Mathew Gamel

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<a href=http://www.addictsports.com/baseball/showthread.php?p=393419#post393419 target=_blank>Brewers sign 11 from First-Year Player Draft</a>

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<a href=http://www.addictsports.com/baseball/showthread.php?p=393618#post393618 target=_blank>Several players assigned to Helena</a>

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<b><font size=4>Gamel leaving an impression on the diamond</font></b>

Matthew Gamel certainly can leave an impression upon his teammates — whether it be batting practice or in a game.

"I can sit out there all day and watch him do a lot of things that most people can't do," said Darren Ford.

Ford knows a little about Gamel's hitting abilities, as he was a teammate of Gamel's in Chipola, Fla., Junior College, and now both are members of the Helena Brewers.

Gamel comes to Helena as a highly touted prospect who was drafted in the fourth round this year in the First-Year Player Draft. He hit .446 and drove in 64 runs at Chipola; however, despite his talents, he is keeping his success in perspective.

"I want to help the team win and do what I have to do to keep moving up," he said.

Moving up quickly in the Brewers organization is a distinct possibility for Gamel, although it took a few years for him to earn a name for himself.

He learned how to play baseball from his grandfather and then attended Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, Fla.

"I wasn't that big of a name," Gamel said. "I didn't play that much as a sophomore or junior and I came in as a senior and worked hard over the summer," he said.

Gamel's hard work translated into a senior season where he hit .420 with eight home runs. He then went on to play for Daytona Beach Junior College, however, he had issues with the coach and moved on to Chipola.

"I matured a lot and realized that that is what I wanted to do," he said. "I worked harder and had a coach that gave me a chance to play the game."

Chipola coach Jeff Johnson saw enough in Gamel to insert him into the starting lineup and watch him deliver clutch hit after clutch hit.

"Every time I got on base, he drove me in," Hall said.

He led the Indians to within one game of the Junior College World Series and a player who described himself as ‘not a big name' in high school was suddenly a top prospect.

He heard about the Brewers selecting him not by a phone call or even a letter, but on satellite radio in his father's truck.

Once he heard the news, Gamel quickly signed with the Brewers and now gets a chance to prove himself at the professional level, where he will likely turn some heads once again.

"I just like to think I am better than the pitcher," he said.

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<a href=http://www.addictsports.com/baseball/showthread.php?p=408572#post408572 target=_blank>Still no dice</a>

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Back to the future (http://www.addictsports.com/baseball/showthread.php?p=508826#post508826)

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Player: Mat Gamel
Date: 09/12/2007
Action: Transferred
From Team: Brevard County Manatees
To Team: Huntsville Stars