Fans who attended the 2010 Junior College World Series in Grand Junction will never forget Bryce Harper and the College of Southern Nevada Coyotes. And, of course, anyone who follows baseball knows that shortly after JUCO, Harper signed a $9.9 million contract with the Washington Nationals, and after rising quickly through the minors won National League Rookie of the Year honors in 2012. Las Vegas sports writer Rob Miech, who's book The Last Natural, chronicles  Harper's make-or-break season at CSN, will be featured as the keynote speaker at the 2013 Alpine Bank Junior College World Series pre-tournament banquet.

Miech spent the 2010 season with the CSN Coyotes - in the dugout and locker rooms, team buses, and motel rooms, and delivers an account of the 17 year-old's only season of collegiate baseball. The book details the journey of Harper, from being the  top amateur baseball player in 2010 to being the number one selection in the Major League Baseball draft.
Rob Meich has been a sports writer for 25 years, most of that time covering college basketball including the 1994-95 UCLA national championship hoops team. He's also covered more than 500 Major League Baseball games.

The JUCO pre-tournament banquet is May 24th at Two Rivers Convention Center. Tickets are $40 and will go on sale April 2nd at the JUCO office, located in the Home Loan building at Fourth and Rood in Grand Junction.

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