BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

Great Bend pitcher/outfielder Carson Umphres signs a letter of intent to play baseball at Northeast Texas Community College in Mount Pleasant, Texas. The Eagles finished with a 33-24 record in 2024. they've been really good

First team All-Western Athletic Umphres earned a 6-3 record with a 1.94 earned run average with 69 strikeouts in 572/3 innings. Great Bend finished with an 18-9 record, 6-2 in the Western Athletic Conference. Umphres batted .400 playing centerfield when he wasn't pitching.

Great Bend Bat Cats coach Roger Ward and former Bat Cat Trent Touchet helped the Eagles sign Umphres. Touchet is an assistant baseball coach at Northeast Texas.

"Coach Touchet saw me playing for the Bat Cats and asked Roger Ward," Umphres said. "Roger said, 'Carson would be a steal if you signed him.' It's about connections."

Umphres has an opportunity to play outfield and pitch, but was recruited primarily as an outfielder.

"I'll have an opportunity to be a 2-way player," he said. "I'll pitch on the side, and they'll determine whether I fit into their rotation."

Umphres said he chose to sign with a junior college program because he's received some interest from  baseball scouts who believe he has draft potential. 

"I am receiving draft attention," he said. "I turned in my medical stuff the other day for the draft. That’s a big reason I chose the juco route over Division 1."

Umphres competed for a Driving Force fall travel team that competed in Arizona, Tennessee and Kansas City, Mo.

"I throw long toss several times a week to stay sharp with catcher Lane French, who I really appreciate," Umphres said. "I played outfield and would throw a few innings."

Umphres believes the Panthers will field a competitive baseball team next spring.

"We've got a good lineup back," he said. "I've got one last ride this spring with our guys."