Klamath Falls Gems (collegiate wood bat baseball)

The Klamath Falls Gems were a collegiate wood bat baseball team based in Klamath Falls, Oregon. They began as an expansion team in the West Coast League in 2011 and played their home games at Kiger Stadium, which is also the home of the Oregon Tech Owls. They were named after the former Class-D Far West League affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies that played from 1948 to 1951. They previously played in the Golden State Collegiate Baseball League from 2016 to 2017 and were members of the Great West League, having joined that league in October 2017 and played during the 2018 season.[1] They were without a league as the GWL suspended operations on October 4, 2018, and have eventually ceased operations themselves without notice. The owner Joe O'Connor was being given until December 31, 2018, to renew the lease or the team will be considered defunct.[2][needs update] There was no response and the franchise was officially considered defunct.

Klamath Falls Gems
Information
LocationKlamath Falls, Oregon
BallparkKiger Stadium
Founded2011
Folded2018
League championships0
Division championships0
Former name(s)
  • None
Former league(s)
ColorsBlack, Dark Green, Old Gold and White
       
MascotTater
OwnershipJoe O'Connor
ManagerNick Gauna (head coach)
MediaKLAD-AM (radio, internet)
Herald and News (newspaper)
Websitehttp://www.kfallsgems.com

History

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The Gems were founded in 2011 by a group of local sports personalities including longtime Oregon Tech Owls men's basketball coach and athletic director Danny Miles, Howard Morris, Don Gresdel and Eric Baker. [3] They named Chuck Heeman as the team's inaugural general manager. [4] They were named for the original Klamath Falls Gems that played in the original Far West League from 1948 to 1951. [5]

Front office staff

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  • Joe O'Connor - Owner
  • Nick Winstead - Assistant General Manager
  • DJ Harryman - Marketing Intern

Broadcasting

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All games, home and away, were broadcast live on KLAD-AM 960 & FM 99.3 ESPN Radio and streamed live at the station's website.

Year-by-year records

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West Coast League

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Year League Affiliation Record Finish Manager Playoffs
2011 West Coast League none 19-35 4th, West N/A missed playoffs
2012 West Coast League none 26-28 4th, West N/A missed playoffs
2013 West Coast League none 25-29 3rd, South Mitch Karraker missed playoffs
2014 West Coast League none 15-39 5th, South Mitch Karraker missed playoffs
2015 West Coast League none 15-41 5th, West N/A missed playoffs

Golden State Collegiate Baseball League

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Year League Affiliation Record Finish Manager Playoffs
2016 Golden State Collegiate Baseball League none 17-27 5th N/A missed playoffs
2017 Golden State Collegiate Baseball League none 24-20 5th Daulton Hanks missed playoffs

Great West League

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Year League Affiliation Record Finish Manager Playoffs
2018 Great West League none 20-34 5th Nick Gauna missed playoffs

References

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  1. ^ GWL WELCOMES KLAMATH FALLS GEMS, GWL website, October 17, 2017
  2. ^ Will the Gems play in Klamath Falls again?, Brian Schnee, KTVL.com, December 14, 2018
  3. ^ Local Ownership of the Klamath Falls Gems, Gems website at Wayback Machine, Retrieved September 3, 2021
  4. ^ Front Office, Gems website at Wayback Machine, Retrieved September 3, 2021
  5. ^ History, Gems website at Wayback Machine, Retrieved September 3, 2021
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