Quam signs with UT-Permian Basin

Jennifer Quam celebrated Friday’s sweep of Snow College by signing a national letter of intent to play for Division II University of Texas-Permian Basin.

Quam becomes the second WNC player in as many seasons to sign with the Texas school. Quam, who plays centerfield, will join Taleas Marble, the hard-hitting third baseman who hit 16 homers a year ago for the Wildcats, on the Texas squad.

“I went on a visit and stayed with Taleas,” Quam said. “She seems to like it there. I’m excited and looking forward to it.”

“Jen has grown so much in her two years at Western Nevada,” WNC coach Leah Wentworth said. “We’re proud that she will continue to play at the next level, but we are sad to see her go. They have been interested in her since last year. I think the fact that Taleas is there helps. It’s always nice when you’re going away to school to have somebody there that you know.”

When Quam entered WNC, she had high hopes of making the jump to a Division I school. She had 70 hits, 55 steals in 59 attempts and a .354 average as a freshman, and the future looked bright. However, Quam suffered a couple of injuries this year and her average dipped to .280 with 41 stolen bases. Make no mistake about. Division I schools have missed the boat on her.

Quam said she would rather have a chance to excel at the Division II level instead of being “an average player” at the Division I level. She may be short-changing herself. When you can run like Quam, any team would be nuts not to take a look at you. She would be an ideal No. 1 or No. 2 hitter at any level.

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It’s time for my yearly rant at the track coaches in Northern Nevada. When will you guys get a clue?

Until I got to Nevada nine-plus years ago, I worked in various parts of Northern California. In California track trials and finals are held in the same week, either with one or two days of rest in between or on back-to-back days. In Northern Nevada, the trials and finals are a week apart. This year it’s May 4 and May 11. Ridiculous. State is held on back-to-back days. I would think the coaches would want their kids to be preparing for that kind of regimen. Carson’s Robert Maw said he’s repeatedly brought it up at league meetings only to get shot down.

If this is about getting kids out of class, administrators need to get a grip. The way Northern Nevada does it is weak, and it needs to be changed.

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The upcoming baseball playoffs, after the first couple of days, are being held at Reno and Wooster high schools. I’d like to see teams go to Carson and Reno like it was when I first got here. I think there should be night baseball in the playoffs, and that usually means a bigger gate. Wooster has one of the best fields in the league, but the seating capacity isn’t great.