Luckham and Knackert Sign Baseball Contracts

Two Orange County high school pitchers who had less-than-illustrious senior seasons--Ken Luckham of Los Amigos High School and Brent Knackert, formerly of Ocean View--have signed professional baseball contracts.

Knackert, a second-round selection, signed with the Chicago White Sox and will report to the team’s Gulf Coast League (rookie) affiliate in Sarasota, Fla. today. Luckham, a ninth-round pick, signed with the Dodgers and will report to the organization’s Pioneer League (rookie) team in Great Falls, Mont., on June 22.

Knackert, who said he received a $62,500 signing bonus, was one of the county’s top pitchers entering the 1987 season but was expelled from school on March 20, the day before Sunset League play began, for skipping a class and using an unauthorized pass.

He had skipped several classes earlier in the school year and was on probation when he was caught. Knackert was assigned to Wintersburg Continuation School in Huntington Beach, but he will not receive a high school diploma from Ocean View. He said he will enroll in a Florida junior college and take night courses during the season to earn his diploma.

Knackert, a 6-foot 3-inch, 188-pound right-hander, pitched only seven innings this season but allowed only one hit and struck out 16. He was 4-1 with four saves as a junior at Ocean View.

Luckham, a 6-2, 190-pound right-hander, did not win a game this season while pitching for a team that finished 2-21-1 and in last place in the Garden Grove League. Luckham, a three-year varsity starter, went 0-9 as a senior, 1-5 as a junior and 4-5 as a sophomore but was considered one of the county’s top prospects.