July 22, 2002

CHARLOTTE, NC - Charlotte junior pitcher John Maine has signed a pro contract with the Baltimore Orioles. Maine will begin his pro baseball career with the Aberdeen Ironbirds in the A-League short season New York-Penn League. The Ironbirds are owned by former Orioles' great Cal Ripken.

Maine was selected in the sixth round of this year's Major League Baseball. He was the 166th overall player selected in the draft.

Maine won 20 games in his three seasons at Charlotte. He recorded 297 career strikeouts which is the fourth most in school history.

In 2001, Maine enjoyed arguably the greatest pitching season in Charlotte history when he won a school-record 12 games with a school and Conference USA record 144 strikeouts. He earned Conference USA pitcher of the year honors for his efforts.