Baseball Announces Fall Signing Class

Nov. 8, 2006

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WACO, Texas -- Baylor baseball head coach Steve Smith announced his program's fall signing class Wednesday. The Bears signed nine student-athletes, including eight current high school players, to National Letters of Intent. Baylor inked six student-athletes from Texas, one from Arizona, one from Indiana and one from Missouri.

"I am very pleased and excited about this group of signees," Baylor head coach Steve Smith said. "We have added some strong arms, as well as some very gifted position players. This class will complement very well the outstanding group of freshmen we currently have. The academic credentials of this group match the group's athletic ability, which is always important to us."

Last year's Baylor signing class was named the nation's top recruiting class by Baseball America. The class also was ranked seventh nationally by Collegiate Baseball.

Baylor's five pitchers signed are as follows: RHP Brooks Pinckard (Buda, Texas/Hays), RHP Jonathan Ringenberg (Fort Wayne, Ind./Blackhawk Christian), RHP Ross Speed (Austin, Texas/Westwood), LHP Mace Thurman (Austin, Texas/McLennan CC/Westlake) and RHP Chris Withrow (Odessa, Texas/Midland Christian). Ringenberg and Withrow also play the infield.

The Bears inked outfielders Don Lambert (St. Louis, Mo./Westminster) and Chris Slater (Plano, Texas/Plano East), along with infielders Dan Evatt (Grapevine, Texas/Grapevine) and Landis Ware (Queen Creek, Ariz./Chandler).

Withrow was rated the fifth-best prospect in the state of Texas by Jason Becker's Inside Prep Baseball and 64^th nationally by Perfect Game Cross Checker. Others ranked nationally were Pinckard (164^th), Speed (237^th), Ringenberg (263^rd), Slater (484^th) and Evatt (499^th).

Thurman, who pitched for then-Highlanders pitching coach and current Baylor volunteer assistant Chris Clemons while at McLennan Community College, was twice drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Baylor posted a 37-26 record in 2006 and reached an NCAA Regional championship game for the fifth time in six years.

BAYLOR BASEBALL 2006 FALL SIGNING CLASS

POS. HT. WT. B-T HOMETOWN (PREVIOUS SCHOOL)

Dan Evatt IF 6-3 210 R-R Grapevine, Texas (Grapevine)

Don Lambert OF 6-3 188 L-L St. Louis, Mo. (Westminster)

Brooks Pinckard RHP 6-1 175 L-R Buda, Texas (Hays)

Jon Ringenberg RHP/IF 6-3 180 L-R Fort Wayne, Ind. (Blackhawk Christian)

Chris Slater OF 6-1 185 R-R Plano, Texas (Plano East)

Ross Speed RHP 6-2 190 R-R Austin, Texas (Westwood)

Mace Thurman LHP 6-2 185 L-L Austin, Texas (McLennan CC/Westlake)

Landis Ware IF 5-11 170 R-R Queen Creek, Ariz. (Chandler)

Chris Withrow RHP/IF 6-3 185 R-R Odessa, Texas (Midland Christian)

Baseball Announces Fall Signing Class

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