Wilmington, N.C. - The Wilmington Sharks announced today that they have signed three new players for the 2007 season. Shortstop Rand Baughman, and Pitcher Chris Pepe from Winthrop University as well as Pitcher Tyler Blandford from Oklahoma State University have been signed to play for the sharks.

Rand Baughman, a 5-11/172 freshman plays shortstop for Winthrop University. He is from Greenville, SC where he played for Mauldin High School and was named All-Region as a junior and senior. Baughman was selected First-Team All-State and to the SC Select Team as a senior. He also played on the Big League World Series Team.

Pitcher Chris Pepe, a 6-2/248 freshman also is coming from Winthrop to play for the Sharks this season. He went to Connellsville High School in Mt. Pleasant, PA where he was Named All-Section and All-County as a sophomore, junior and senior (First-Team pitcher/first baseman). Pepe was also a Team One North Top 30 Prospect and a Puma pre-season All-American his senior year.

Tyler Blandford, 6-2/199, is a pitcher for Oklahoma State University. He was 9-2 with a 0.75 ERA as a senior at Daviess County High School in Owensboro, KY. He led his team to district, regional and sectional championships where in 80 innings; he struck out 134 batters, including a 13-strikeout performance in the opening round of the state tournament. Blandford was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 34th round.

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.