Possessing big guns for arms to gain the attention of many scouts, a pair of teammates from Granite Hills High each agreed to continue their baseball careers by attending colleges high in the mountains next season.
Right fielder Josh Rose is ticketed for the University of Utah, while center field-pitcher Trenton Brooks will join the University of Nevada. Both immediately fell for the environment and the elevation.
Possessing big guns for arms to gain the attention of many scouts, a pair of teammates from Granite Hills High each agreed to continue their baseball careers by attending colleges high in the mountains next season.
Right fielder Josh Rose is ticketed for the University of Utah, while center field-pitcher Trenton Brooks will join the University of Nevada. Both immediately fell for the environment and the elevation.
“I fell in love with the school, the view and the people right from the start,” said Rose. “Everything was perfect, and it was important for me to be at a Pac-12 school.”
A year ago, Utah and Colorado joined the conference, one of America’s top baseball circuits. However, Brooks’ future in Reno is equally prolific as a participant in the Big West Conference.
“Once my dad and I got there for my recruiting trip, I knew this was the place for me,” noted Brooks. “From the moment the coaches picked us up at the airport, I knew this would be a great atmosphere and a lot of fun.”
Rose is one of East County ‘s top return power hitters for 2013. He is the region’s returning champion in both home runs and RBI, while ranking near the top in almost every other offensive category. However, it’s his arm, which may make him a draftable prospect when the Major League Baseball free agent draft arrives in June.
“Other teams watch in awe when Josh throws the ball during warm-ups — he’s got a cannon for an arm,” noted Brooks. “And he’s a team leader and keeps everyone involved.”
While Rose is lethal with his bat and arm, Brooks holds two additional ingredients: he’s left-handed and among the top pitchers in the Grossmont Conference.
Brooks posted a 6-1 pitching record – the best winning parentage among all starting pitchers in 2012 – with four complete games and a 2.01 earned-run average. His work ethic has carried over to the younger pitchers, making the Eagles an annual contender for the Grossmont Hills League title.
“It’s not just me – everyone works hard,” Brooks noted. “Since we’re the league champion, everyone is looking to beat us, so we need to work twice as hard.”
Neither had a college major declared, although Rose hinted a lean towards a business degree.
Of course, should an MLB ball club come calling, either could follow former Granite Hills standouts like brothers Brian and Marcus Giles on the road to the show.
