RELEASE DATE: 11/22/06

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mounties Baseball Pre-signs Three Players for Next Season

MANSFIELD -- Harry Hillson is pleased to announce to the early signing of three baseball players who have signed National Letters of Intent to play baseball for the Mountaineers in the spring of 2008.

Between November 8th and 15th, players are able to sign National Letters of Intent during a designated early signing period.

All three of the players who have signed are pitchers, a positive outlook for a team that will be graduating four pitchers after the 2007 season. “ We graduate 4 of our top pitchers this year and are very happy to sign these three outstanding pitching prospects in the early signing period," said head coach Harry Hillson.

Highlighting the newcomers are two junior college transfers from Frederick Community College.

Irvin Sleighter (Chambersburg PA) will transfer from Frederick Community College. The right hander is the top starter for Frederick, but sat out last season with an arm injury. He pitched a complete game in the final game of the PIAA Playoffs to help Chambersburg High win the AAA PIAA State Championship in Baseball in 2004. "An overpowering pitcher with a fastball in the low 90’s, he has a solid chance to be drafted after his collegiate baseball career," says Hillson.

Joining Sleighter will be Frederick teammate Chad G. Smith. Smith is a top four starter for Frederick. A lefthander from York Catholic High School, he was 2-0 in nine games for Frederick last season, helping the squad to a record 35 wins for coach Rodney Bennett en route to the NJCAA Division II Regionals. A strong pitcher with a fastball in the mid 80's, he too has a chance at being drafted after his collegiate career.

Joining the two junior incomers will be true freshman Joshua Murdough of Pine City, NY. Murdoug, the top starter for Corning West High School is a three year letter winner who has been a starter on the varsity squad for all three years. Joshua won 3 games and lost 4 for the Vikings last year while being named to second team All-Times Leader and honorable mention to the All-State Team. The crafty lefthander was clocked at 84-86 MPH at the Joel Stephens tournament last summer and is considered one of the top pitching prospects in the Twin Tiers.