Wilmington, N.C. - The Wilmington Sharks announced today that they have signed three players from the University of Miami. Catcher Jason Hagerty, pitcher Michael Rudman, and outfielder John Weislow will join the Sharks for the 2oo7 season.

Jason Hagerty, a 6-2/207 freshman from St. Louis, Missouri will join the Sharks from the University of Miami. He played for St. John Vianney in high school and was a three-time All-State First Team selection. Hagerty was a 2006 Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year and his team was crowned conference champions three times. They went on to win the Missouri State Championship his sophomore and senior seasons.

Pitcher Michael Rudman, a 5-9/165 freshman from the University of Miami will be playing for the Sharks this season. He played under head coach Pete Hertler at Miami Killian Senior High School. His senior year he earned First Team All-Dade County and Third Team All-State honors by the Miami Herald. Rudman posted an overall record of 8-2 with 99 strikeouts.

John Weislow, 6-1/203, is a red shirt freshman from the University of Miami and will play outfield this season. He is from Vienna, Virginia and played for Bishop O’Connell High School. Senior year, he Batted .460 and successfully stole 17 of 18 bases. He was named First-team All-Met and WCAC Player of the Year, All-State and team Most Valuable Player.

The coastal plain league is the nation’s premier college summer baseball league, featuring 14 teams playing in three states (The Carolinas and Virginia). The league is certified by the NCAA and Major League Baseball, and gives college standouts the chance to refine their skills with wooden bats during the summer months. The CPL brings fans all of the fun of minor league baseball during a 56 schedule game June through August. Tickets for the 2007 season are now on sale at the Shark’s office. For more information please call (910) 343-5621 or online at wilmingtonsharks.com.

Wilmington, N.C. - The Wilmington Sharks announced today that they have signed two players from UNC Chapel Hill. Outfielder Tim Fedroff and pitcher Bryant Gaines will join the Sharks for the 2007 season.

Tim Fedroff is a 5-11, 182 lb. freshman from Flagtown, N.J. where he was a standout outfielder at Hillsborough High School for Coach Norm Hewitt. Fedroff was a two-time all-state choice and four-time all-county and three-time all-area selection. He was also named Somerset County Player of the Year in 2006. Fedroff was a two-year team captain and led his team to three conference titles.

Bryant Gaines is a 6-6, 248 lb. freshman from Weddington, N.C. He was a four-year standout at pitcher and first baseman for Charlotte Christian under Coach Greg Simmons. Gaines earned all-state, All-NCISAA, All-Mecklenburg and All-Charlotte Observer honors in 2006. He was two-time all-conference choice and team captain as a senior. Gaines earned the Matt Sobieski Award for most outstanding student-athlete as a senior.

The coastal plain league is the nation’s premier college summer baseball league, featuring 14 teams playing in three states (The Carolinas and Virginia). The league is certified by the NCAA and Major League Baseball, and gives college standouts the chance to refine their skills with wooden bats during the summer months. The CPL brings fans all of the fun of minor league baseball during a 56 schedule game June through August. Tickets for the 2007 season are now on sale at the Shark’s office. For more information please call (910) 343-5621 or online at wilmingtonsharks.com.

FAYETTEVILLE, Feb. 9—The Wilmington Sharks baseball team has been purchased by Wilmington Baseball, Inc., the same management group that owns the Fayetteville SwampDogs of the Coastal Plain League. Wilmington City Council approval of the lease transfer took place last Tuesday evening, clearing the way for the transaction to be finalized. Terms were not disclosed.

“We see this as an opportunity to continue and expand a wonderful tradition of baseball in Wilmington”, said Darrell Handelsman, who is both General Manager and field manager of the SwampDogs, as well as a team owner. “This acquisition will benefit both fans and advertisers, all of whom will enjoy new opportunities.”

“The hallmark of our baseball operation has been enhancing the fan experience,” Handelsman said. “We expect to do that in Wilmington through our strong commitment to community involvement, and the presentation of many special events that will be new to the marketplace. We pride ourselves on providing exciting, wholesome family entertainment that’s accessible to everyone.”

Handelsman cited events such as the appearance of the military’s Team Red, White, and Blue and Team USA as the kinds of activities the organization has brought to Fayetteville since they purchased the SwampDogs two years ago. “The purchase reflects our enthusiasm for this market, and our belief in the long term growth of the business community, whose support makes baseball a reality in both communities” said Lewis Handelsman, President of the SwampDogs.

Both teams are members of the Coastal Plain League. General Manager Amanda Yerdon and Assistant General Manager Chris Reavis have both been retained. The Sharks’ season opens May 30th against the New Bern River Rats. Schedule and ticket information for the Sharks is available at wilmingtonsharks.com . Schedule and ticket information for the SwampDogs, who open play May 30th vs. Asheboro, is available at goswampdogs.com .

Wilmington, N.C. - The Wilmington Sharks announced today that they have signed two players from East Carolina University. Outfielder Stephen Batts and Pitcher Zach Cooper will join the Sharks for the 2007 season.

Stephen Batts, a 6-2/ 195 lb red-shirt sophomore at East Carolina University, will be returning to the Sharks for his second season. Starting 36 of 48 games, he has been called ECU’s “Top utility man” with 15 RBI’s and eight extra base hits. Batts attended Laney High School in Wilmington and earned top offensive player honors for three years as well as the clubs best defensive honors in 2003.

Zach Cooper is a 6-7, 202 lb freshman also coming from East Carolina University. Cooper attended White Oak High School in Jacksonville, N.C. playing under Larry Coffman. Cooper posted a 5-2 record with 83 strikeouts, 17 walks with a 3.10 ERA in 46 innings of work during his senior campaign. His high school accomplishments include being named first-team all-conference and all-area, participating in the Senior State Game for the East squad and being named MVP of the Spring Break and Touchstone Tournaments.

The coastal plain league is the nation’s premier college summer baseball league, featuring 14 teams playing in three states (The Carolinas and Virginia). The league is certified by the NCAA and Major League Baseball, and gives college standouts the chance to refine their skills with wooden bats during the summer months. The CPL brings fans all of the fun of minor league baseball during a 56 schedule game June through August. Tickets for the 2007 season are now on sale at the Shark’s office. For more information please call (910) 343-5621 or online at wilmingtonsharks.com.

Chalk, Horton Named To All-America Lists The Coastal Plain League and Wilmington Sharks announced today that Brad Chalk and Josh Horton were tabbed first-team and second-team preseason All-America, respectively, by Baseball America.

Chalk, a 6-0, 180-pound junior outfielder at Clemson finished second on the team with a .353 batting average last season for the Tigers. In addition, he notched 84 hits, including nine doubles and four triples. He led the team in runs scored at 67, notched 20 RBIs and stole 18 bases on the year.

Meanwhile, Horton, a 6-1, 198-pound junior shortstop at North Carolina led the Tar Heels with a .395 average, and finished second on the team in hits with 107. Of those, 17 were doubles, one a triple and seven were homers. Horton went on to rack up 59 RBIs and 62 runs scored, second-most on the team.

Both Chalk and Horton played for the Wilmington Sharks in 2005. Chalk batted .283 with a double, a triple and six RBIs to go with 20 runs scored; while Horton ended the summer with a .258 average with a double, a triple and seven RBIs. He also tacked on 12 runs scored. “It’s great to see these guys continue to grow as players and go on to be successful after there time with our team, both Josh and Brad where great guys to be around both on and off of the field.” Assistant General Manger Chris Reavis said about both of these former Sharks.