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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE This group of eight athletes includes four high school players, three junior college transfers and one Division I transfer. Darnell felt each of these players will be great additions to Southern.
"We feel like we have had a successful
recruiting class," Darnell said. "Adding these players to the
players we signed in the fall gives us a great mix of pitching and
speed. We needed to address our pitching depth and our ability to
steal bases. We are looking forward to the start of fall practice."
Taylor Byrd (Joplin HS), Kyle Coatney (Monett HS), Grant Thompson (Galena HS) and Trey Carlton (Kickapoo HS) join the Lions as first year freshmen. Byrd is a 5-11, 170 pound middle infielder from Joplin High School where he played for coach Kirk Harryman and the Eagles. A second-team All-Conference and All-District selection, Byrd helped the Eagles to a conference and district championship in 2009. A two-year starter, he also lettered two years for the football team at Joplin. The son of Stephen and Teresa Byrd, Taylor plans to be a nursing major at Southern. Coatney is a 6-3, 180 pound pitcher/infielder from Monett where he played for coach Michael Calhoun and the Cubs. He holds the school record for career strikeouts, innings pitched, complete games, and games pitched, while starting every year at Monett. A member of the Cubs' district championship teams in his freshman and sophomore campaigns, Coatney was an honorable mention All-Conference selection at pitcher as a sophomore, while picking up first team nods as a junior at first base. He was also a second team All-Conference selection as a pitcher in 2008, while being named a first team selection at pitcher this past year and also picking up All-District honors. Coatney also started two years for the Cubs' basketball team, while earning three letters. The son of Mark and Penni Coatney, Kyle is undecided on his future major at Southern. Thompson is a 6-0, 170 pound outfielder from Galena High School where he played for coach Kenny Cook and the Bulldogs. A three year starter on the baseball team, Thompson started two years as a wide receiver and defensive back for the Bulldogs' football program. An honorable mention All-Conference selection his sophomore season, Thompson was a first team All-conference and All-State selection as a senior this past season, helping his team to a regional championship and the Kansas State 3A runner up title. He also helped the Bulldogs to a regional title in 2008. Thompson was a participant in the KABC All-Star game and had a milestone this past year, going the entire regular season without striking out. The son of Dale and Debbie Thompson, Grant plans on majoring in business management at Southern. Carlton is a 5-9, 170 pound outfielder from Kickapoo High School in Springfield where he played for coach Jason Howser and the Chiefs. He was a member of two district championship teams in his sophomore and junior seasons, while leading the Chiefs in stolen bases in 2008. He was a three year varsity starter and an American Legion All-Star in 2008. The son of David and Donna Carlton, Trey plans on majoring in business at Southern. Patrick Deao (Neosho County CC), Tyler Jinks (Three Rivers CC) and Mitch Albright (Fort Scott CC) will join the Lions as junior college transfers. Deao is a 6-3, 185 pound native of Omaha, Nebraska where he prepped at Skutt Catholic High School before enrolling at Neosho County. At Skutt, he was a two year starter in the outfield for coach Keith Englekamp. He also participated in wrestling and cross country for the Skyhawks. The past two seasons, he's played for coach Steve Murray at Neosho. This year, Deao hit .345 with five home runs and 30 RBIs and was a first-team All-Conference selection, while being named the Regional Defensive Player of the Year and was a runner up for National Defensive Player of the Year. He was also named the NJCAA's best defensive right fielder earning a Rawlings Gold Glove. He set school records for triples in a season (5), as well as 15 outfield assists in a season and 21 over two years. The son of Dave and Ellen Deao, Patrick will be a secondary education major at Southern. Jinks is a 6-0, 205 pound native of Springfield where he prepped at Glendale High School before enrolling at Three Rivers Community College. A four year starter for coach Howard Bell at Glendale, Jinks served as a pitcher and outfielder. As a sophomore he hit .405 with 38 strikeouts on the mound and he followed that up with a junior campaign where he struck out 42 batters and hit .350. As a senior, he was a first team All-Conference selection after striking out 52 batters in 42 innings and hitting .360. At Three Rivers, Jinks played for coach Stacey Burkey where he was a starting pitcher each season. In two years for the Raiders, Jinks accumulated 81 strikeouts in 111 innings, while carrying an ERA of 3.52. The son of Stan and Peggy Jinks, Tyler will be a business management major at Southern. Albright is a 6-1, 187 pound native of Galena, Kansas where he played for coach Kenny Cook and the Bulldogs, starting each season. Also a member of the football, basketball and track teams at Galena, He was a first-team All-Conference, All-district and All-State selection, while being named to the Joplin Globe's All-Area Team. Albright was also an All-Conference selection in both basketball and football at Galena, playing in the Army All-Star Game. After graduation, Allbright enrolled at Labette County Community College and played this past season at Fort Scott Community College for coach John Hill and the and the Greyhounds. Albright went 1-1 on the mound with eight saves and a team leading 2.29 ERA, striking out 19 batters in 18.1 innings. The son of Ray and Tracy Albright, Mitch plans on majoring in math at Southern. Josh Turner is a transfer from the University of Louisiana-Monroe where he played for one season under coach Jeff Schexnaider. A 6-1, 195 pound pitcher, Turner is a native of New Boston, Texas where he lettered in baseball, football and track at New Boston High School. Turner played his freshman season at Texarkana (Texas) College where he posted a 6-3 record and helped the team to a conference title. He transferred to Weatherford (Texas) College where he went 10-1 as a sophomore, earning first-team All-Conference honors. As a junior at ULM, Turner posted a 1-0 mark in 11 appearances, striking out eight batters in 11 innings. The son of David and Paula Turner, Josh will major in general studies at Southern. |