LA CROSSE, WI – With opening day of the 2016 season just two months away, the La Crosse Loggers added a powerful bat to their lineup when team officials announced the signing of freshman Gavin Johns from Yavapai College today.
Johns, a 6-2, 205 pound slugger originally from Temecula, Calif., is in Yavapai's leaderboard in nearly every offensive category through the first 33 games played this season. The switch-hitter currently ranks second on the team with a robust .382 batting average, including 10 home runs and 39 RBI's. Johns has also scored 31 runs and totaled nine doubles, two triples and stolen seven bases for Yavapai, who sits at 26-11 on the season playing in a wood bat conference. Johns has the ability to catch along with playing both corner infield and outfield positions
Johns also enjoyed a tremendous prep career at Vista Murrietta High School (Temecula, Calif.) when he earned all-league honors in 2015 and was selected to the SoCal All-Star Game in 2014.
Johns and the rest of the Loggers will open their 2016 campaign on the road on May 31 when they travel to Kenosha to take on the defending NWL Champions. The 2016 home opener is then set for Thursday, June 2 when the Loggers welcome the St. Cloud Rox to the Lumber Yard for a 7:05 p.m contest.
The La Crosse Loggers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Preparing for its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball, 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 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.lacrosseloggers.com.