- published: 16 May 2014
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Jeffrey William Francis (born January 8, 1981, in North Delta, British Columbia) is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball.
Francis attended Burnsview Junior Secondary School and North Delta Senior Secondary School in North Delta, British Columbia. After playing for the North Delta Blue Jays of the B.C. Premier Baseball League, the highest calibre junior league in Canada, Francis went on to pursue a major in physics at the University of British Columbia while playing for the UBC Thunderbirds. He was selected in the 1st round (9th pick overall) by the Colorado Rockies in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft. Along with Adam Loewen, who was selected at fourth overall in the same draft, the two received much publicity as they were drafted higher than any other Canadian baseball players up to that time.[citation needed] Francis was signed by Greg Hopkins.
In 2004, Francis was named Minor League Player of the Year by both Baseball America and USA Today, becoming the first player in Colorado Rockies organizational history to win either of the awards. He became the fourth different player to be honored in the same season by both publications, joining Andruw Jones (1995–1996), Rick Ankiel (1999), and Josh Beckett (2001). Combined between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Colorado Springs, Francis went 16–3 with a 2.21 ERA and .194 average against in 24 starts. He struck out 196 batters in 154.2 innings pitched, for a ratio of 11.4 per nine innings. He had more strikeouts than hits (108) and walks (29) combined.
Laura Claycomb (born 23 August 1968) is an American lyric coloratura soprano opera singer.
Laura Claycomb was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, and grew up in Dallas, Texas, where she excelled in church and school choir, winning numerous youthful competitions such as the National Association of Teachers (NATS, U.I.L., Texas All-State Choir). She won a full scholarship to Southern Methodist University, where she completed two bachelors' degrees in vocal performance and foreign languages.
She gained international attention for the first time in 1994 after stepping in at the last minute to perform Giulietta in I Capuleti e i Montecchi with Geneva Opera. This role was also the vehicle of her debut at the Paris Bastille, with the Munich Radio Orchestra, Los Angeles Opera and Pittsburgh Opera.
Another of her roles is Gilda in Rigoletto, which she has performed at Canadian Opera Company, Opéra de Lausanne, Opéra Bastille, Pittsburgh Opera, New Israeli Opera, Teatro Municipal de Santiago de Chile, Canadian Opera Company, Teatro Municipale Giuseppe Verdi Salerno, Houston Grand Opera, and The Dallas Opera.