University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Baseball Announces First Signee of Spring Signing Period
4/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 13, 2006
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss Head Baseball Coach Corky Palmer has announced the signing of Garrett Harris, a 6-0, 175-pound right-handed pitcher from New Hope High School in Columbus, Miss., to a letter of intent and grant-in-aid for the 2005-06 academic year. This marks the first signee of the spring singing period and sixth overall.
"I believe Garrett can come in and help us right away," Palmer said. "He has a good fastball, a solid curve, an above average change-up, and has good command of his pitches. He is very competitive on the mound and should fit in with our team."
Harris, the 2005 All-Area Player of the Year and a member of The Clarion Ledger's 2006 Dandy Dozen, is currently 5-3 with a save, three complete games and a 1.39 ERA in 40 innings pitched this season. The two-time preseason Louisville Slugger All-American has struck out 55, walked only eight and opponents have hit .187 against him. He has helped New Hope to a 17-10 record at this time and a state ranking as high as No. 2 earlier this season.
His top performances this season came against Columbus, Meridian and West Lauderdale. Against Columbus, he threw a complete-game and gave up one earned run on four hits and struck out nine batters. Against Meridian, he threw a complete-game three-hitter, giving up one earned run and striking out 11, and he struck out nine batters in 6.1 innings pitched against West Lauderdale.
Last season as a junior, he was10-2 with one save, 11 complete games in 13 starts, three shutouts and a 1.81 ERA in 85 innings pitched. He struck out 97, walked 22 and opponents hit .218 against him.
His top performances came against Starkville, Lafayette County and Tupelo. Against Starkville, he struck out 10 batters in a complete-game one-hit shutout victory on 67 pitches. Against Lafayette County, he pitched a complete-game victory, giving up one earned run on four hits, walked one and struck out 10 batters. He struck out nine batters in a complete-game three-hit shutout victory over Tupelo. He helped New Hope finish with a 30-7 overall record, win the district title and make an appearance in the North State championship.
As a sophomore, he was a perfect 9-0 with a 1.73 ERA in 60 innings pitched. He struck out 80, walked 20 and opponents hit .187 against him. New Hope finished 28-7 that year, won the district championship and advanced to the first round of the state championships. As a freshman, he pitched seven innings and finished with a 2-0 record. That season, New Hope won the state championship.
Southern Miss' other signees include Houston Brown (LHP, 6-0, 180, Evangelical Christian HS/Memphis, Tenn.), Tim Foster (1B/3B, 6-3, 200, Adams County Christian, Natchez, Miss.), Chance Hurst (C, 5-11, 185, St. Thomas More HS, Lafayette, La.); Jordan King (3B/RHP, 6-0, 180, NW Rankin HS, Brandon, Miss.) and Todd McInnis (RHP, 6-1, 160, NW Rankin HS, Brandon, Miss.)/
Southern Miss, ranked as high as No. 22 in the nation, is currently 25-10 overall and 4-2 in Conference USA. The Golden Eagles host conference-rival Houston (22-14 overall, 7-2 Conference USA) at "The Pete" for a three-game weekend series. Friday's game starts at 6:30 p.m., Saturday's at 4 p.m., and Sunday's at 1 p.m.
