MSUB Baseball Signs Two Transfers (6/21/06)

BILLINGS, MT – Montana State-Billings baseball coach Chris Brown announced this week that two pitchers from Miles Community College will transfer to MSU Billings for the 2007 season.  Jeremy Knowles and James Lester join the Yellowjacket pitching staff after each spent two years at MCC.  Both played on the Pioneers’ 2006 Regional Championship team.

Knowles is a native of Three Forks, Mont., and graduated from Three Forks High School in 2004.  The 6-foot-1 right handed pitcher was an all-conference selection at MCC last season.  He went 8-3 and also had six saves for the Pioneers.  As a Legion player, Knowles appeared in three state tournaments and was twice named his team’s most valuable pitcher.

“We are very excited to have Jeremy choose to be a part of MSU Billings and the Yellowjacket Baseball program,” said Brown.  “He is a guy that we will be able to plug into the pitching staff immediately.  He has the ability to start, relieve, or close and has really come a long way this last year.  He is a good student that takes care of business in all areas of his life.”

Lester is a 2004 graduate of Frenchtown High School.  The 6-2 southpaw was 7-1 with a 1.72 ERA in 10 starts at Miles CC last year.  He didn’t play during his freshman season at MCC, giving him three season of eligibility at MSU Billings.  As a high school senior Lester posted a 5-5 mark.

“James will also figure prominently into the rotation,” said Brown.  “James has three years of eligibility left and we will look for him to make an immediate impact on the mound.  He has just started to tap into his potential on the mound and it will be exciting to see him develop even further.  He also gives us that elusive left handed starter, which will bring a little balance to the rotation.”