BOISE, Idaho (BVM) – Over the past week and a half, the Boise Hawks announced a handful of players making a return to the Hawks. Familiar names such as Greg White and Tyler Jorgensen. The Hawks also announced Matt Gabbert, Tyler Tomaka and Mitch Lines. The talented trio are looking to carve up on Boise’s pitching staff for the 2022 Pioneer Baseball League (PBL) campaign. The Hawks are rallying back in Boise and chasing the PBL championship after they fell just short of last season.

In 2018, White won the MEAC Championship with North Carolina A&T. The N.C. native earned his spot on the Hawks last season off a tryout and produced 20 RBIs and over 38 hits. The 6-foot-1 right handed batter has proven his abilities to hit in the clutch and is looking to improve off his .255 batting average from last season.

Along white and prior to signing with the Hawks, Jorgenson was playing for CSU Bakersfield. Jorgensen ended his career in Bakersfield with the third-highest batting average in CSUB history and was named First-Team All-Big West in 2021. The listed outfielder can also play solid infield as well, being a valuable utility player for the Hawks. 

Last season, Jorgensen made an instant impact the day he landed in Boise. On June 9, Jorgensen signed with the Hawks, made his pro debut and hit a walk-off hit up the middle.

Over 80 regular-season games with Boise, Jorgenson generated a .304 batting average. His impressive 13.5% strikeout percentage allowed Jorgensen to manufacture 95 hits, 19 doubles and 50 RBIs. Jorgensen was also a bright spot for the Hawks in the PBL playoffs, hitting 3 for 6 with two doubles.

Along with offense, Hawks fans should be excited about their pitching staff that can be one of the best in the PBL. 

Last year, Gabbert joined the Hawks straight out of Central Valley High School. The youngster out of Spokane tossed 44 Ks last season for Boise. A big part of preventing runs, Gabbert will be relied upon to toss a decent size workload for the upcoming season. 

Manager Gary Van Tol will also be depending on Mitch Lines to throw solid innings again next year for the green and gold. Lines earned a W-L record of 7-3 over 88.1 innings pitched. The right hander also fanned 69 batters in the PBL regular season. 

Tyler Tomaka, right handed reliever, is confirmed to return to Boise’s bullpen. The 6-foot flamethrower ended the 2021 campaign with an impressive 44/9 strikeout to walk ratio in only 28 innings. 

With these familiar faces returning, Hawks fans should be excited to see a lot more opposing batters whiff in 2022 and have the same or better offensive production that they did this past season.