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.