Two USM Baseball Players Commit to D1 Colleges

Two baseball players, Josh Baker and Tommy Pennington, have committed to play baseball at Division 1 colleges.

USM senior Josh Baker has committed to attend Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, FL. and play baseball for the Dolphins. Jacksonville is a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference and is an NCAA Division I school.

The Dolphin baseball squad is coached by Terry Alexander. Coach Alexander enters his 33rd year at Jacksonville University and his 22nd year as the program’s head coach. Alexander has been a highly respected coach in the North Florida area for three decades. His contributions were recognized in 2002 when he selected to serve as one of three coaches for Team USA that summer, coaching a squad made up of the top collegiate players in the country.

In 2011 Baker had a .532 batting average, an on base percentage of .612 and a slugging percentage of .886 for the Wildcats and was one of two juniors named to the Journal Sentinel All Area Baseball team.

Of his college selection Baker states, “It’s a great opportunity.  It will really help me to improve as a baseball player. ”

Baker will be eligible to sign an NCAA National Letter of Intent on November 9, 2011.

Baker’s teammate senior Tommy Pennington has committed to attend school and play baseball at Bucknell University, a DI baseball school in Pennsylvania. Bucknell is a member of the Patriot League.

The Bison are guided by four-time Patriot League Coach of the Year and 29 year veteran head coach Gene Depew. The Bucknell baseball team annually ranks near the top of the Patriot winning five Patriot League Tournament titles as well as claiming the regular-season crown six times. Additionally, Depew has guided Bucknell to five NCAA Tournament appearances in the last 15 years.

During his 2011 prep season Pennington had a .400 batting average, a .495 on base percentage and a .563 slugging percentage for USM.

Pennington said, “I’m pumped. It’s a good campus and a great school. Bucknell has great competitive baseball. They went to the tournament two years ago and nearly beat South Carolina.  [South Carolina was the eventual NCAA Division 1 champion that year and again in 2011].”

When he learned that his two players had made D1 commitments, University School’s head baseball coach, Tim Bartz exclaimed. “It’s fantastic. Josh and Tommy will be playing at a high level at the next level.  Over the years both of them have worked extremely hard to become as skilled as they are. I’m very proud of them.”