseball Club added to their ever-growing 2012 roster when team officials announced the signing of a pair of players from UCLA in freshmen Kevin Kramer and Grant Watson.

Infielder Kevin Kramer turned down an offer from the Cleveland Indians last June after they selected him in the 25th round of the Major League Baseball Draft, opting to attend UCLA and begin his collegiate career this spring. A decorated player in high school, Kramer helped lead the USA Baseball 16 & under Team to the gold medal in Taiwan during the summer of 2009. At 6-1, 195 the lefthanded hitting Kramer made a pair of Top 100 lists coming out of high school when Perfect Game ranked him the 76th best freshman prospect and Baseball America registered him at #65.

UCLA Head Coach John Savage sung his praises upon recruiting him, "Kevin is one of the best pure hitters in the country and one of the premier athletes coming out of high school in this class. He’s a natural leader and winner, and we believe he can be an impact hitter right away in our conference."

Left-hander Grant Watson joins Kramer as a part of the highly touted incoming freshman class for the Bruins. Watson earned all-league and all-state honors as a high school senior in Bakersfield, Calif. after going 9-1 with a 2.02 ERA and 74 punch outs in 62.1 innings pitcher in 2011.

Savage likes Watson’s competitiveness and ability to command the strike zone. "Grant is a pitcher who has been very competitive over his career at Centennial High School," Savage said. "He is as left-handed strike thrower who will be an immediate help to our pitching staff."

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