FROM PRESS RELEASE
Lynchburg, Va. – The Liberty University baseball program and head coach Jim Toman announce the signing of twelve student-athletes to national letters of intent for the 2008-09 academic year, during the early NCAA Nov. 14-20 signing period. Highlighting the class is Tyler Bream, son of former Liberty All-American and Major League Player Sid Bream.
“We are extremely excited to be adding these twelve student-athletes to our Liberty family,” commented Toman. “Tyler Bream is a very good player. His commitment is special to us because he obviously has Liberty roots and he was the first commitment of the new staff.
“The signees are a good start to our first recruiting class. We expect to sign a few more players in the spring, and feel all of them are capable of helping us reach our goals of winning the Big South Conference, as well as competing nationally.”
Liberty opens the 2008 season against Notre Dame, February 22 in Clearwater, Fla. The Flames home opener is February 29 against Rider. Game time at Worthington Stadium is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Tyler Bream 3B/1B/RHP 6-3 185 R/R Seneca Valley HS Zelienople, Pa.
Bream helped lead his Seneca Valley High School team to the 2007 Pennsylvania State Championship. The son of former Liberty All-American and Major Leaguer Sid Bream, the corner infielder hit .397 with eight doubles and two home runs last season, earning selection to the West Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) Class AAAA All-Sectional team. Bream has played in the prestigious East Coast Professional Showcase in Lakeland, Fla., and has also been a member of the Allegheny Pirates travel team.
Tim Dudley LHP/1B 6-1 200 S/L Appomattox HS Appomattax, Va.
As a junior in 2007, Dudley went 6-4 with a 1.19 ERA. The left-hander was named 2007 Seminole District Player of the Year, and was selected to 2007 first team all-regional and all-district squads, as a pitcher. He also hit .333. Dudley played in the 2007 Virginia Commonwealth Games.
P.J. Jimenez INF 5-11 165 R/R Arizona Western College Yucaipa, Calif.
Jimenez hit .359, with a wood bat, with 61 hits, 10 doubles and 31 RBIs this past year at Arizona Western College. The infielder was named a 2007 second-team Arizona Community College Athletic Conference member.
Steven Keener 1B 5-11 185 L/R Allenghany HS Clifton Forge, Va.
Keener garnered Virginia Reviews Player of the Year in 2007. The first baseman was also an All-Timesland, All-Region III and All-Blue Ridge District first-team selection. Keener captured his area’s Triple Crown, hitting .441 with eight home runs and 34 RBIs in 2007. He also played with the Hitting Zone, a United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) travel team based in Roanoke, Va.
John Long 3B/OF/RHP 6-0 180 R/R T.L. Hanna HS Anderson, S.C.
Long is ranked by The Diamond Prospects as the top third baseman in South Carolina. He hit .456 with 10 home runs last season. The third baseman was honored with selections to the Region 1 AAAA All-Region and Anderson Independent All-Area teams in 2007. Long was the High School Sports Reports All-State and South Carolina 4A home run leader, and represented the state in the National Home Run hitting contest. He is also a member of powerhouse Diamond Devils travel team.
Chris McDougal C/P/UTL 6-2 185 R/R Denbigh HS Poquoson, Va.
McDougal hit .470 with 29 RBIs and a .592 on base percentage in 2007. On the mound, he was a perfect 5-0 with a 0.75 ERA. He garnered 2007 All-District third base, All-Region and honorable mention All-State honors. A member of the Carolina Hurricanes travel team, Long played in the 2007 Virginia Commonwealth Games.
J.J. McLeod RHP 6-1 175 R/R Skagit Valley College Burlington, Wash.
In 2007, McLeod posted a 5-2 record and a 2.08 ERA in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (MWAACC). In 43 innings, the right-hander gave up 24 hits, while striking out 42 batters and walking 23.
David Mitroff C 6-2 180 R/R Praire Ridge HS Crystal Lake, Ill.
A two-year varsity starter at Praire Ridge High School, Mitroff is considered one of the top defensive catchers in the Midwest. The catcher has played on the powerhouse McHenry County Hurricanes Showcase team. His father and sister both attended Liberty.
Justin Richardson OF/LHP 5-10 190 L/L Riverdale HS Lehigh Acres, Fla.
Richardson is a three-year varsity stater at Riverdale High School. Last season, he hit .354 and went 3-0 with a 0.77 ERA as a pitcher.
Kizuku Scott INF/OF 5-11 190 R/R Bethel HS Hampton, Va.
Scott earn selections to the Daily Press All-Star and all-district first teams in 2007. He hit .464 with 18 doubles, 25 RBI’s and 19 stolen bases this past season. Scott played in the 2007 Virginia Commonwealth Games and is a member of the Carolina Hurricanes travel team.
Mark Swanson RHP 6-2 210 R/R Young Harris College Buford, Ga
Swanson posted a 7-2 mark with a 2.65 ERA in 2007. In 63 1/3 innings, the right-hander struck out 59. He pitched in the 2007 Juco World Series in Grand Junction, Colo.
Matt Williams SS 5-10 155 R/R Centennial HS Franklin, Tenn.
An all-district and All-Mid State performer, Williams hit .424 with seven triples and 24 stolen bases in 2007. The shortstop also played for the Brentwood A’s travel team.
