University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Baseball Announces Third Signing of Early Period
11/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Baseball Announces Third Signing of Early Period
HATTIESBURG, Miss. ?
Southern Miss Baseball Coach Corky Palmer has announced the signing of Jonathan Johnston, a 6-2, 190-pound, right-handed pitcher from Northwest Rankin High School in Jackson, Miss., to a national letter of intent for the 2004-05 academic year. This marks the third signing of the early period for the Golden Eagles.
"Jonathan is in the same mold of Austin Tubb with an underneath delivery," Palmer said. "He is advanced with his mechanics and delivery at this point of his career. He throws three pitches for strikes, a fastball, a curve and a changeup and doesn't walk many batters. I believe he has a chance to pitch right away."
Johnston was 6-1 with a 1.07 ERA as a junior last season at Northwest Rankin. He gave up five runs on 21 hits in 33 innings, struck out 69 and walked only six batters. Johnston, an all-district selection, helped lead Northwest Rankin to the 5A championship series.
Southern Miss returns 17 letterwinners and two redshirts, including six starting position players, two starting pitchers, and five bullpen pitchers from last year?s squad that finished 47-16 overall and won the Conference USA regular season and tournament championships. Southern Miss hosted the Hattiesburg Regional, finishing as the runner-up. The Golden Eagles set a school record for the most wins in a season and the school and conference records for most conference wins as well.
The Golden Eagles open their Conference USA title defense on Friday, Feb. 20 at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field against Northwestern (La.) State, at 3 p.m.
--SouthernMiss.com--
.jpg&height=340&type=webp)
