Northwest Notes March 31, 2013
Winnipeg signs former Lake City High standout
Lake City High graduate and former University of Hawaii pitcher Alex Capaul has signed with the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball.
Capaul, 24, has played the last two seasons in the Arizona Diamondbacks system and split last season between short-season "A" Yakima, Single-A South Bend and Triple-A Reno, going 2-4 with a 5.54 ERA and two saves in 20 appearances, including three starts.
Capaul was released by the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 23.
"He's a strike thrower, sinker, slider kind of guy," Winnipeg manager Rick Forney said. "He doesn't produce a lot of swings and misses and strikeouts, but he pitches to both side of the plate. We're also looking for guys that will throw the ball over the plate and are willing to compete in the strike zone. They are usually easier to play defense behind."
Ex-NIC coach Gregorak returns to Griz volleyball program
Kandice Gregorak, who led the North Idaho College volleyball team to NJCAA tournament appearances in both years as coach in Coeur d'Alene, has rejoined the Montana coaching staff where she was an assistant from 2007-09.
She replaces Gina Schmidt, who was named head coach at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, in February.
"The overall resume that coach Gregorak has been able to build as a player, as a recruiter and now as a head coach will make her a valuable addition," Montana head coach Jerry Wagner said. "Her experiences at North Idaho these last two years will only make this staff better."
Gregorak was recruited to Montana State more than a decade ago by Wagner, then an assistant coach with the Bobcats. Wagner gave Gregorak her first coaching job less than a year after she had finished her playing career.
In her two years at NIC, the Cardinals went 51-15, starting this season 13-0 and climbing to No. 1 in the nation before finishing second to eventual national champion Southern Idaho at the Region 18 tournament and finishing eighth at nationals. NIC was ninth at nationals in 2011.