California native Nolan Clark, a hard-hitting catcher who also throws a fastball in the mid-90 mph range, is the first signee of the Cowlitz Black Bears after recently agreeing to join the collegiate summer wood-bat league team next spring.

Clark, a freshman with the University of Nevada-Las Vegas baseball team, will go down in history as the team’s first player when the Black Bears begin play in the West Coast League in June.

“We’re excited to have a player of Clark’s ability as our first player,” Black Bears general manager Grant Wilson said. “We’ll be signing more players soon, and I believe fans will be impressed with the level of talent we’re putting together.”

Clark, who graduated from Capistrano Valley High School in Mission Viejo earlier this year, helped the Cougars to the 2009 California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section title. As a senior, he caught for Tyler Matzek, the 2009 first-round draft pick of the Colorado Rockies.

“We’re expecting to use Nolan behind the plate and on the mound,” Black Bears coach Bryson LeBlanc said. “He brings talent and character to our team.”

Prior to inking a letter of intent at UNLV, Clark was courted by a number of top-flight collegiate programs, including Arizona State University, Cal State-Fullerton, Southern California, Long Beach State, Louisiana State and University of San Diego.

In addition to competing for the starting job behind the plate at UNLV next spring, Clark is also expected to make some appearances as a closer.

“Nolan is a physical presence behind the plate, with a strong arm and enough power to have an immediate impact in the middle of our lineup,” UNLV coach Buddy Gouldsmith said on the school’s Web site.

As a junior, Clark allowed two stolen bases, and was selected as one of 200 high school prospects to attend the 2008 Perfect Game National Showcase sponsored by the Perfectgame.org Web site.

Perfectgame.org listed the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Clark as one of the top catching prospects in the country with “very good bat speed, strength in his swing and pop to all fields with hard line-drive contact. He has good raw arm strength behind the plate with a quick release and good catch-and-throw potential.”

The Web site also raved about his pitching prowess: “He has long arm action on the mound, good arm speed and life to his fastball. He finishes well to the plate, has a fairly tight 11-to-5 curveball with a clean athletic delivery, and uses the lower half well.”

The Black Bears’ 54-game schedule includes 30 home games at David Story Field.

For more details about the Black Bears or to secure season tickets, visit the team’s Web site at www.westcoastleague.com/cowlitz

Related

• Black Bears add five to roster