MCC signs six baseball players (corrected cutline)

Courtesy Brighton (Colo.) High School pitcher Austin Parker, seated, signed a letter of intent to play baseball at McCook Community College. In back, from left to right, Brighton baseball coach Les Tapia, Austin's parents Tammy and Dana Parker and MCC baseball coach Jeremy Jorgensen.

Six high school athletes have signed on to play college baseball at McCook Community College next year.

"We are excited to sign 6 quality players of this caliber this early in the recruiting period. Each of them had opportunities at other programs and they chose our program. I think that says a lot about the reputation and quality of MCC baseball," said MCC coach Jeremy Jorgensen said.

This is the most commitments Jorgensen said he's received this early in the process

Those signing letters to play at MCC include:

Austin Parker is a 6-foot-3 right-handed power pitcher from Brighton High School, Brighton, Colo.

"We expect him to come in right away and compete and throw some innings for us as well as push for time at third base," Jorgensen said. "He's a big strong kid with a chance to get even bigger and stronger and add some velocity to his fastball."

Parker went 4-1 with a 3.18 earned run average and fanned 32 hitters in 38 innings of work for the Class 5A Bulldogs.

He also played in the summer with the Colorado Aces where he batted .392 in 125 at bats and went 5-2 on the mound with a 2.68 ERA in 49 innings of work.

Pat Knabe is a 6-1 outfielder from Lincoln Southwest High School. "He's a Nebraska kid who we think projects very well as a corner outfielder for us, he has a strong arm and a solid swing, which will help him compete for playing time in right and left field.

Jarrett Crockett is a speedy outfielder from Horizon High School in Colorado.

"He's a scrappy player with a high on-base percentage who can steal a lot of bases and will add speed and athleticism to our outfield," Jorgensen said.

Crocker had a .551 on-base average his junior year and has been a captain and starter since his junior year. In addition he was named an all-conference and all-region as a defensive back in football.

Matt Raabe, Green Mountain High School, Colo., is a 6-2, 185-pound, right-handed hitting first baseman.

"He has tremendous potential to hit for power and is very athletic," Jorgensen said.

Jon Lewis is a 6-2, 185-pound all-conference catcher from Longmont High School in Longmont, Colo., who Jorgensen calls a tremendous competitor.

"He really impressed me with his competitiveness. Jon will do whatever it takes to help his team win."

He will also compete for time in the infield.

In addition, Marshall Carr of Brighton, Colo., just accepted a scholarship offer from MCC this week.