February 8, 2012 - After winning the Texas Collegiate League Championship in the summer of 2010, the Victoria Generals failed to make the postseason in 2011, missing the playoffs by just one game. The Generals will look to rebound in 2012 and reclaim their championship form.

In doing so, the Generals have announced their first players signings for the 2012 roster. Jake McMurtry, a right-handed pitcher from Sam Houston State University, will return to the mound for the Generals after having been a part of the team during the 2009 inaugural season. Also joining the Generals from Sam Houston will be catcher Anthony Azar.

“We’ve had a great relationship with Sam Houston State over the last several years,” commented Blake Koch, the general manager for the Generals. “It’s a great program in the Southland Conference that continues to get better and better every year.”

Jake McMurtry was one of the original members of the Victoria Generals during the 2009 season in which the Generals won the TCL regular-season championship before falling to the Coppell Copperheads in the TCL Championship Series. The Troy, Texas native joined the Generals after redshirting his freshman year at Sam Houston. After pitching as a redshirt freshman for Sam Houston in 2010, McMurtry suffered an arm injury that kept him out of the 2011season. McMurtry has made a full recovery from his injury and is expected to help the Bearkats out of the bullpen this season.

“Jake is finally healthy and expected to make an impact this season at Sam Houston as a redshirt junior,” commented Koch. “We’re looking forward to having Jake back with us in Victoria this summer.”

Joining McMurtry from Sam Houston is sophomore catcher Anthony Azar. Azar is a transfer from Texarkana College where he hit .326 as a freshman in 2011. He was a Third-Team All-State selection his senior year at The Woodlands High School. Azar will also see some time at first base and designated hitter this season for the Bearkats.

“Anthony is a strong, physical player that can hit for average and power,” stated Koch. “He is an athletic, versatile player that will be able to see time at multiple positions as well as in the designated hitter role.”