The Victoria Generals of the Texas Collegiate League have announced the addition of two more returning players to their 2012 roster. First baseman Trace Knoblauch and right-handed pitcher Ross Goebel are set to spend another summer in Victoria with the Generals.
“Trace and Ross are both great individuals on and off the field that represent the type of players we want to continue to have involved in our organization,” commented Victoria’s general manager, Blake Koch.
Trace Knoblauch, a junior first baseman at Indiana University, was a member of the Generals’ 2010 TCL Championship team and made a brief appearance at the end of the 2011 summer with the team as well. In 2010, Knoblauch made 31 starts for the Generals at first base and designated hitter. The switch-hitter pounded out six doubles, one home run, and 15 RBIs to go along with 22 walks and a .273 batting average. Knoblauch’s .431 on-base percentage ranked fifth best in the TCL.
The 6’5”, 225 pound slugger spent the 2011 summer in the Western Baseball Association with the So Cal SKLZ before returning to Victoria to play in three games at the end of the season. Knoblauch went 4-for-11 for a .363 batting average with a double, a home run, five RBIs, and three runs scored.
After seeing limited time as a freshman and sophomore at IU, Knoblauch is now the everyday first baseman for the Hoosiers this season.
“Trace has really matured as a player over the past few seasons,” said Koch. “He has filled into his large frame and is only beginning to scratch the surface in terms of his potential.”
Ross Goebel, a junior at Texas State University, will return to the mound for the Generals after having a standout season in 2011. Goebel posted a team-high five wins to go along with just two losses in his nine starts. He had a 2.76 ERA for the season with 31 strikeouts in 58.2 innings of work.
Goebel, a Cuero, Texas, native, transferred to Texas State after spending his first two years at North Central Texas College. At NCTC, Goebel compiled a career record of 10-4 to go along with five saves. Goebel’s ERA was 2.63 as a freshman and 3.68 as a sophomore.
Goebel has been used multiple times out of the bullpen for Texas State so far this season.
“Ross came up big for us last summer,” commented Koch. “He was one of the best starting pitchers in the league, so we’re excited to get another full season out of him this summer.”
The Generals home opener is on Sunday, June 3 at 7:05pm at Riverside Stadium against the Acadiana Cane Cutters. Season tickets for all 30 of the Generals home games this season are on sale now. Fans can buy season tickets and team merchandise at the Generals team store located at 3708 North Navarro, Suite A in the Landmark Shopping Center, online at www.VictoriaGenerals.com, or by calling 361-485-9522.
