NORTHWEST NOTES July 22, 2014

Chiefs forward signs pro contract in Germany

SPOKANE - Spokane Chiefs forward Carter Proft has signed a professional contract with the Kassel Huskies of Germany's 2nd Bundesliga. He will not return for his overage season in the WHL.

Proft was acquired by Spokane in a trade with the Brandon Wheat Kings during the 2011-12 season. In 181 games with Spokane, Proft scored 23 goals and 19 assists for 42 points. He also racked up 388 penalty minutes, leading the team during the past two seasons. In 17 career playoff games, Proft recorded one assist and 23 penalty minutes.

Ex-Coug Ard's contract purchased by Diamondbacks

PHOENIX - Former Washington State first baseman Taylor Ard is back in affiliated baseball.

A seventh round pick in the 2012 MLB First Year Player Draft by the Seattle Mariners, he spent two seasons in the minors with the Mariners. Released by Seattle in the spring of 2014, Ard signed a contract with the River City Rascals of O'Fallon, Mo., in the independent Frontier League.

Through 50 games, Ard was hitting .338 with nine home runs, 33 RBI, a .404 on-base percentage, .544 slugging percentage, .948 OPS and nine stolen bases in 10 attempts. Playing third base for the Rascals, he was named to the West Division team for the Frontier League All-Star Game.

A day after the game, his contract was purchased by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Assigned to Hillsboro (Ore.) Hops in the Northwest League, Ard has appeared in three games and collected a hit in each of his two starts.

During his two years with Seattle's organization, Ard batted .262 with 68 extra-base hits, including 20 home runs, in just over 700 at bats.

At Washington State, he was a two-time All-Pac-12 and All-West Region selection. In his final season as a Cougar, he batted .332 and was ranked in the Pac-12's top 10 for home runs (12), RBI (50), total bases (127) and slugging percentage (.577).