Loren Hibbs (pictured, center, at the regionals last year) announces the initial signing class to start in 2009. |
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Baseball Announces Initial 2009 Signing Class
Dec. 6, 2007
Charlotte, N.C. - Head coach Loren Hibbs and Charlotte 49ers baseball announced the initial signing class for the 2008-2009 season. The 49ers have inked Jamie Blackwell, Garrett Hanselman, Tim Lysaught, Aubrey Meadows, Tyler Pilkington, Justin Roland, Chad Rothlin and Zane Williams in the initial signing period.
"We lose eight quality seniors off of this year's team and have some underclassmen that are potential draft picks in June," said Niners head coach Loren Hibbs "We were able to sign a good mix of high school and junior college players to complement what we already have in our program. We continue to recruit athletic individuals who fit our style of play."
Blackwell is an infielder from Forest Park High School in Dumfries, Va. He plays for the Mid-Atlantic Rex Sox in the fall and the Virginia Cardinals in the summer. He is listed as a Top 30 prospect in the state of Virginia by Perfect Game Crosschecker.com.
Hanselman is not a new name to the 49ers, as he played his freshman year for Charlotte as a first baseman and outfielder. Originally from Frederick, Md., he transferred to South Mountain Junior College in Arizona to play this year after a two-year religious mission, which he took after his first year at Charlotte. He hit four home runs in 60 at-bats for the Niners and had a slugging percentage of .550 in 18 games at Charlotte in 2005.
Lysaught is a left handed pitcher from Shawnee, Kansas. He will transfer from Neosho County Community College following his sophomore season at that institution. He was the top pitcher from that team in 2007, with a 4-3 record and 2.78 ERA in 50.1 innings pitched. In nine starts, he tossed a pair of complete games.
Meadows, who plays his high school baseball at nearby Mooresville High, played for the Mooresville Legion team and competed in the 2007 North Carolina State Games. He is a left handed pitcher.
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Pilkington is a left handed pitcher and first baseman from Waxhaw, N.C. He played his prep baseball at Weddington High School. In the summer and fall, he plays for the On Deck O's, coached by 49er alum Jason Hill. He also participated in the North Carolina State games. He is a top 10 prospect according to Impact.com and is rated a top 30 prospect in North Carolina PG Crosschecker.com.
Roland will join Charlotte after his final year at East Rowan High School in Salisbury, N.C. He is an infielder who also played with the Rowan County Legion team, which participated in the State Legion Championship Tournament this past summer. Impact.com rates him a top 25 player in North Carolina and he was also found at the NC State Games this year.
Rothlin is a Hickory, N.C. native who is a right handed pitcher at Fred T. Foard High School. He also played for the Impact Dirtbags in the summer and fall, and participated in the State Games. He is a top 30 rated player in North Carolina by both Impact.com and PG Crosschecker.com.
Williams is a catcher and outfielder from Claremore, Oklahoma. He is a transfer from Connors State College who will play his sophomore season there before arriving in Charlotte. Williams batted .368 and hit eight home runs and 44 runs batted in during 34 games played his freshman year at CSC.
"I would like to commend coaches Brandon Hall and Bo Durkac for their efforts," noted Hibbs. "Both have developed into quality recruiters and bring a daily consistency to our recruiting plan that is important to our overall success. Our facility has also helped by creating a positive daily atmosphere and showing recruits that baseball is important at Charlotte."
The Niners set a school record with 49 wins in 2007, winning a pair of NCAA Regional games, the first-ever post-season wins in program history. The Niners advanced to the Regional Final in Columbia, S.C. The 2008 season begins in a completed Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium on February 22, when Charlotte hosts Manhattan on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m.
