RELEASE DATE: 7/14/08

RYAN GIBLIN SIGNS WITH WINDY CITY THUNDERBOLTS OF FRONTIER LEAGUE – 12 MOUNTAINEERS ALSO PLAYING IN COLLEGE SUMMER LEAGUES

MANSFIELD – Former Mansfield University standout Ryan Giblin has signed a contract to play professional baseball with the Windy City Thunderbolts of the independent Frontier League.

A three-year starter and 2008 team captain for the Mountaineers, Giblin joined the team in Kentucky this past weekend playing second base against the Florence Freedom in Florence, KY.

“We’re very pleased for Gibby,” said head coach Harry Hillson. “He’s a terrific player and a great person who has earned the opportunity to play professional. I know it’s a wonderful feeling for him and his family.”

Giblin earned First Team All-PSAC East and All-North Atlantic Regional honors this season after batting .425 for the Mountaineers. His 74 hits included 11 doubles, two triples and four home runs.  He also scored 49 runs while driving in 41 with a .468 on-base percentage.

Giblin ranked fourth in the PSAC in batting and on-base percentage, fifth in hits and 10^th in slugging percentage (.580).

In 167 career games at Mansfield, Giblin batted .356 with his 172 hits including 16 doubles, five triples and four home runs. He also scored 116 runs while driving in 86.

Giblin is the 49^th Mountaineer player since 1969 to be drafted or play professional baseball and the 27^th player since Hillson became head coach in 1987.

Twelve of Giblin’s former teammates are also playing baseball this summer in four different collegiate summer leagues.

Pitchers Irv Sleighter, Eric Rosenberger and Tyler Noel are all playing for the Outer Banks Daredevils of the Coastal Plain league in North Carolina where they have combined for a 6-1 record. Sleighter is 2-0 on the season with a 1.84 ERA. Rosenberger is also 2-0 with a 1.66 ERA while Noel is 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 31.2 innings worked.

Cody Stinger is playing third base for the Florence Redwolves, also a member of the Coastal Plain League, where he is second on the team with three home runs and 17 rbi.

Chris Miller, Justin Garcia, Tony Batisti and Matt Young are all members of the Kutztown Rockies of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League.

Miller has started all 16 games in the outfield where he is batting .275 with five doubles and eight rbi. Garcia is 1-1 on the mound with a 3.38 ERA. Batisti has played in 17 games at catcher with nine hits and two RBI. Young has started all 18 games a second base and is currently batting .246 with three doubles and four rbi.

Zach Ullrich and Chad Smith are playing for the Rockville Express of the Cal Ripken Sr. League in Maryland.

Ullirch is 0-1 on the mound with a 0.00 ERA while Smith is 0-0 on the mound in five appearances with a 6.35 ERA. He has been effective at the plate with a .407 batting average including two doubles and two home runs.

Ryan Riley and Chris Zelco are both members of the Elmira Pioneers of the New York collegiate Baseball League where Riley is batting .241 in 19 games with five doubles and seven rbi.

Zelco is 0-1 on the season with a 3.12 ERA in 8.2 innings worked.

All 12 will be back with the Mountaineers for the 2009 campaign