12/20/2005 1:32 PM - The Kansas City T-Bones have reached contract terms with a Kansas native: utilityman Doug Dreher of Hays, Kan. Dreher, 27, spent the last three seasons in the independent Frontier League with the Chillicothe Paints, and played his college ball at Kansas.

Dreher broke into pro ball in the Northern League in 2002, playing in 32 games for the Sioux Falls Canaries and hitting .305. Two seasons later, the 5-foot-8 Dreher enjoyed his best season as a pro, batting .324 in 93 games with Chillicothe while smacking 28 doubles and recording an on-base percentage of .392. Dreher led the Frontier League in doubles and hits while ranking seventh in batting average.

In 2005, Dreher hit .279 for the Paints while playing in just 57 games. His season cut short by a hamstring injury, Dreher's highlight was the season finale against Evansville in which he played all nine positions.

"Doug Dreher comes to us with a reputation as a player who's not afraid to get dirty," said one who ought to know, T-Bones manager "Dirty" Al Gallagher. "He makes good contact and will fit in well with our club."