TROY, Ala.- Troy University head baseball coach Bobby Pierce announced the 2009 Trojan Baseball signing class this morning.

"We are confident that this recruiting class has addressed our immediate needs for next year,” Pierce said.  “We are particularly excited about adding two quality young left hand pitchers to the program in Shane McCain and Turner Lee. Both have had great high school careers and proven they can throw strikes and compete at a high level. They both have had success swinging the bat in high school and that brings about some interesting choices in the future. We expect Shane and Turner to have excellent careers at Troy.”

The Trojans also added a talented junior college class to bring more experience to the 2009-10 squad.

“The junior college players we targeted come from two quality programs that expect to win and understand how to compete,” Pierce said.   “Chase Whitley and Todd McRae, from Southern Union, will fill two important roles in our program. Chase has the ability to be a two-way threat as an infielder and pitcher.”

Troy has had great luck in the past with players like Mike Felix and Josh Dew that have been talented two-way players. New roster rules place emphasis on those types of players that can play right away at the college level.

“McRae is a quality defender behind the plate with some power as a hitter,” Pierce said.   “He is a proven leader and has been allowed to call his own game while in junior college, which speaks to his level of skill as a catcher. Joey Delgado had an excellent freshman year at Pensacola Junior College as a closer for a team that was ranked #1 in the country for several weeks. His experience at the end of the game will help our team replace 2008 All-Conference closer Josh Storm, who will finish his career this spring.”

The Trojans open the 2009 season on the road in a tournament hosted by Coastal Carolina.  They will play all four games in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

TROY UNIVERSITY BASEBALL

FALL 2008 HIGH SCHOOL SIGNEES

Shane McCain           LHP/OF          6’1       185                  R/L

John Carroll Catholic HS                  Fort Pierce, Florida

2008 Stats (Jr. Year):   4-2       2 saves             2.17 ERA         48 IP    58 K    6 BB

                                    .396     20 RBI

2008 MVP of high school team

Palm Beach Post All-Area First Team (OF/P)

All Treasure Lake Conference First Team (OF/P)

Florida All State Honorable Mention

News Tribune All-Area Team Honorable Mention (P)

John Carroll High Honor Roll Student

(The News Tribune – Mike Graham – mike.graham@scripps.com    &

 Palm Beach Post – pbsports@pbpost.com )

Turner Lee                 LHP                6’2       170

Mary G. Montgomery HS                 Mobile, Alabama

2008 Stats (Jr. Year):   7-2       1.67 ERA         81 K    13 BB

HS Career Stats (3 years):        22-5     1.40 ERA         249 K  32 BB

2008 All State Honorable Mention; All Area Team

2007 All State Honorable Mention

(Mobile Press-Register)

FALL 2008 JUNIOR COLLEGE SIGNEES

Chase Whitley            IF/RHP           6’4       210                  R/R

Southern Union JC                             Ranburne, Alabama

2008 Stats (Fr. Year):              .428     24 2B   3 HR    64 RBI

4-1       1 save              1.78 ERA        

(Opelika-Auburn News)

Todd McRae              C                     6’2       210                  R/R

Southern Union JC                             Talladega, Alabama

2008 Stats (Fr. Year):              .281     10 2B   3 HR    34 RBI

(Daily Home – wheath@dailyhome.com – Sports Editor)

Joey Delgado             RHP                6’0       160     

Pensacola JC                                      Tampa, Florida

2008 Stats (Fr. Year):              6-2       7 saves             3.65 ERA

(Pensacola News Journal; Tampa Tribune)