La Crosse, Wis. – The La Crosse Loggers announced Wednesday that three players from the high-powered Pac-12 have signed to play in 2015.

Chris Baker, a 6-foot-1, 178-pound sophomore from Washington, is projected to be the Huskies’ starting shortstop next spring. Baker played in 34 games (10 starts) as a freshman in 2014, batting .256 with three doubles and seven RBI. By the end of the season, he had taken on a larger role and started all four of Washington’s games (third base) at the NCAA Division I Oxford (Miss.) Regional. Last summer, he played for Bellingham (Wash.) in the West Coast League, batting .274 with eight doubles. Baker is from San Mateo, Calif., and led St. Francis High School to the CIF-CCS state championship as a senior.

"We're very excited to continue our relationship with the Washington program and Coach Lindsay Meggs,” Loggers General Manager Chris Goodell said. “As the starting shortstop for a nationally ranked Pac-12 team, Chris Baker will play a very big role for the Huskies and we're looking forward to him being a big part of our plans next summer as well."

Right-handed pitcher Kevin Flemer joins the Loggers from Oregon State. Flemer, 6-foot, 200 pounds, posted a 3.68 ERA in nine appearances (7 1/3 innings) as a freshman in 2014. Flemer was a standout at St. Mary’s (Calif.) High School, with California All-State First-Team honors, and earned an invitation to play in the West Coast League after graduation in 2013, going 2-1 with a 0.81 ERA and striking out 17 batters in 22 innings while helping Corvallis (Ore.) to the league championship. Flemer’s older brother, Matt Flemer, played for the Loggers in 2010 and was named to the All-Decade Team. Matt Flemer is currently in the Colorado Rockies’ minor league system and played for Class A Modesto (Calif.) last summer.

"Kevin follows in the footsteps of his older brother Matt who was one of the best competitors we've ever had in a Logger uniform,” Goodell said. “On top of that, Kevin comes from a storied program in Oregon State that produces many of the top players in the country on an annual basis.  Kevin will be a great asset to our team."

Jeff Bain, a freshman right-handed pitcher from California, was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 39th Round of the 2014 Major League Draft. Bain is a 6-foot-4, 215-pound power pitcher who will start out in the bullpen for the Golden Bears but is expected to move into a starting role early in his career. Bain collected numerous honors at San Marino High School in Pasadena, Calif., including Pasadena Star First-Team All-Area.

"Jeff is a big, powerful right-handed pitcher with a smooth delivery that certainly looks the part,” Goodell said. “We're thrilled to be able to be a part of his continued progression and look forward to giving him ample opportunities next summer.  He will make an impact on our staff."

The Loggers have enjoyed a long and successful relationship with the California baseball program. Utility player Matt Einspahr was the club’s first MVP in 2003, and catcher Andrew Knapp was the 2010 MVP. In addition, Brett Bishop (2010), Brenden Farney (2012), Brian Guinn (2008), Louie Lechich (2011), Michael Lowden (2012-13), Steven Pistoresi (2008), Travis Talbott (2003-04), and Joe Todoroff (2004) all brought their talents from Cal over the years.

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The La Crosse Loggers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS) and Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (BOS) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website. For more information, visit www.lacrosseloggers.com.

– See more at: http://northwoodsleague.com/la-crosse-loggers/2014/12/10/loggers-sign-pac-12-trio-for-2015/#sthash.6PsZx1sP.dpuf