Baseball Inks Two JUCO Players for 2011
11/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Nov. 12, 2009
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss baseball program signed junior college players in the early signing period today for the 2011 baseball season.
"There two guys fit our program very well," head coach Scott Berry said. "We are looking for hard-nosed, blue-collar players and these guys will bring that everyday."
The two junior college transfers are Matt Shaw, a 6'4" RHP from Northwest CC and Ashley Graeter, a 6'1" INF/RHP from Pearl River CC.
Shaw joins the Golden Eagles from NW Miss. CC where he currently plays for former Southern Miss standouts Mark Carson and Bill Selby. As a freshman with the Rangers last season he was 3-4 with a 5.82 ERA in 10 games while firing three complete games. He worked 39.2 innings allowing 33 earned runs while striking out 33 and holding opposing hitters to a .89 average.
He was a two-time All-State selection out of Oxford High School in 2007 and 2008.
"Shaw has great potential to be a starting pitcher here," recruiting coordinator Chad Caillet said. "His fastball in is the low 90's complimented by a good slider and he is continuing to learn the changeup. Watching him throughout the season he seemed to only get stronger as the year progressed and had an outstanding summer."
Graeter, who was an all-state selection at Poplarville HS, is currently playing for coach Jamie McMahon at Pearl River CC. As a freshman last season, he was a first team All-State selection and the Wildcats second leading hitter with a .366 average. Over 42 games he had 49 hits including seven doubles, two triples and six home runs for a .562 slugging percentage.
On the mound he led the PRCC staff with a 1.67 ERA. In his seven appearances he accumulated a 3-2 record while working 21.0 innings, allowing only five earned runs while striking out 20 and walking six.
"Greater is a hard nosed local kid that plays short and third at PRCC," Caillet added. "He is hitting in the three-hole for PRCC, a true gap-to-gap hitter who has great hands and a very strong arm, we are hopeful he comes here and solidifies third base for us."
The Golden Eagle freshman signees will be announced as soon as the paperwork from the student-athletes is received.
-southernmiss.com-