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Western Illinois, Mercer, and Illinois represented in this latest flurry of signings to kick off the final week of preseason.
Eric Eden, a 6-5, 200-pound right-handed pitcher out of Hillsborough,
New Jersey is currently a starter for the 20-31 Western Illinois
Leathernecks. During the 2008 campaign, Eden compiled a 4-3
record posting a 3.28 ERA in 46.2 IP. He appeared in 10 games,
starting nine, striking out 31 and walking 14.
Before transferring to Western Illinois, Eden played for Florida
Community College where he went 4-2 with a 3.00 ERA in 55 innings.
Eden enjoyed a successful senior season at Hillsborough High School
finishing with a 6-2 record, posting a 1.72 ERA.
Eden is majoring in kinesiology.
Second is Justice French, a 6-4, 190-pound infielder out of Suwanee,
Georgia. For the 24-31 Mercer Bears, French has had limited action
appearing in just four games, getting six at-bats but recording three
hits, one RBI, and one walk.
At Collins Hill High School, French earned three varsity letters while
garnering numerous selections such as Second-Team All-County,
First-Team, All-County, and First-Team All-Region as a junior and
senior. French earned Top 80 and Top 20 Team Georgia honors during his
senior season and notched Regional Pitcher of the Year honors during
his senior campaign. He left Collins High in possession of eight
school records.
Rounding out the latest three Sharks signings is University of Illinois
freshman shortstop and outfielder Daniel Parker. For the 2008
season, Parker has not seen any action for the 30-23 Fighting Illini.
For Lawrence High School in Lawrence, Kansas, the 6-3, 185-pounder
earned KABC All-State Second-Team honors as a shortstop in 2007.
Parker led Lawrence to a third place finish in the Kansas Class 6A
tournament. As a senior, Parker was noted as a First-Team
All-Sunflower League player and later playing in the Premier League
All-Star Game in the summer of 2007.
Parker was a three-year letterwinner in baseball at Lawrence and is
currently enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Notes:
Since this article's writing, Eric Eden has been placed on the disabled list and is expected to be out for the season.
The Wilmington Sharks are a member of the Coastal Plain League, the
nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its
12th season, the Coastal Plain League features 14 teams playing in
North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The CPL gives college
players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats.
Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past
experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. For
more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league
Web site at www.coastalplain.com.
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